the sonnets alls well that ends well the tragedy of antony and cleopatra as you like it the comedy of errors the tragedy of coriolanus cymbeline the tragedy of hamlet prince of denmark the first part of king henry the fourth the second part of king henry the fourth the life of king henry the fifth the first part of henry the sixth the second part of king henry the sixth the third part of king henry the sixth king henry the eighth king john the tragedy of julius caesar the tragedy of king lear loves labours lost the tragedy of macbeth measure for measure the merchant of venice the merry wives of windsor a midsummer nights dream much ado about nothing the tragedy of othello moor of venice pericles prince of tyre king richard the second king richard the third the tragedy of romeo and juliet the taming of the shrew the tempest the life of timon of athens the tragedy of titus andronicus the history of troilus and cressida twelfth night or what you will the two gentlemen of verona the two noble kinsmen the winters tale a lovers complaint the passionate pilgrim the phoenix and the turtle the rape of lucrece venus and adonis the sonnets from fairest creatures we desire increase that thereby beautys rose might never die but as the riper should by time decease his tender heir might bear his memory but thou contracted to thine own bright eyes feedst thy lights flame with self substantial fuel making a famine where abundance lies thy self thy foe to thy sweet self too cruel thou that art now the worlds fresh ornament and only herald to the gaudy spring within thine own bud buriest thy content and tender churl makst waste in niggarding pity the world or else this glutton be to eat the worlds due by the grave and thee when forty winters shall besiege thy brow and dig deep trenches in thy beautys field thy youths proud livery so gazed on now will be a tattered weed of small worth held then being asked where all thy beauty lies where all the treasure of thy lusty days to say within thine own deep sunken eyes were an all eating shame and thriftless praise how much more praise deservd thy beautys use if thou couldst answer this fair child of mine shall sum my count and make my old excuse proving his beauty by succession thine this were to be new made when thou art old and see thy blood warm when thou feelst it cold look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest now is the time that face should form another whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest thou dost beguile the world unbless some mother for where is she so fair whose uneared womb disdains the tillage of thy husbandry or who is he so fond will be the tomb of his self love to stop posterity thou art thy mothers glass and she in thee calls back the lovely april of her prime so thou through windows of thine age shalt see despite of wrinkles this thy golden time but if thou live remembered not to be die single and thine image dies with thee unthrifty loveliness why dost thou spend upon thy self thy beautys legacy natures bequest gives nothing but doth lend and being frank she lends to those are free then beauteous niggard why dost thou abuse the bounteous largess given thee to give profitless usurer why dost thou use so great a sum of sums yet canst not live for having traffic with thy self alone thou of thy self thy sweet self dost deceive then how when nature calls thee to be gone what acceptable audit canst thou leave thy unused beauty must be tombed with thee which used lives th executor to be those hours that with gentle work did frame the lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell will play the tyrants to the very same and that unfair which fairly doth excel for never resting time leads summer on to hideous winter and confounds him there sap checked with frost and lusty leaves quite gone beauty oer snowed and bareness every where then were not summers distillation left a liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass beautys effect with beauty were bereft nor it nor no remembrance what it was but flowers distilled though they with winter meet leese but their show their substance still lives sweet then let not winters ragged hand deface in thee thy summer ere thou be distilled make sweet some vial treasure thou some place with beautys treasure ere it be self killed that use is not forbidden usury which happies those that pay the willing loan thats for thy self to breed another thee or ten times happier be it ten for one ten times thy self were happier than thou art if ten of thine ten times refigured thee then what could death do if thou shouldst depart leaving thee living in posterity be not self willed for thou art much too fair to be deaths conquest and make worms thine heir lo in the orient when the gracious light lifts up his burning head each under eye doth homage to his new appearing sight serving with looks his sacred majesty and having climbed the steep up heavenly hill resembling strong youth in his middle age yet mortal looks adore his beauty still attending on his golden pilgrimage but when from highmost pitch with weary car like feeble age he reeleth from the day the eyes fore duteous now converted are from his low tract and look another way so thou thy self out going in thy noon unlooked on diest unless thou get a son music to hear why hearst thou music sadly sweets with sweets war not joy delights in joy why lovst thou that which thou receivst not gladly or else receivst with pleasure thine annoy if the true concord of well tuned sounds by unions married do offend thine ear they do but sweetly chide thee who confounds in singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear mark how one string sweet husband to another strikes each in each by mutual ordering resembling sire and child and happy mother who all in one one pleasing note do sing whose speechless song being many seeming one sings this to thee thou single wilt prove none is it for fear to wet a widows eye that thou consumst thy self in single life ah if thou issueless shalt hap to die the world will wail thee like a makeless wife the world will be thy widow and still weep that thou no form of thee hast left behind when every private widow well may keep by childrens eyes her husbands shape in mind look what an unthrift in the world doth spend shifts but his place for still the world enjoys it but beautys waste hath in the world an end and kept unused the user so destroys it no love toward others in that bosom sits that on himself such murdrous shame commits for shame deny that thou bearst love to any who for thy self art so unprovident grant if thou wilt thou art beloved of many but that thou none lovst is most evident for thou art so possessed with murdrous hate that gainst thy self thou stickst not to conspire seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate which to repair should be thy chief desire o change thy thought that i may change my mind shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love be as thy presence is gracious and kind or to thy self at least kind hearted prove make thee another self for love of me that beauty still may live in thine or thee as fast as thou shalt wane so fast thou growst in one of thine from that which thou departest and that fresh blood which youngly thou bestowst thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest herein lives wisdom beauty and increase without this folly age and cold decay if all were minded so the times should cease and threescore year would make the world away let those whom nature hath not made for store harsh featureless and rude barrenly perish look whom she best endowed she gave thee more which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish she carved thee for her seal and meant thereby thou shouldst print more not let that copy die when i do count the clock that tells the time and see the brave day sunk in hideous night when i behold the violet past prime and sable curls all silvered oer with white when lofty trees i see barren of leaves which erst from heat did canopy the herd and summers green all girded up in sheaves borne on the bier with white and bristly beard then of thy beauty do i question make that thou among the wastes of time must go since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake and die as fast as they see others grow and nothing gainst times scythe can make defence save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence o that you were your self but love you are no longer yours than you your self here live against this coming end you should prepare and your sweet semblance to some other give so should that beauty which you hold in lease find no determination then you were your self again after your selfs decease when your sweet issue your sweet form should bear who lets so fair a house fall to decay which husbandry in honour might uphold against the stormy gusts of winters day and barren rage of deaths eternal cold o none but unthrifts dear my love you know you had a father let your son say so not from the stars do i my judgement pluck and yet methinks i have astronomy but not to tell of good or evil luck of plagues of dearths or seasons quality nor can i fortune to brief minutes tell pointing to each his thunder rain and wind or say with princes if it shall go well by oft predict that i in heaven find but from thine eyes my knowledge i derive and constant stars in them i read such art as truth and beauty shall together thrive if from thy self to store thou wouldst convert or else of thee this i prognosticate thy end is truths and beautys doom and date when i consider every thing that grows holds in perfection but a little moment that this huge stage presenteth nought but shows whereon the stars in secret influence comment when i perceive that men as plants increase cheered and checked even by the self same sky vaunt in their youthful sap at height decrease and wear their brave state out of memory then the conceit of this inconstant stay sets you most rich in youth before my sight where wasteful time debateth with decay to change your day of youth to sullied night and all in war with time for love of you as he takes from you i engraft you new but wherefore do not you a mightier way make war upon this bloody tyrant time and fortify your self in your decay with means more blessed than my barren rhyme now stand you on the top of happy hours and many maiden gardens yet unset with virtuous wish would bear you living flowers much liker than your painted counterfeit so should the lines of life that life repair which this times pencil or my pupil pen neither in inward worth nor outward fair can make you live your self in eyes of men to give away your self keeps your self still and you must live drawn by your own sweet skill who will believe my verse in time to come if it were filled with your most high deserts though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb which hides your life and shows not half your parts if i could write the beauty of your eyes and in fresh numbers number all your graces the age to come would say this poet lies such heavenly touches neer touched earthly faces so should my papers yellowed with their age be scorned like old men of less truth than tongue and your true rights be termed a poets rage and stretched metre of an antique song but were some child of yours alive that time you should live twice in it and in my rhyme shall i compare thee to a summers day thou art more lovely and more temperate rough winds do shake the darling buds of may and summers lease hath all too short a date sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines and often is his gold complexion dimmed and every fair from fair sometime declines by chance or natures changing course untrimmed but thy eternal summer shall not fade nor lose possession of that fair thou owst nor shall death brag thou wandrest in his shade when in eternal lines to time thou growst so long as men can breathe or eyes can see so long lives this and this gives life to thee devouring time blunt thou the lions paws and make the earth devour her own sweet brood pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tigers jaws and burn the long lived phoenix in her blood make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleetst and do whateer thou wilt swift footed time to the wide world and all her fading sweets but i forbid thee one most heinous crime o carve not with thy hours my loves fair brow nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen him in thy course untainted do allow for beautys pattern to succeeding men yet do thy worst old time despite thy wrong my love shall in my verse ever live young a womans face with natures own hand painted hast thou the master mistress of my passion a womans gentle heart but not acquainted with shifting change as is false womens fashion an eye more bright than theirs less false in rolling gilding the object whereupon it gazeth a man in hue all hues in his controlling which steals mens eyes and womens souls amazeth and for a woman wert thou first created till nature as she wrought thee fell a doting and by addition me of thee defeated by adding one thing to my purpose nothing but since she pricked thee out for womens pleasure mine be thy love and thy loves use their treasure so is it not with me as with that muse stirred by a painted beauty to his verse who heaven it self for ornament doth use and every fair with his fair doth rehearse making a couplement of proud compare with sun and moon with earth and seas rich gems with aprils first born flowers and all things rare that heavens air in this huge rondure hems o let me true in love but truly write and then believe me my love is as fair as any mothers child though not so bright as those gold candles fixed in heavens air let them say more that like of hearsay well i will not praise that purpose not to sell my glass shall not persuade me i am old so long as youth and thou are of one date but when in thee times furrows i behold then look i death my days should expiate for all that beauty that doth cover thee is but the seemly raiment of my heart which in thy breast doth live as thine in me how can i then be elder than thou art o therefore love be of thyself so wary as i not for my self but for thee will bearing thy heart which i will keep so chary as tender nurse her babe from faring ill presume not on thy heart when mine is slain thou gavst me thine not to give back again as an unperfect actor on the stage who with his fear is put beside his part or some fierce thing replete with too much rage whose strengths abundance weakens his own heart so i for fear of trust forget to say the perfect ceremony of loves rite and in mine own loves strength seem to decay oercharged with burthen of mine own loves might o let my looks be then the eloquence and dumb presagers of my speaking breast who plead for love and look for recompense more than that tongue that more hath more expressed o learn to read what silent love hath writ to hear with eyes belongs to loves fine wit mine eye hath played the painter and hath stelled thy beautys form in table of my heart my body is the frame wherein tis held and perspective it is best painters art for through the painter must you see his skill to find where your true image pictured lies which in my bosoms shop is hanging still that hath his windows glazed with thine eyes now see what good turns eyes for eyes have done mine eyes have drawn thy shape and thine for me are windows to my breast where through the sun delights to peep to gaze therein on thee yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art they draw but what they see know not the heart let those who are in favour with their stars of public honour and proud titles boast whilst i whom fortune of such triumph bars unlooked for joy in that i honour most great princes favourites their fair leaves spread but as the marigold at the suns eye and in themselves their pride lies buried for at a frown they in their glory die the painful warrior famoused for fight after a thousand victories once foiled is from the book of honour razed quite and all the rest forgot for which he toiled then happy i that love and am beloved where i may not remove nor be removed lord of my love to whom in vassalage thy merit hath my duty strongly knit to thee i send this written embassage to witness duty not to show my wit duty so great which wit so poor as mine may make seem bare in wanting words to show it but that i hope some good conceit of thine in thy souls thought all naked will bestow it till whatsoever star that guides my moving points on me graciously with fair aspect and puts apparel on my tattered loving to show me worthy of thy sweet respect then may i dare to boast how i do love thee till then not show my head where thou mayst prove me weary with toil i haste me to my bed the dear respose for limbs with travel tired but then begins a journey in my head to work my mind when bodys works expired for then my thoughts from far where i abide intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee and keep my drooping eyelids open wide looking on darkness which the blind do see save that my souls imaginary sight presents thy shadow to my sightless view which like a jewel hung in ghastly night makes black night beauteous and her old face new lo thus by day my limbs by night my mind for thee and for my self no quiet find how can i then return in happy plight that am debarred the benefit of rest when days oppression is not eased by night but day by night and night by day oppressed and each though enemies to eithers reign do in consent shake hands to torture me the one by toil the other to complain how far i toil still farther off from thee i tell the day to please him thou art bright and dost him grace when clouds do blot the heaven so flatter i the swart complexioned night when sparkling stars twire not thou gildst the even but day doth daily draw my sorrows longer and night doth nightly make griefs length seem stronger when in disgrace with fortune and mens eyes i all alone beweep my outcast state and trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries and look upon my self and curse my fate wishing me like to one more rich in hope featured like him like him with friends possessed desiring this mans art and that mans scope with what i most enjoy contented least yet in these thoughts my self almost despising haply i think on thee and then my state like to the lark at break of day arising from sullen earth sings hymns at heavens gate for thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings that then i scorn to change my state with kings when to the sessions of sweet silent thought i summon up remembrance of things past i sigh the lack of many a thing i sought and with old woes new wail my dear times waste then can i drown an eye unused to flow for precious friends hid in deaths dateless night and weep afresh loves long since cancelled woe and moan th expense of many a vanished sight then can i grieve at grievances foregone and heavily from woe to woe tell oer the sad account of fore bemoaned moan which i new pay as if not paid before but if the while i think on thee dear friend all losses are restored and sorrows end thy bosom is endeared with all hearts which i by lacking have supposed dead and there reigns love and all loves loving parts and all those friends which i thought buried how many a holy and obsequious tear hath dear religious love stoln from mine eye as interest of the dead which now appear but things removed that hidden in thee lie thou art the grave where buried love doth live hung with the trophies of my lovers gone who all their parts of me to thee did give that due of many now is thine alone their images i loved i view in thee and thou all they hast all the all of me if thou survive my well contented day when that churl death my bones with dust shall cover and shalt by fortune once more re survey these poor rude lines of thy deceased lover compare them with the bettring of the time and though they be outstripped by every pen reserve them for my love not for their rhyme exceeded by the height of happier men o then vouchsafe me but this loving thought had my friends muse grown with this growing age a dearer birth than this his love had brought to march in ranks of better equipage but since he died and poets better prove theirs for their style ill read his for his love full many a glorious morning have i seen flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye kissing with golden face the meadows green gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy anon permit the basest clouds to ride with ugly rack on his celestial face and from the forlorn world his visage hide stealing unseen to west with this disgrace even so my sun one early morn did shine with all triumphant splendour on my brow but out alack he was but one hour mine the region cloud hath masked him from me now yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth suns of the world may stain when heavens sun staineth why didst thou promise such a beauteous day and make me travel forth without my cloak to let base clouds oertake me in my way hiding thy bravry in their rotten smoke tis not enough that through the cloud thou break to dry the rain on my storm beaten face for no man well of such a salve can speak that heals the wound and cures not the disgrace nor can thy shame give physic to my grief though thou repent yet i have still the loss th offenders sorrow lends but weak relief to him that bears the strong offences cross ah but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds and they are rich and ransom all ill deeds no more be grieved at that which thou hast done roses have thorns and silver fountains mud clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun and loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud all men make faults and even i in this authorizing thy trespass with compare my self corrupting salving thy amiss excusing thy sins more than thy sins are for to thy sensual fault i bring in sense thy adverse party is thy advocate and gainst my self a lawful plea commence such civil war is in my love and hate that i an accessary needs must be to that sweet thief which sourly robs from me let me confess that we two must be twain although our undivided loves are one so shall those blots that do with me remain without thy help by me be borne alone in our two loves there is but one respect though in our lives a separable spite which though it alter not loves sole effect yet doth it steal sweet hours from loves delight i may not evermore acknowledge thee lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame nor thou with public kindness honour me unless thou take that honour from thy name but do not so i love thee in such sort as thou being mine mine is thy good report as a decrepit father takes delight to see his active child do deeds of youth so i made lame by fortunes dearest spite take all my comfort of thy worth and truth for whether beauty birth or wealth or wit or any of these all or all or more entitled in thy parts do crowned sit i make my love engrafted to this store so then i am not lame poor nor despised whilst that this shadow doth such substance give that i in thy abundance am sufficed and by a part of all thy glory live look what is best that best i wish in thee this wish i have then ten times happy me how can my muse want subject to invent while thou dost breathe that pourst into my verse thine own sweet argument too excellent for every vulgar paper to rehearse o give thy self the thanks if aught in me worthy perusal stand against thy sight for whos so dumb that cannot write to thee when thou thy self dost give invention light be thou the tenth muse ten times more in worth than those old nine which rhymers invocate and he that calls on thee let him bring forth eternal numbers to outlive long date if my slight muse do please these curious days the pain be mine but thine shall be the praise o how thy worth with manners may i sing when thou art all the better part of me what can mine own praise to mine own self bring and what ist but mine own when i praise thee even for this let us divided live and our dear love lose name of single one that by this separation i may give that due to thee which thou deservst alone o absence what a torment wouldst thou prove were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave to entertain the time with thoughts of love which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive and that thou teachest how to make one twain by praising him here who doth hence remain take all my loves my love yea take them all what hast thou then more than thou hadst before no love my love that thou mayst true love call all mine was thine before thou hadst this more then if for my love thou my love receivest i cannot blame thee for my love thou usest but yet be blamed if thou thy self deceivest by wilful taste of what thy self refusest i do forgive thy robbery gentle thief although thou steal thee all my poverty and yet love knows it is a greater grief to bear greater wrong than hates known injury lascivious grace in whom all ill well shows kill me with spites yet we must not be foes those pretty wrongs that liberty commits when i am sometime absent from thy heart thy beauty and thy years full well befits for still temptation follows where thou art gentle thou art and therefore to be won beauteous thou art therefore to be assailed and when a woman woos what womans son will sourly leave her till he have prevailed ay me but yet thou mightst my seat forbear and chide thy beauty and thy straying youth who lead thee in their riot even there where thou art forced to break a twofold truth hers by thy beauty tempting her to thee thine by thy beauty being false to me that thou hast her it is not all my grief and yet it may be said i loved her dearly that she hath thee is of my wailing chief a loss in love that touches me more nearly loving offenders thus i will excuse ye thou dost love her because thou knowst i love her and for my sake even so doth she abuse me suffring my friend for my sake to approve her if i lose thee my loss is my loves gain and losing her my friend hath found that loss both find each other and i lose both twain and both for my sake lay on me this cross but heres the joy my friend and i are one sweet flattery then she loves but me alone when most i wink then do mine eyes best see for all the day they view things unrespected but when i sleep in dreams they look on thee and darkly bright are bright in dark directed then thou whose shadow shadows doth make bright how would thy shadows form form happy show to the clear day with thy much clearer light when to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so how would i say mine eyes be blessed made by looking on thee in the living day when in dead night thy fair imperfect shade through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay all days are nights to see till i see thee and nights bright days when dreams do show thee me if the dull substance of my flesh were thought injurious distance should not stop my way for then despite of space i would be brought from limits far remote where thou dost stay no matter then although my foot did stand upon the farthest earth removed from thee for nimble thought can jump both sea and land as soon as think the place where he would be but ah thought kills me that i am not thought to leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone but that so much of earth and water wrought i must attend times leisure with my moan receiving nought by elements so slow but heavy tears badges of eithers woe the other two slight air and purging fire are both with thee wherever i abide the first my thought the other my desire these present absent with swift motion slide for when these quicker elements are gone in tender embassy of love to thee my life being made of four with two alone sinks down to death oppressed with melancholy until lifes composition be recured by those swift messengers returned from thee who even but now come back again assured of thy fair health recounting it to me this told i joy but then no longer glad i send them back again and straight grow sad mine eye and heart are at a mortal war how to divide the conquest of thy sight mine eye my heart thy pictures sight would bar my heart mine eye the freedom of that right my heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie a closet never pierced with crystal eyes but the defendant doth that plea deny and says in him thy fair appearance lies to side this title is impanelled a quest of thoughts all tenants to the heart and by their verdict is determined the clear eyes moiety and the dear hearts part as thus mine eyes due is thy outward part and my hearts right thy inward love of heart betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took and each doth good turns now unto the other when that mine eye is famished for a look or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother with my loves picture then my eye doth feast and to the painted banquet bids my heart another time mine eye is my hearts guest and in his thoughts of love doth share a part so either by thy picture or my love thy self away art present still with me for thou not farther than my thoughts canst move and i am still with them and they with thee or if they sleep thy picture in my sight awakes my heart to hearts and eyes delight how careful was i when i took my way each trifle under truest bars to thrust that to my use it might unused stay from hands of falsehood in sure wards of trust but thou to whom my jewels trifles are most worthy comfort now my greatest grief thou best of dearest and mine only care art left the prey of every vulgar thief thee have i not locked up in any chest save where thou art not though i feel thou art within the gentle closure of my breast from whence at pleasure thou mayst come and part and even thence thou wilt be stoln i fear for truth proves thievish for a prize so dear against that time if ever that time come when i shall see thee frown on my defects when as thy love hath cast his utmost sum called to that audit by advised respects against that time when thou shalt strangely pass and scarcely greet me with that sun thine eye when love converted from the thing it was shall reasons find of settled gravity against that time do i ensconce me here within the knowledge of mine own desert and this my hand against my self uprear to guard the lawful reasons on thy part to leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws since why to love i can allege no cause how heavy do i journey on the way when what i seek my weary travels end doth teach that case and that repose to say thus far the miles are measured from thy friend the beast that bears me tired with my woe plods dully on to bear that weight in me as if by some instinct the wretch did know his rider loved not speed being made from thee the bloody spur cannot provoke him on that sometimes anger thrusts into his hide which heavily he answers with a groan more sharp to me than spurring to his side for that same groan doth put this in my mind my grief lies onward and my joy behind thus can my love excuse the slow offence of my dull bearer when from thee i speed from where thou art why should i haste me thence till i return of posting is no need o what excuse will my poor beast then find when swift extremity can seem but slow then should i spur though mounted on the wind in winged speed no motion shall i know then can no horse with my desire keep pace therefore desire of perfectst love being made shall neigh no dull flesh in his fiery race but love for love thus shall excuse my jade since from thee going he went wilful slow towards thee ill run and give him leave to go so am i as the rich whose blessed key can bring him to his sweet up locked treasure the which he will not every hour survey for blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare since seldom coming in that long year set like stones of worth they thinly placed are or captain jewels in the carcanet so is the time that keeps you as my chest or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide to make some special instant special blest by new unfolding his imprisoned pride blessed are you whose worthiness gives scope being had to triumph being lacked to hope what is your substance whereof are you made that millions of strange shadows on you tend since every one hath every one one shade and you but one can every shadow lend describe adonis and the counterfeit is poorly imitated after you on helens cheek all art of beauty set and you in grecian tires are painted new speak of the spring and foison of the year the one doth shadow of your beauty show the other as your bounty doth appear and you in every blessed shape we know in all external grace you have some part but you like none none you for constant heart o how much more doth beauty beauteous seem by that sweet ornament which truth doth give the rose looks fair but fairer we it deem for that sweet odour which doth in it live the canker blooms have full as deep a dye as the perfumed tincture of the roses hang on such thorns and play as wantonly when summers breath their masked buds discloses but for their virtue only is their show they live unwooed and unrespected fade die to themselves sweet roses do not so of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made and so of you beauteous and lovely youth when that shall fade my verse distills your truth not marble nor the gilded monuments of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme but you shall shine more bright in these contents than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time when wasteful war shall statues overturn and broils root out the work of masonry nor mars his sword nor wars quick fire shall burn the living record of your memory gainst death and all oblivious enmity shall you pace forth your praise shall still find room even in the eyes of all posterity that wear this world out to the ending doom so till the judgment that your self arise you live in this and dwell in lovers eyes sweet love renew thy force be it not said thy edge should blunter be than appetite which but to day by feeding is allayed to morrow sharpened in his former might so love be thou although to day thou fill thy hungry eyes even till they wink with fulness to morrow see again and do not kill the spirit of love with a perpetual dulness let this sad interim like the ocean be which parts the shore where two contracted new come daily to the banks that when they see return of love more blest may be the view or call it winter which being full of care makes summers welcome thrice more wished more rare being your slave what should i do but tend upon the hours and times of your desire i have no precious time at all to spend nor services to do till you require nor dare i chide the world without end hour whilst i my sovereign watch the clock for you nor think the bitterness of absence sour when you have bid your servant once adieu nor dare i question with my jealous thought where you may be or your affairs suppose but like a sad slave stay and think of nought save where you are how happy you make those so true a fool is love that in your will though you do any thing he thinks no ill that god forbid that made me first your slave i should in thought control your times of pleasure or at your hand th account of hours to crave being your vassal bound to stay your leisure o let me suffer being at your beck th imprisoned absence of your liberty and patience tame to sufferance bide each check without accusing you of injury be where you list your charter is so strong that you your self may privilage your time to what you will to you it doth belong your self to pardon of self doing crime i am to wait though waiting so be hell not blame your pleasure be it ill or well if there be nothing new but that which is hath been before how are our brains beguiled which labouring for invention bear amis the second burthen of a former child o that record could with a backward look even of five hundred courses of the sun show me your image in some antique book since mind at first in character was done that i might see what the old world could say to this composed wonder of your frame whether we are mended or whether better they or whether revolution be the same o sure i am the wits of former days to subjects worse have given admiring praise like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore so do our minutes hasten to their end each changing place with that which goes before in sequent toil all forwards do contend nativity once in the main of light crawls to maturity wherewith being crowned crooked eclipses gainst his glory fight and time that gave doth now his gift confound time doth transfix the flourish set on youth and delves the parallels in beautys brow feeds on the rarities of natures truth and nothing stands but for his scythe to mow and yet to times in hope my verse shall stand praising thy worth despite his cruel hand is it thy will thy image should keep open my heavy eyelids to the weary night dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken while shadows like to thee do mock my sight is it thy spirit that thou sendst from thee so far from home into my deeds to pry to find out shames and idle hours in me the scope and tenure of thy jealousy o no thy love though much is not so great it is my love that keeps mine eye awake mine own true love that doth my rest defeat to play the watchman ever for thy sake for thee watch i whilst thou dost wake elsewhere from me far off with others all too near sin of self love possesseth all mine eye and all my soul and all my every part and for this sin there is no remedy it is so grounded inward in my heart methinks no face so gracious is as mine no shape so true no truth of such account and for my self mine own worth do define as i all other in all worths surmount but when my glass shows me my self indeed beated and chopt with tanned antiquity mine own self love quite contrary i read self so self loving were iniquity tis thee my self that for my self i praise painting my age with beauty of thy days against my love shall be as i am now with times injurious hand crushed and oerworn when hours have drained his blood and filled his brow with lines and wrinkles when his youthful morn hath travelled on to ages steepy night and all those beauties whereof now hes king are vanishing or vanished out of sight stealing away the treasure of his spring for such a time do i now fortify against confounding ages cruel knife that he shall never cut from memory my sweet loves beauty though my lovers life his beauty shall in these black lines be seen and they shall live and he in them still green when i have seen by times fell hand defaced the rich proud cost of outworn buried age when sometime lofty towers i see down rased and brass eternal slave to mortal rage when i have seen the hungry ocean gain advantage on the kingdom of the shore and the firm soil win of the watery main increasing store with loss and loss with store when i have seen such interchange of state or state it self confounded to decay ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate that time will come and take my love away this thought is as a death which cannot choose but weep to have that which it fears to lose since brass nor stone nor earth nor boundless sea but sad mortality oersways their power how with this rage shall beauty hold a plea whose action is no stronger than a flower o how shall summers honey breath hold out against the wrackful siege of battring days when rocks impregnable are not so stout nor gates of steel so strong but time decays o fearful meditation where alack shall times best jewel from times chest lie hid or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back or who his spoil of beauty can forbid o none unless this miracle have might that in black ink my love may still shine bright tired with all these for restful death i cry as to behold desert a beggar born and needy nothing trimmed in jollity and purest faith unhappily forsworn and gilded honour shamefully misplaced and maiden virtue rudely strumpeted and right perfection wrongfully disgraced and strength by limping sway disabled and art made tongue tied by authority and folly doctor like controlling skill and simple truth miscalled simplicity and captive good attending captain ill tired with all these from these would i be gone save that to die i leave my love alone ah wherefore with infection should he live and with his presence grace impiety that sin by him advantage should achieve and lace it self with his society why should false painting imitate his cheek and steal dead seeming of his living hue why should poor beauty indirectly seek roses of shadow since his rose is true why should he live now nature bankrupt is beggared of blood to blush through lively veins for she hath no exchequer now but his and proud of many lives upon his gains o him she stores to show what wealth she had in days long since before these last so bad thus is his cheek the map of days outworn when beauty lived and died as flowers do now before these bastard signs of fair were born or durst inhabit on a living brow before the golden tresses of the dead the right of sepulchres were shorn away to live a second life on second head ere beautys dead fleece made another gay in him those holy antique hours are seen without all ornament it self and true making no summer of anothers green robbing no old to dress his beauty new and him as for a map doth nature store to show false art what beauty was of yore those parts of thee that the worlds eye doth view want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend all tongues the voice of souls give thee that due uttering bare truth even so as foes commend thy outward thus with outward praise is crowned but those same tongues that give thee so thine own in other accents do this praise confound by seeing farther than the eye hath shown they look into the beauty of thy mind and that in guess they measure by thy deeds then churls their thoughts although their eyes were kind to thy fair flower add the rank smell of weeds but why thy odour matcheth not thy show the soil is this that thou dost common grow that thou art blamed shall not be thy defect for slanders mark was ever yet the fair the ornament of beauty is suspect a crow that flies in heavens sweetest air so thou be good slander doth but approve thy worth the greater being wooed of time for canker vice the sweetest buds doth love and thou presentst a pure unstained prime thou hast passed by the ambush of young days either not assailed or victor being charged yet this thy praise cannot be so thy praise to tie up envy evermore enlarged if some suspect of ill masked not thy show then thou alone kingdoms of hearts shouldst owe no longer mourn for me when i am dead than you shall hear the surly sullen bell give warning to the world that i am fled from this vile world with vilest worms to dwell nay if you read this line remember not the hand that writ it for i love you so that i in your sweet thoughts would be forgot if thinking on me then should make you woe o if i say you look upon this verse when i perhaps compounded am with clay do not so much as my poor name rehearse but let your love even with my life decay lest the wise world should look into your moan and mock you with me after i am gone o lest the world should task you to recite what merit lived in me that you should love after my death dear love forget me quite for you in me can nothing worthy prove unless you would devise some virtuous lie to do more for me than mine own desert and hang more praise upon deceased i than niggard truth would willingly impart o lest your true love may seem false in this that you for love speak well of me untrue my name be buried where my body is and live no more to shame nor me nor you for i am shamed by that which i bring forth and so should you to love things nothing worth that time of year thou mayst in me behold when yellow leaves or none or few do hang upon those boughs which shake against the cold bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang in me thou seest the twilight of such day as after sunset fadeth in the west which by and by black night doth take away deaths second self that seals up all in rest in me thou seest the glowing of such fire that on the ashes of his youth doth lie as the death bed whereon it must expire consumed with that which it was nourished by this thou perceivst which makes thy love more strong to love that well which thou must leave ere long but be contented when that fell arrest without all bail shall carry me away my life hath in this line some interest which for memorial still with thee shall stay when thou reviewest this thou dost review the very part was consecrate to thee the earth can have but earth which is his due my spirit is thine the better part of me so then thou hast but lost the dregs of life the prey of worms my body being dead the coward conquest of a wretchs knife too base of thee to be remembered the worth of that is that which it contains and that is this and this with thee remains so are you to my thoughts as food to life or as sweet seasoned showers are to the ground and for the peace of you i hold such strife as twixt a miser and his wealth is found now proud as an enjoyer and anon doubting the filching age will steal his treasure now counting best to be with you alone then bettered that the world may see my pleasure sometime all full with feasting on your sight and by and by clean starved for a look possessing or pursuing no delight save what is had or must from you be took thus do i pine and surfeit day by day or gluttoning on all or all away why is my verse so barren of new pride so far from variation or quick change why with the time do i not glance aside to new found methods and to compounds strange why write i still all one ever the same and keep invention in a noted weed that every word doth almost tell my name showing their birth and where they did proceed o know sweet love i always write of you and you and love are still my argument so all my best is dressing old words new spending again what is already spent for as the sun is daily new and old so is my love still telling what is told thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear thy dial how thy precious minutes waste these vacant leaves thy minds imprint will bear and of this book this learning mayst thou taste the wrinkles which thy glass will truly show of mouthed graves will give thee memory thou by thy dials shady stealth mayst know times thievish progress to eternity look what thy memory cannot contain commit to these waste blanks and thou shalt find those children nursed delivered from thy brain to take a new acquaintance of thy mind these offices so oft as thou wilt look shall profit thee and much enrich thy book so oft have i invoked thee for my muse and found such fair assistance in my verse as every alien pen hath got my use and under thee their poesy disperse thine eyes that taught the dumb on high to sing and heavy ignorance aloft to fly have added feathers to the learneds wing and given grace a double majesty yet be most proud of that which i compile whose influence is thine and born of thee in others works thou dost but mend the style and arts with thy sweet graces graced be but thou art all my art and dost advance as high as learning my rude ignorance whilst i alone did call upon thy aid my verse alone had all thy gentle grace but now my gracious numbers are decayed and my sick muse doth give an other place i grant sweet love thy lovely argument deserves the travail of a worthier pen yet what of thee thy poet doth invent he robs thee of and pays it thee again he lends thee virtue and he stole that word from thy behaviour beauty doth he give and found it in thy cheek he can afford no praise to thee but what in thee doth live then thank him not for that which he doth say since what he owes thee thou thy self dost pay o how i faint when i of you do write knowing a better spirit doth use your name and in the praise thereof spends all his might to make me tongue tied speaking of your fame but since your worth wide as the ocean is the humble as the proudest sail doth bear my saucy bark inferior far to his on your broad main doth wilfully appear your shallowest help will hold me up afloat whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride or being wrecked i am a worthless boat he of tall building and of goodly pride then if he thrive and i be cast away the worst was this my love was my decay or i shall live your epitaph to make or you survive when i in earth am rotten from hence your memory death cannot take although in me each part will be forgotten your name from hence immortal life shall have though i once gone to all the world must die the earth can yield me but a common grave when you entombed in mens eyes shall lie your monument shall be my gentle verse which eyes not yet created shall oer read and tongues to be your being shall rehearse when all the breathers of this world are dead you still shall live such virtue hath my pen where breath most breathes even in the mouths of men i grant thou wert not married to my muse and therefore mayst without attaint oerlook the dedicated words which writers use of their fair subject blessing every book thou art as fair in knowledge as in hue finding thy worth a limit past my praise and therefore art enforced to seek anew some fresher stamp of the time bettering days and do so love yet when they have devised what strained touches rhetoric can lend thou truly fair wert truly sympathized in true plain words by thy true telling friend and their gross painting might be better used where cheeks need blood in thee it is abused i never saw that you did painting need and therefore to your fair no painting set i found or thought i found you did exceed that barren tender of a poets debt and therefore have i slept in your report that you your self being extant well might show how far a modern quill doth come too short speaking of worth what worth in you doth grow this silence for my sin you did impute which shall be most my glory being dumb for i impair not beauty being mute when others would give life and bring a tomb there lives more life in one of your fair eyes than both your poets can in praise devise who is it that says most which can say more than this rich praise that you alone are you in whose confine immured is the store which should example where your equal grew lean penury within that pen doth dwell that to his subject lends not some small glory but he that writes of you if he can tell that you are you so dignifies his story let him but copy what in you is writ not making worse what nature made so clear and such a counterpart shall fame his wit making his style admired every where you to your beauteous blessings add a curse being fond on praise which makes your praises worse my tongue tied muse in manners holds her still while comments of your praise richly compiled reserve their character with golden quill and precious phrase by all the muses filed i think good thoughts whilst other write good words and like unlettered clerk still cry amen to every hymn that able spirit affords in polished form of well refined pen hearing you praised i say tis so tis true and to the most of praise add something more but that is in my thought whose love to you though words come hindmost holds his rank before then others for the breath of words respect me for my dumb thoughts speaking in effect was it the proud full sail of his great verse bound for the prize of all too precious you that did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse making their tomb the womb wherein they grew was it his spirit by spirits taught to write above a mortal pitch that struck me dead no neither he nor his compeers by night giving him aid my verse astonished he nor that affable familiar ghost which nightly gulls him with intelligence as victors of my silence cannot boast i was not sick of any fear from thence but when your countenance filled up his line then lacked i matter that enfeebled mine farewell thou art too dear for my possessing and like enough thou knowst thy estimate the charter of thy worth gives thee releasing my bonds in thee are all determinate for how do i hold thee but by thy granting and for that riches where is my deserving the cause of this fair gift in me is wanting and so my patent back again is swerving thy self thou gavst thy own worth then not knowing or me to whom thou gavst it else mistaking so thy great gift upon misprision growing comes home again on better judgement making thus have i had thee as a dream doth flatter in sleep a king but waking no such matter when thou shalt be disposed to set me light and place my merit in the eye of scorn upon thy side against my self ill fight and prove thee virtuous though thou art forsworn with mine own weakness being best acquainted upon thy part i can set down a story of faults concealed wherein i am attainted that thou in losing me shalt win much glory and i by this will be a gainer too for bending all my loving thoughts on thee the injuries that to my self i do doing thee vantage double vantage me such is my love to thee i so belong that for thy right my self will bear all wrong say that thou didst forsake me for some fault and i will comment upon that offence speak of my lameness and i straight will halt against thy reasons making no defence thou canst not love disgrace me half so ill to set a form upon desired change as ill my self disgrace knowing thy will i will acquaintance strangle and look strange be absent from thy walks and in my tongue thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell lest i too much profane should do it wronk and haply of our old acquaintance tell for thee against my self ill vow debate for i must neer love him whom thou dost hate then hate me when thou wilt if ever now now while the world is bent my deeds to cross join with the spite of fortune make me bow and do not drop in for an after loss ah do not when my heart hath scaped this sorrow come in the rearward of a conquered woe give not a windy night a rainy morrow to linger out a purposed overthrow if thou wilt leave me do not leave me last when other petty griefs have done their spite but in the onset come so shall i taste at first the very worst of fortunes might and other strains of woe which now seem woe compared with loss of thee will not seem so some glory in their birth some in their skill some in their wealth some in their bodys force some in their garments though new fangled ill some in their hawks and hounds some in their horse and every humour hath his adjunct pleasure wherein it finds a joy above the rest but these particulars are not my measure all these i better in one general best thy love is better than high birth to me richer than wealth prouder than garments costs of more delight than hawks and horses be and having thee of all mens pride i boast wretched in this alone that thou mayst take all this away and me most wretchcd make but do thy worst to steal thy self away for term of life thou art assured mine and life no longer than thy love will stay for it depends upon that love of thine then need i not to fear the worst of wrongs when in the least of them my life hath end i see a better state to me belongs than that which on thy humour doth depend thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind since that my life on thy revolt doth lie o what a happy title do i find happy to have thy love happy to die but whats so blessed fair that fears no blot thou mayst be false and yet i know it not so shall i live supposing thou art true like a deceived husband so loves face may still seem love to me though altered new thy looks with me thy heart in other place for there can live no hatred in thine eye therefore in that i cannot know thy change in manys looks the false hearts history is writ in moods and frowns and wrinkles strange but heaven in thy creation did decree that in thy face sweet love should ever dwell whateer thy thoughts or thy hearts workings be thy looks should nothing thence but sweetness tell how like eves apple doth thy beauty grow if thy sweet virtue answer not thy show they that have power to hurt and will do none that do not do the thing they most do show who moving others are themselves as stone unmoved cold and to temptation slow they rightly do inherit heavens graces and husband natures riches from expense tibey are the lords and owners of their faces others but stewards of their excellence the summers flower is to the summer sweet though to it self it only live and die but if that flower with base infection meet the basest weed outbraves his dignity for sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds how sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame which like a canker in the fragrant rose doth spot the beauty of thy budding name o in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose that tongue that tells the story of thy days making lascivious comments on thy sport cannot dispraise but in a kind of praise naming thy name blesses an ill report o what a mansion have those vices got which for their habitation chose out thee where beautys veil doth cover every blot and all things turns to fair that eyes can see take heed dear heart of this large privilege the hardest knife ill used doth lose his edge some say thy fault is youth some wantonness some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport both grace and faults are loved of more and less thou makst faults graces that to thee resort as on the finger of a throned queen the basest jewel will be well esteemed so are those errors that in thee are seen to truths translated and for true things deemed how many lambs might the stern wolf betray if like a lamb he could his looks translate how many gazers mightst thou lead away if thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state but do not so i love thee in such sort as thou being mine mine is thy good report how like a winter hath my absence been from thee the pleasure of the fleeting year what freezings have i felt what dark days seen what old decembers bareness everywhere and yet this time removed was summers time the teeming autumn big with rich increase bearing the wanton burden of the prime like widowed wombs after their lords decease yet this abundant issue seemed to me but hope of orphans and unfathered fruit for summer and his pleasures wait on thee and thou away the very birds are mute or if they sing tis with so dull a cheer that leaves look pale dreading the winters near from you have i been absent in the spring when proud pied april dressed in all his trim hath put a spirit of youth in every thing that heavy saturn laughed and leaped with him yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell of different flowers in odour and in hue could make me any summers story tell or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew nor did i wonder at the lilys white nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose they were but sweet but figures of delight drawn after you you pattern of all those yet seemed it winter still and you away as with your shadow i with these did play the forward violet thus did i chide sweet thief whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells if not from my loves breath the purple pride which on thy soft check for complexion dwells in my loves veins thou hast too grossly dyed the lily i condemned for thy hand and buds of marjoram had stoln thy hair the roses fearfully on thorns did stand one blushing shame another white despair a third nor red nor white had stoln of both and to his robbery had annexed thy breath but for his theft in pride of all his growth a vengeful canker eat him up to death more flowers i noted yet i none could see but sweet or colour it had stoln from thee where art thou muse that thou forgetst so long to speak of that which gives thee all thy might spendst thou thy fury on some worthless song darkening thy power to lend base subjects light return forgetful muse and straight redeem in gentle numbers time so idly spent sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem and gives thy pen both skill and argument rise resty muse my loves sweet face survey if time have any wrinkle graven there if any be a satire to decay and make times spoils despised everywhere give my love fame faster than time wastes life so thou preventst his scythe and crooked knife o truant muse what shall be thy amends for thy neglect of truth in beauty dyed both truth and beauty on my love depends so dost thou too and therein dignified make answer muse wilt thou not haply say truth needs no colour with his colour fixed beauty no pencil beautys truth to lay but best is best if never intermixed because he needs no praise wilt thou be dumb excuse not silence so fort lies in thee to make him much outlive a gilded tomb and to be praised of ages yet to be then do thy office muse i teach thee how to make him seem long hence as he shows now my love is strengthened though more weak in seeming i love not less though less the show appear that love is merchandized whose rich esteeming the owners tongue doth publish every where our love was new and then but in the spring when i was wont to greet it with my lays as philomel in summers front doth sing and stops her pipe in growth of riper days not that the summer is less pleasant now than when her mournful hymns did hush the night but that wild music burthens every bough and sweets grown common lose their dear delight therefore like her i sometime hold my tongue because i would not dull you with my song alack what poverty my muse brings forth that having such a scope to show her pride the argument all bare is of more worth than when it hath my added praise beside o blame me not if i no more can write look in your glass and there appears a face that over goes my blunt invention quite dulling my lines and doing me disgrace were it not sinful then striving to mend to mar the subject that before was well for to no other pass my verses tend than of your graces and your gifts to tell and more much more than in my verse can sit your own glass shows you when you look in it to me fair friend you never can be old for as you were when first your eye i eyed such seems your beauty still three winters cold have from the forests shook three summers pride three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turned in process of the seasons have i seen three april perfumes in three hot junes burned since first i saw you fresh which yet are green ah yet doth beauty like a dial hand steal from his figure and no pace perceived so your sweet hue which methinks still doth stand hath motion and mine eye may be deceived for fear of which hear this thou age unbred ere you were born was beautys summer dead let not my love be called idolatry nor my beloved as an idol show since all alike my songs and praises be to one of one still such and ever so kind is my love to day to morrow kind still constant in a wondrous excellence therefore my verse to constancy confined one thing expressing leaves out difference fair kind and true is all my argument fair kind and true varying to other words and in this change is my invention spent three themes in one which wondrous scope affords fair kind and true have often lived alone which three till now never kept seat in one when in the chronicle of wasted time i see descriptions of the fairest wights and beauty making beautiful old rhyme in praise of ladies dead and lovely knights then in the blazon of sweet beautys best of hand of foot of lip of eye of brow i see their antique pen would have expressed even such a beauty as you master now so all their praises are but prophecies of this our time all you prefiguring and for they looked but with divining eyes they had not skill enough your worth to sing for we which now behold these present days have eyes to wonder but lack tongues to praise not mine own fears nor the prophetic soul of the wide world dreaming on things to come can yet the lease of my true love control supposed as forfeit to a confined doom the mortal moon hath her eclipse endured and the sad augurs mock their own presage incertainties now crown themselves assured and peace proclaims olives of endless age now with the drops of this most balmy time my love looks fresh and death to me subscribes since spite of him ill live in this poor rhyme while he insults oer dull and speechless tribes and thou in this shalt find thy monument when tyrants crests and tombs of brass are spent whats in the brain that ink may character which hath not figured to thee my true spirit whats new to speak what now to register that may express my love or thy dear merit nothing sweet boy but yet like prayers divine i must each day say oer the very same counting no old thing old thou mine i thine even as when first i hallowed thy fair name so that eternal love in loves fresh case weighs not the dust and injury of age nor gives to necessary wrinkles place but makes antiquity for aye his page finding the first conceit of love there bred where time and outward form would show it dead o never say that i was false of heart though absence seemed my flame to qualify as easy might i from my self depart as from my soul which in thy breast doth lie that is my home of love if i have ranged like him that travels i return again just to the time not with the time exchanged so that my self bring water for my stain never believe though in my nature reigned all frailties that besiege all kinds of blood that it could so preposterously be stained to leave for nothing all thy sum of good for nothing this wide universe i call save thou my rose in it thou art my all alas tis true i have gone here and there and made my self a motley to the view gored mine own thoughts sold cheap what is most dear made old offences of affections new most true it is that i have looked on truth askance and strangely but by all above these blenches gave my heart another youth and worse essays proved thee my best of love now all is done have what shall have no end mine appetite i never more will grind on newer proof to try an older friend a god in love to whom i am confined then give me welcome next my heaven the best even to thy pure and most most loving breast o for my sake do you with fortune chide the guilty goddess of my harmful deeds that did not better for my life provide than public means which public manners breeds thence comes it that my name receives a brand and almost thence my nature is subdued to what it works in like the dyers hand pity me then and wish i were renewed whilst like a willing patient i will drink potions of eisel gainst my strong infection no bitterness that i will bitter think nor double penance to correct correction pity me then dear friend and i assure ye even that your pity is enough to cure me your love and pity doth th impression fill which vulgar scandal stamped upon my brow for what care i who calls me well or ill so you oer green my bad my good allow you are my all the world and i must strive to know my shames and praises from your tongue none else to me nor i to none alive that my steeled sense or changes right or wrong in so profound abysm i throw all care of others voices that my adders sense to critic and to flatterer stopped are mark how with my neglect i do dispense you are so strongly in my purpose bred that all the world besides methinks are dead since i left you mine eye is in my mind and that which governs me to go about doth part his function and is partly blind seems seeing but effectually is out for it no form delivers to the heart of bird of flower or shape which it doth latch of his quick objects hath the mind no part nor his own vision holds what it doth catch for if it see the rudst or gentlest sight the most sweet favour or deformedst creature the mountain or the sea the day or night the crow or dove it shapes them to your feature incapable of more replete with you my most true mind thus maketh mine untrue or whether doth my mind being crowned with you drink up the monarchs plague this flattery or whether shall i say mine eye saith true and that your love taught it this alchemy to make of monsters and things indigest such cherubins as your sweet self resemble creating every bad a perfect best as fast as objects to his beams assemble o tis the first tis flattery in my seeing and my great mind most kingly drinks it up mine eye well knows what with his gust is greeing and to his palate doth prepare the cup if it be poisoned tis the lesser sin that mine eye loves it and doth first begin those lines that i before have writ do lie even those that said i could not love you dearer yet then my judgment knew no reason why my most full flame should afterwards burn clearer but reckoning time whose millioned accidents creep in twixt vows and change decrees of kings tan sacred beauty blunt the sharpst intents divert strong minds to the course of altring things alas why fearing of times tyranny might i not then say now i love you best when i was certain oer incertainty crowning the present doubting of the rest love is a babe then might i not say so to give full growth to that which still doth grow let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments love is not love which alters when it alteration finds or bends with the remover to remove o no it is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken it is the star to every wandring bark whose worths unknown although his height be taken loves not times fool though rosy lips and cheeks within his bending sickles compass come love alters not with his brief hours and weeks but bears it out even to the edge of doom if this be error and upon me proved i never writ nor no man ever loved accuse me thus that i have scanted all wherein i should your great deserts repay forgot upon your dearest love to call whereto all bonds do tie me day by day that i have frequent been with unknown minds and given to time your own dear purchased right that i have hoisted sail to all the winds which should transport me farthest from your sight book both my wilfulness and errors down and on just proof surmise accumulate bring me within the level of your frown but shoot not at me in your wakened hate since my appeal says i did strive to prove the constancy and virtue of your love like as to make our appetite more keen with eager compounds we our palate urge as to prevent our maladies unseen we sicken to shun sickness when we purge even so being full of your neer cloying sweetness to bitter sauces did i frame my feeding and sick of welfare found a kind of meetness to be diseased ere that there was true needing thus policy in love t anticipate the ills that were not grew to faults assured and brought to medicine a healthful state which rank of goodness would by ill be cured but thence i learn and find the lesson true drugs poison him that so feil sick of you what potions have i drunk of siren tears distilled from limbecks foul as hell within applying fears to hopes and hopes to fears still losing when i saw my self to win what wretched errors hath my heart committed whilst it hath thought it self so blessed never how have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted in the distraction of this madding fever o benefit of ill now i find true that better is by evil still made better and ruined love when it is built anew grows fairer than at first more strong far greater so i return rebuked to my content and gain by ills thrice more than i have spent that you were once unkind befriends me now and for that sorrow which i then did feel needs must i under my transgression bow unless my nerves were brass or hammered steel for if you were by my unkindness shaken as i by yours yhave passed a hell of time and i a tyrant have no leisure taken to weigh how once i suffered in your crime o that our night of woe might have remembered my deepest sense how hard true sorrow hits and soon to you as you to me then tendered the humble salve which wounded bosoms fits but that your trespass now becomes a fee mine ransoms yours and yours must ransom me tis better to be vile than vile esteemed when not to be receives reproach of being and the just pleasure lost which is so deemed not by our feeling but by others seeing for why should others false adulterate eyes give salutation to my sportive blood or on my frailties why are frailer spies which in their wills count bad what i think good no i am that i am and they that level at my abuses reckon up their own i may be straight though they themselves be bevel by their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown unless this general evil they maintain all men are bad and in their badness reign thy gift thy tables are within my brain full charactered with lasting memory which shall above that idle rank remain beyond all date even to eternity or at the least so long as brain and heart have faculty by nature to subsist till each to razed oblivion yield his part of thee thy record never can be missed that poor retention could not so much hold nor need i tallies thy dear love to score therefore to give them from me was i bold to trust those tables that receive thee more to keep an adjunct to remember thee were to import forgetfulness in me no time thou shalt not boast that i do change thy pyramids built up with newer might to me are nothing novel nothing strange they are but dressings of a former sight our dates are brief and therefore we admire what thou dost foist upon us that is old and rather make them born to our desire than think that we before have heard them told thy registers and thee i both defy not wondring at the present nor the past for thy records and what we see doth lie made more or less by thy continual haste this i do vow and this shall ever be i will be true despite thy scythe and thee if my dear love were but the child of state it might for fortunes bastard be unfathered as subject to times love or to times hate weeds among weeds or flowers with flowers gathered no it was builded far from accident it suffers not in smiling pomp nor falls under the blow of thralled discontent whereto th inviting time our fashion calls it fears not policy that heretic which works on leases of short numbered hours but all alone stands hugely politic that it nor grows with heat nor drowns with showers to this i witness call the fools of time which die for goodness who have lived for crime weret aught to me i bore the canopy with my extern the outward honouring or laid great bases for eternity which proves more short than waste or ruining have i not seen dwellers on form and favour lose all and more by paying too much rent for compound sweet forgoing simple savour pitiful thrivers in their gazing spent no let me be obsequious in thy heart and take thou my oblation poor but free which is not mixed with seconds knows no art but mutual render only me for thee hence thou suborned informer a true soul when most impeached stands least in thy control o thou my lovely boy who in thy power dost hold times fickle glass his fickle hour who hast by waning grown and therein showst thy lovers withering as thy sweet self growst if nature sovereign mistress over wrack as thou goest onwards still will pluck thee back she keeps thee to this purpose that her skill may time disgrace and wretched minutes kill yet fear her o thou minion of her pleasure she may detain but not still keep her treasure her audit though delayed answered must be and her quietus is to render thee in the old age black was not counted fair or if it were it bore not beautys name but now is black beautys successive heir and beauty slandered with a bastard shame for since each hand hath put on natures power fairing the foul with arts false borrowed face sweet beauty hath no name no holy bower but is profaned if not lives in disgrace therefore my mistress eyes are raven black her eyes so suited and they mourners seem at such who not born fair no beauty lack slandering creation with a false esteem yet so they mourn becoming of their woe that every tongue says beauty should look so how oft when thou my music music playst upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds with thy sweet fingers when thou gently swayst the wiry concord that mine ear confounds do i envy those jacks that nimble leap to kiss the tender inward of thy hand whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap at the woods boldness by thee blushing stand to be so tickled they would change their state and situation with those dancing chips oer whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait making dead wood more blest than living lips since saucy jacks so happy are in this give them thy fingers me thy lips to kiss th expense of spirit in a waste of shame is lust in action and till action lust is perjured murdrous bloody full of blame savage extreme rude cruel not to trust enjoyed no sooner but despised straight past reason hunted and no sooner had past reason hated as a swallowed bait on purpose laid to make the taker mad mad in pursuit and in possession so had having and in quest to have extreme a bliss in proof and proved a very woe before a joy proposed behind a dream all this the world well knows yet none knows well to shun the heaven that leads men to this hell my mistress eyes are nothing like the sun coral is far more red than her lips red if snow be white why then her breasts are dun if hairs be wires black wires grow on her head i have seen roses damasked red and white but no such roses see i in her cheeks and in some perfumes is there more delight than in the breath that from my mistress reeks i love to hear her speak yet well i know that music hath a far more pleasing sound i grant i never saw a goddess go my mistress when she walks treads on the ground and yet by heaven i think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare thou art as tyrannous so as thou art as those whose beauties proudly make them cruel for well thou knowst to my dear doting heart thou art the fairest and most precious jewel yet in good faith some say that thee behold thy face hath not the power to make love groan to say they err i dare not be so bold although i swear it to my self alone and to be sure that is not false i swear a thousand groans but thinking on thy face one on anothers neck do witness bear thy black is fairest in my judgments place in nothing art thou black save in thy deeds and thence this slander as i think proceeds thine eyes i love and they as pitying me knowing thy heart torment me with disdain have put on black and loving mourners be looking with pretty ruth upon my pain and truly not the morning sun of heaven better becomes the grey cheeks of the east nor that full star that ushers in the even doth half that glory to the sober west as those two mourning eyes become thy face o let it then as well beseem thy heart to mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace and suit thy pity like in every part then will i swear beauty herself is black and all they foul that thy complexion lack beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan for that deep wound it gives my friend and me ist not enough to torture me alone but slave to slavery my sweetst friend must be me from my self thy cruel eye hath taken and my next self thou harder hast engrossed of him my self and thee i am forsaken a torment thrice three fold thus to be crossed prison my heart in thy steel bosoms ward but then my friends heart let my poor heart bail whoeer keeps me let my heart be his guard thou canst not then use rigour in my gaol and yet thou wilt for i being pent in thee perforce am thine and all that is in me so now i have confessed that he is thine and i my self am mortgaged to thy will my self ill forfeit so that other mine thou wilt restore to be my comfort still but thou wilt not nor he will not be free for thou art covetous and he is kind he learned but surety like to write for me under that bond that him as fist doth bind the statute of thy beauty thou wilt take thou usurer that putst forth all to use and sue a friend came debtor for my sake so him i lose through my unkind abuse him have i lost thou hast both him and me he pays the whole and yet am i not free whoever hath her wish thou hast thy will and will to boot and will in overplus more than enough am i that vex thee still to thy sweet will making addition thus wilt thou whose will is large and spacious not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine shall will in others seem right gracious and in my will no fair acceptance shine the sea all water yet receives rain still and in abundance addeth to his store so thou being rich in will add to thy will one will of mine to make thy large will more let no unkind no fair beseechers kill think all but one and me in that one will if thy soul check thee that i come so near swear to thy blind soul that i was thy will and will thy soul knows is admitted there thus far for love my love suit sweet fulfil will will fulfil the treasure of thy love ay fill it full with wills and my will one in things of great receipt with case we prove among a number one is reckoned none then in the number let me pass untold though in thy stores account i one must be for nothing hold me so it please thee hold that nothing me a something sweet to thee make but my name thy love and love that still and then thou lovst me for my name is will thou blind fool love what dost thou to mine eyes that they behold and see not what they see they know what beauty is see where it lies yet what the best is take the worst to be if eyes corrupt by over partial looks be anchored in the bay where all men ride why of eyes falsehood hast thou forged hooks whereto the judgment of my heart is tied why should my heart think that a several plot which my heart knows the wide worlds common place or mine eyes seeing this say this is not to put fair truth upon so foul a face in things right true my heart and eyes have erred and to this false plague are they now transferred when my love swears that she is made of truth i do believe her though i know she lies that she might think me some untutored youth unlearned in the worlds false subtleties thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young although she knows my days are past the best simply i credit her false speaking tongue on both sides thus is simple truth suppressed but wherefore says she not she is unjust and wherefore say not i that i am old o loves best habit is in seeming trust and age in love loves not to have years told therefore i lie with her and she with me and in our faults by lies we flattered be o call not me to justify the wrong that thy unkindness lays upon my heart wound me not with thine eye but with thy tongue use power with power and slay me not by art tell me thou lovst elsewhere but in my sight dear heart forbear to glance thine eye aside what needst thou wound with cunning when thy might is more than my oerpressed defence can bide let me excuse thee ah my love well knows her pretty looks have been mine enemies and therefore from my face she turns my foes that they elsewhere might dart their injuries yet do not so but since i am near slain kill me outright with looks and rid my pain be wise as thou art cruel do not press my tongue tied patience with too much disdain lest sorrow lend me words and words express the manner of my pity wanting pain if i might teach thee wit better it were though not to love yet love to tell me so as testy sick men when their deaths be near no news but health from their physicians know for if i should despair i should grow mad and in my madness might speak ill of thee now this ill wresting world is grown so bad mad slanderers by mad ears believed be that i may not be so nor thou belied bear thine eyes straight though thy proud heart go wide in faith i do not love thee with mine eyes for they in thee a thousand errors note but tis my heart that loves what they despise who in despite of view is pleased to dote nor are mine cars with thy tongues tune delighted nor tender feeling to base touches prone nor taste nor smell desire to be invited to any sensual feast with thee alone but my five wits nor my five senses can dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee who leaves unswayed the likeness of a man thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be only my plague thus far i count my gain that she that makes me sin awards me pain love is my sin and thy dear virtue hate hate of my sin grounded on sinful loving o but with mine compare thou thine own state and thou shalt find it merits not reproving or if it do not from those lips of thine that have profaned their scarlet ornaments and sealed false bonds of love as oft as mine robbed others beds revenues of their rents be it lawful i love thee as thou lovst those whom thine eyes woo as mine importune thee root pity in thy heart that when it grows thy pity may deserve to pitied be if thou dost seek to have what thou dost hide by self example mayst thou be denied lo as a careful huswife runs to catch one of her feathered creatures broke away sets down her babe and makes all swift dispatch in pursuit of the thing she would have stay whilst her neglected child holds her in chase cries to catch her whose busy care is bent to follow that which flies before her face not prizing her poor infants discontent so runst thou after that which flies from thee whilst i thy babe chase thee afar behind but if thou catch thy hope turn back to me and play the mothers part kiss me be kind so will i pray that thou mayst have thy will if thou turn back and my loud crying still two loves i have of comfort and despair which like two spirits do suggest me still the better angel is a man right fair the worser spirit a woman coloured ill to win me soon to hell my female evil tempteth my better angel from my side and would corrupt my saint to be a devil wooing his purity with her foul pride and whether that my angel be turned fiend suspect i may yet not directly tell but being both from me both to each friend i guess one angel in anothers hell yet this shall i neer know but live in doubt till my bad angel fire my good one out those lips that loves own hand did make breathed forth the sound that said i hate to me that languished for her sake but when she saw my woeful state straight in her heart did mercy come chiding that tongue that ever sweet was used in giving gentle doom and taught it thus anew to greet i hate she altered with an end that followed it as gentle day doth follow night who like a fiend from heaven to hell is flown away i hate from hate away she threw and saved my life saying not you poor soul the centre of my sinful earth my sinful earth these rebel powers array why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth painting thy outward walls so costly gay why so large cost having so short a lease dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend shall worms inheritors of this excess eat up thy charge is this thy bodys end then soul live thou upon thy servants loss and let that pine to aggravate thy store buy terms divine in selling hours of dross within be fed without be rich no more so shall thou feed on death that feeds on men and death once dead theres no more dying then my love is as a fever longing still for that which longer nurseth the disease feeding on that which doth preserve the ill th uncertain sickly appetite to please my reason the physician to my love angry that his prescriptions are not kept hath left me and i desperate now approve desire is death which physic did except past cure i am now reason is past care and frantic mad with evermore unrest my thoughts and my discourse as mad mens are at random from the truth vainly expressed for i have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright who art as black as hell as dark as night o me what eyes hath love put in my head which have no correspondence with true sight or if they have where is my judgment fled that censures falsely what they see aright if that be fair whereon my false eyes dote what means the world to say it is not so if it be not then love doth well denote loves eye is not so true as all mens no how can it o how can loves eye be true that is so vexed with watching and with tears no marvel then though i mistake my view the sun it self sees not till heaven clears o cunning love with tears thou keepst me blind lest eyes well seeing thy foul faults should find canst thou o cruel say i love thee not when i against my self with thee partake do i not think on thee when i forgot am of my self all tyrant for thy sake who hateth thee that i do call my friend on whom frownst thou that i do fawn upon nay if thou lourst on me do i not spend revenge upon my self with present moan what merit do i in my self respect that is so proud thy service to despise when all my best doth worship thy defect commanded by the motion of thine eyes but love hate on for now i know thy mind those that can see thou lovst and i am blind o from what power hast thou this powerful might with insufficiency my heart to sway to make me give the lie to my true sight and swear that brightness doth not grace the day whence hast thou this becoming of things ill that in the very refuse of thy deeds there is such strength and warrantise of skill that in my mind thy worst all best exceeds who taught thee how to make me love thee more the more i hear and see just cause of hate o though i love what others do abhor with others thou shouldst not abhor my state if thy unworthiness raised love in me more worthy i to be beloved of thee love is too young to know what conscience is yet who knows not conscience is born of love then gentle cheater urge not my amiss lest guilty of my faults thy sweet self prove for thou betraying me i do betray my nobler part to my gross bodys treason my soul doth tell my body that he may triumph in love flesh stays no farther reason but rising at thy name doth point out thee as his triumphant prize proud of this pride he is contented thy poor drudge to be to stand in thy affairs fall by thy side no want of conscience hold it that i call her love for whose dear love i rise and fall in loving thee thou knowst i am forsworn but thou art twice forsworn to me love swearing in act thy bed vow broke and new faith torn in vowing new hate after new love bearing but why of two oaths breach do i accuse thee when i break twenty i am perjured most for all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee and all my honest faith in thee is lost for i have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness oaths of thy love thy truth thy constancy and to enlighten thee gave eyes to blindness or made them swear against the thing they see for i have sworn thee fair more perjured i to swear against the truth so foul a be cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep a maid of dians this advantage found and his love kindling fire did quickly steep in a cold valley fountain of that ground which borrowed from this holy fire of love a dateless lively heat still to endure and grew a seeting bath which yet men prove against strange maladies a sovereign cure but at my mistress eye loves brand new fired the boy for trial needs would touch my breast i sick withal the help of bath desired and thither hied a sad distempered guest but found no cure the bath for my help lies where cupid got new fire my mistress eyes the little love god lying once asleep laid by his side his heart inflaming brand whilst many nymphs that vowed chaste life to keep came tripping by but in her maiden hand the fairest votary took up that fire which many legions of true hearts had warmed and so the general of hot desire was sleeping by a virgin hand disarmed this brand she quenched in a cool well by which from loves fire took heat perpetual growing a bath and healthful remedy for men discased but i my mistress thrall came there for cure and this by that i prove loves fire heats water water cools not love the end alls well that ends well dramatis personae king of france the duke of florence bertram count of rousillon lafeu an old lord parolles a follower of bertram two french lords serving with bertram steward servant to the countess of rousillon lavache a clown and servant to the countess of rousillon a page servant to the countess of rousillon countess of rousillon mother to bertram helena a gentlewoman protected by the countess a widow of florence diana daughter to the widow violenta neighbour and friend to the widow mariana neighbour and friend to the widow lords officers soldiers etc french and florentine scene rousillon paris florence marseilles act i scene rousillon the counts palace enter bertram the countess of rousillon helena and lafeu all in black countess in delivering my son from me i bury a second husband bertram and i in going madam weep oer my fathers death anew but i must attend his majestys command to whom i am now in ward evermore in subjection lafeu 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 countess what hope is there of his majestys amendment lafeu he hath abandond 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 countess 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 stretchd so far would have made nature immortal and death should have play for lack of work would for the kings sake he were living i think it would be the death of the kings disease lafeu how calld you the man you speak of madam countess he was famous sir in his profession and it was his great right to be so gerard de narbon lafeu he was excellent indeed madam the king very lately spoke of him admiringly and mourningly he was skilful enough to have livd still if knowledge could be set up against mortality bertram what is it my good lord the king languishes of lafeu a fistula my lord bertram i heard not of it before lafeu i would it were not notorious was this gentlewoman the daughter of gerard de narbon countess 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 lafeu your commendations madam get from her tears countess 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 to have helena i do affect a sorrow indeed but i have it too lafeu moderate lamentation is the right of the dead excessive grief the enemy to the living countess if the living be enemy to the grief the excess makes it soon mortal bertram madam i desire your holy wishes lafeu how understand we that countess 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 lifes key be checkd for silence but never taxd for speech what heaven more will that thee may furnish and my prayers pluck down fall on thy head farewell my lord tis an unseasond courtier good my lord advise him lafeu he cannot want the best that shall attend his love countess heaven bless him farewell bertram exit bertram the best wishes that can be forgd in your thoughts be servants to you to helena be comfortable to my mother your mistress and make much of her lafeu farewell pretty lady you must hold the credit of your father exeunt bertram and lafeu helena 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 int but bertrams i am undone there is no living none if bertram be away twere 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 th 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 hearts table heart too capable of every line and trick of his sweet favour but now hes gone and my idolatrous fancy must sanctify his relics who comes here enter parolles aside 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 fixd evils sit so fit in him that they take place when virtues steely bones looks bleak i th cold wind withal full oft we see cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly parolles save you fair queen helena and you monarch parolles no helena and no parolles are you meditating on virginity helena 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 parolles keep him out helena but he assails and our virginity though valiant in the defence yet is weak unfold to us some warlike resistance parolles there is none man setting down before you will undermine you and blow you up helena bless our poor virginity from underminers and blowers up is there no military policy how virgins might blow up men parolles 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 witht helena i will stand for t a little though therefore i die a virgin parolles theres 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 byt out witht within ten year it will make itself ten which is a goodly increase and the principal itself not much the worse away witht helena how might one do sir to lose it to her own liking parolles let me see marry ill to like him that neer it likes tis a commodity will lose the gloss with lying the longer kept the less worth off witht 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 witherd pears it looks ill it eats drily marry tis a witherd pear it was formerly better marry yet tis a witherd pear will you anything with it helena not my virginity yet there shall your master have a thousand loves a mother and a mistress and a friend a phoenix 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 courts a learning place and he is one parolles what one i faith helena that i wish well tis pity parolles whats pity helena that wishing well had not a body int 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 enter page page monsieur parolles my lord calls for you exit page parolles little helen farewell if i can remember thee i will think of thee at court helena monsieur parolles you were born under a charitable star parolles under mars i helena i especially think under mars parolles why under man helena the wars hath so kept you under that you must needs be born under mars parolles when he was predominant helena when he was retrograde i think rather parolles why think you so helena you go so much backward when you fight parolles thats for advantage helena 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 parolles i am so full of business 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 courtiers 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 exit helena 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 kings disease my project may deceive me but my intents are fixd and will not leave me exit act i scene paris the kings palace flourish of cornets enter the king of france with letters and divers attendants king the florentines and senoys are by th ears have fought with equal fortune and continue a braving war first lord so tis reported sir king nay tis most credible we here receive it a certainty vouchd 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 first lord his love and wisdom approvd so to your majesty may plead for amplest credence king he hath armd 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 second lord it well may serve a nursery to our gentry who are sick for breathing and exploit king whats he comes here enter bertram lafeu and parolles first lord it is the count rousillon my good lord young bertram king youth thou bearst thy fathers face frank nature rather curious than in haste hath well composd thee thy fathers moral parts mayst thou inherit too welcome to paris bertram my thanks and duty are your majestys king 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 awakd them and his honour clock to itself knew the true minute when exception bid him speak and at this time his tongue obeyd his hand who were below him he usd as creatures of another place and bowd 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 followed well would demonstrate them now but goers backward bertram 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 king would i were with him he would always say methinks i hear him now his plausive words he scatterd not in ears but grafted them to grow there and to bear let me not live this 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 wishd 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 second lord youre loved sir they that least lend it you shall lack you first king i fill a place i knowt how long ist count since the physician at your fathers died he was much famd bertram some six months since my lord king 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 sons no dearer bertram thank your majesty exeunt flourish act i scene rousillon the counts palace enter countess steward and clown countess i will now hear what say you of this gentlewoman steward 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 countess 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 clown tis not unknown to you madam i am a poor fellow countess well sir clown no madam tis not so well that i am poor though many of the rich are damnd but if i may have your ladyships good will to go to the world isbel the woman and i will do as we may countess wilt thou needs be a beggar clown i do beg your good will in this case countess in what case clown in isbels 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 bames are blessings countess tell me thy reason why thou wilt marry clown my poor body madam requires it i am driven on by the flesh and he must needs go that the devil drives countess is this all your worships reason clown faith madam i have other holy reasons such as they are countess may the world know them clown i have been madam a wicked creature as you and all flesh and blood are and indeed i do marry that i may repent countess thy marriage sooner than thy wickedness clown i am out o friends madam and i hope to have friends for my wifes sake countess such friends are thine enemies knave clown yare 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 hes 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 howsomeer their hearts are severd in religion their heads are both one they may jowl horns together like any deer i th herd countess wilt thou ever be a foul mouthd and calumnious knave clown 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 countess get you gone sir ill talk with you more anon steward may it please you madam that he bid helen come to you of her i am to speak countess sirrah tell my gentlewoman i would speak with her helen i mean clown sings was this fair face the cause quoth she why the grecians sacked troy fond done done fond was this king priams 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 theres yet one good in ten countess what one good in ten you corrupt the song sirrah clown one good woman in ten madam which is a purifying o th song would god would serve the world so all the year wed 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 before every blazing star or at an earthquake twould mend the lottery well a man may draw his heart out ere a pluck one countess youll be gone sir knave and do as i command you clown that man should be at womans 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 exit countess well now steward i know madam you love your gentlewoman entirely countess faith i do her father bequeathd 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 shell demand steward madam i was very late more near her than i think she wishd me alone she was and did communicate to herself her own words to her own ears she thought i dare vow for her they touchd 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 diana no queen of virgins that would suffer her poor knight surprisd without rescue in the first assault or ransom afterward this she deliverd in the most bitter touch of sorrow that eer 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 countess you have dischargd this honestly keep it to yourself many likelihoods informd me of this before which hung so tottring 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 exit steward enter helena even so it was with me when i was young if ever we are natures 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 natures truth where loves strong passion is impressd in youth by our remembrances of days foregone such were our faults or then we thought them none her eye is sick ont i observe her now helena what is your pleasure madam countess you know helen i am a mother to you helena mine honourable mistress countess nay a mother why not a mother when i said a mother methought you saw a serpent whats 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 neer oppressd me with a mothers groan yet i express to you a mothers care gods mercy maiden does it curd thy blood to say i am thy mother whats the matter that this distempered messenger of wet the many colourd iris rounds thine eye why that you are my daughter helena that i am not countess i say i am your mother helena pardon madam the count rousillon cannot be my brother i am from humble he from honoured 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 countess nor i your mother helena 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 cant no other but i your daughter he must be my brother countess 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 catchd your fondness now i see the mystry of your loneliness and find your salt tears head now to all sense tis gross you love my son invention is ashamd 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 ist so if it be so you have wound a goodly clew if it be not forsweart howeer i charge thee as heaven shall work in me for thine avail to tell me truly helena good madam pardon me countess do you love my son helena your pardon noble mistress countess love you my son helena do not you love him madam countess go not about my love hath int a bond whereof the world takes note come come disclose the state of your affection for your passions have to the full appeachd helena 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 sos my love be not offended for it hurts not him that he is lovd 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 countess had you not lately an intent speak truly to go to paris helena madam i had countess wherefore tell true helena i will tell truth by grace itself i swear you know my father left me some prescriptions of rare and provd effects such as his reading and manifest experience had collected for general sovereignty and that he willd me in heedfullst reservation to bestow them as notes whose faculties inclusive were more than they were in note amongst the rest there is a remedy approvd set down to cure the desperate languishings whereof the king is renderd lost countess this was your motive for paris was it speak helena 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 countess 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 embowelld of their doctrine have let off the danger to itself helena theres something int more than my fathers skill which was the greatst of his profession that his good receipt shall for my legacy be sanctified by th luckiest stars in heaven and would your honour but give me leave to try success id venture the well lost life of mine on his graces cure by such a day and hour countess dost thou believet helena ay madam knowingly countess why helen thou shalt have my leave and love means and attendants and my loving greetings to those of mine in court ill stay at home and pray gods blessing into thy attempt be gone to morrow and be sure of this what i can help thee to thou shalt not miss exeunt act ii scene paris the kings palace flourish of cornets enter the king with divers young lords taking leave for the florentine war bertram and parolles attendants king 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 receivd and is enough for both first lord tis our hope sir after well entred soldiers to return and find your grace in health king 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 aloud i say farewell second lord health at your bidding serve your majesty king 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 both our hearts receive your warnings king farewell to attendants come hither to me the king retires attended first lord o my sweet lord that you will stay behind us parolles tis not his fault the spark second lord o tis brave wars parolles most admirable i have seen those wars bertram i am commanded here and kept a coil with too young and next year and tis too early parolles an thy mind stand to t boy steal away bravely bertram 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 ill steal away first lord theres honour in the theft parolles commit it count second lord i am your accessary and so farewell bertram i grow to you and our parting is a torturd body first lord farewell captain second lord sweet monsieur parolles 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 entrenchd it say to him i live and observe his reports for me first lord we shall noble captain parolles mars dote on you for his novices exeunt lords what will ye do re enter the king bertram stay the king parolles use a more spacious ceremony to the noble lords you have restraind 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 receivd star and though the devil lead the measure such are to be followed after them and take a more dilated farewell bertram and i will do so parolles worthy fellows and like to prove most sinewy sword men exeunt bertram and parolles enter lafeu lafeu kneeling pardon my lord for me and for my tidings king ill fee thee to stand up lafeu then heres a man stands that has brought his pardon i would you had kneeld my lord to ask me mercy and that at my bidding you could so stand up king i would i had so i had broke thy pate and askd thee mercy fort lafeu good faith across but my good lord tis thus will you be curd of your infirmity king no lafeu 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 thats 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 ins hand and write to her a love line king what her is this lafeu why doctor she my lord theres one arrivd 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 amazd 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 king now good lafeu bring in the admiration that we with the may spend our wonder too or take off thine by wondring how thou tookst it lafeu nay ill fit you and not be all day neither exit lafeu king thus he his special nothing ever prologues re enter lafeu with helena lafeu nay come your ways king this haste hath wings indeed lafeu 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 cressids uncle that dare leave two together fare you well exit king now fair one does your business follow us helena ay my good lord gerard de narbon was my father in what he did profess well found king i knew him helena the rather will i spare my praises towards him knowing him is enough ons bed of death many receipts he gave me chiefly one which as the dearest issue of his practice and of his old experience th 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 touchd with that malignant cause wherein the honour of my dear fathers gift stands chief in power i come to tender it and my appliance with all bound humbleness king 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 helena 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 king i cannot give thee less to be calld grateful thou thoughtst 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 knowst no part i knowing all my peril thou no art helena 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 king i must not hear thee fare thee well kind maid thy pains not usd must by thyself be paid proffers not took reap thanks for their reward helena inspired merit so by breath is barrd 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 king art thou so confident within what space hopst thou my cure helena the greatest 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 quenchd his sleepy lamp or four and twenty times the pilots 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 king upon thy certainty and confidence what darst thou venture helena tax of impudence a strumpets boldness a divulged shame traducd by odious ballads my maidens name seard otherwise ne worse of worst extended with vilest torture let my life be ended king 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 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 helena if i break time or flinch in property of what i spoke unpitied let me die and well deservd not helping deaths my fee but if i help what do you promise me king make thy demand helena but will you make it even king ay by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven helena 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 king here is my hand the premises observd thy will by my performance shall be servd so make the choice of thy own time for i thy resolvd 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 camst how tended on but rest unquestiond welcome and undoubted blest give me some help here ho if thou proceed as high as word my deed shall match thy deed flourish exeunt act ii scene rousillon the counts palace enter countess and clown countess come on sir i shall now put you to the height of your breeding clown i will show myself highly fed and lowly taught i know my business is but to the court countess to the court why what place make you special when you put off that with such contempt but to the court clown 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 offs 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 countess marry thats a bountiful answer that fits all questions clown it is like a barbers chair that fits all buttocks the pin buttock the quatch buttock the brawn buttock or any buttock countess will your answer serve fit to all questions clown as fit as ten groats is for the hand of an attorney as your french crown for your taffety punk as tibs rush for toms 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 nuns lip to the friars mouth nay as the pudding to his skin countess have you i say an answer of such fitness for all questions clown from below your duke to beneath your constable it will fit any question countess it must be an answer of most monstrous size that must fit all demands clown but a trifle neither in good faith if the learned should speak truth of it here it is and all that belongs tot ask me if i am a courtier it shall do you no harm to learn countess 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 clown o lord sir theres a simple putting off more more a hundred of them countess sir i am a poor friend of yours that loves you clown o lord sir thick thick spare not me countess i think sir you can eat none of this homely meat clown o lord sir nay put me tot i warrant you countess you were lately whippd sir as i think clown o lord sir spare not me countess 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 tot clown i neer had worse luck in my life in my o lord sir i see things may serve long but not serve ever countess i play the noble housewife with the time to entertain it so merrily with a fool clown o lord sir why theret serves well again countess 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 clown not much commendation to them countess not much employment for you you understand me clown most fruitfully i am there before my legs countess haste you again exeunt act ii scene paris the kings palace enter bertram lafeu and parolles lafeu 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 parolles why tis the rarest argument of wonder that hath shot out in our latter times bertram and so tis lafeu to be relinquishd of the artists parolles so i say both of galen and paracelsus lafeu of all the learned and authentic fellows parolles right so i say lafeu that gave him out incurable parolles why there tis so say i too lafeu not to be helpd parolles right as twere a man assurd of a lafeu uncertain life and sure death parolles just you say well so would i have said lafeu i may truly say it is a novelty to the world parolles it is indeed if you will have it in showing you shall read it in what do ye callt here lafeu reading the ballad title a showing of a heavenly effect in an earthly actor parolles thats it i would have said the very same lafeu why your dolphin is not lustier fore me i speak in respect parolles nay tis strange tis very strange that is the brief and the tedious of it and hes of a most facinerious spirit that will not acknowledge it to be the lafeu very hand of heaven parolles ay so i say lafeu in a most weak parolles and debile minister great power great transcendence which should indeed give us a further use to be made than alone the recovry of the king as to be lafeu generally thankful enter king helena and attendants parolles i would have said it you say well here comes the king lafeu lustig as the dutchman says ill like a maid the better whilst i have a tooth in my head why hes able to lead her a coranto parolles mort du vinaigre is not this helen lafeu fore god i think so king go call before me all the lords in court exit an attendant sit my preserver by thy patients side and with this healthful hand whose banishd sense thou has repeald a second time receive the confirmation of my promisd gift which but attends thy naming enter three or four lords fair maid send forth thine eye this youthful parcel of noble bachelors stand at my bestowing oer whom both sovereign power and fathers voice i have to use thy frank election make thou hast power to choose and they none to forsake helena to each of you one fair and virtuous mistress fall when love please marry to each but one lafeu id give bay curtal and his furniture my mouth no more were broken than these boys and writ as little beard king peruse them well not one of those but had a noble father helena gentlemen heaven hath through me restord the king to health all we understand it and thank heaven for you helena 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 refused let the white death sit on thy cheek for ever well neer come there again king make choice and see who shuns thy love shuns all his love in me helena 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 first lord and grant it helena thanks sir all the rest is mute lafeu i had rather be in this choice than throw ames ace for my life helena the honour sir that flames in your fair eyes before i speak too threatningly replies love make your fortunes twenty times above her that so wishes and her humble love second lord no better if you please helena my wish receive which great love grant and so i take my leave lafeu do all they deny her an they were sons of mine id have them whipt or i would send them to th turk to make eunuchs of helena be not afraid that i your hand should take ill never do you wrong for your own sake blessing upon your vows and in your bed find fairer fortune if you ever wed lafeu these boys are boys of ice theyll none have her sure they are bastards to the english the french neer got em helena you are too young too happy and too good to make yourself a son out of my blood fourth lord fair one i think not so lafeu theres one grape yet i am sure thy father drunk wine but if thou best not an ass i am a youth of fourteen i have known thee already helena to bertram 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 king why then young bertram take her shes thy wife bertram my wife my liege i shall beseech your highness in such a business give me leave to use the help of mine own eyes king knowst thou not bertram what she has done for me bertram yes my good lord but never hope to know why i should marry her king thou knowst she has raisd me from my sickly bed bertram but follows it my lord to bring me down must answer for your raising i know her well she had her breeding at my fathers charge a poor physicians daughter my wife disdain rather corrupt me ever king tis only title thou disdainst in her the which i can build up strange is it that our bloods of colour weight and heat pourd all together would quite confound distinction yet stand off in differences so mighty if she be all that is virtuous save what thou dislikst a poor physicians daughter thou dislikst of virtue for the name but do not so from lowest place when virtuous things proceed the place is dignified by the doers deed where great additions swells 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 shes immediate heir and these breed honour that is honours scorn which challenges itself as honours born and is not like the sire honours thrive when rather from our acts we them derive than our fore goers the mere words a slave debauchd on every tomb on every grave a lying trophy and as oft is dumb where dust and damnd oblivion is the tomb of honourd 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 bertram i cannot love her nor will strive to do t king thou wrongst thyself if thou shouldst strive to choose helena that you are well restord my lord im glad let the rest go king my honours 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 that 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 bertram 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 king 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 bertram i take her hand king good fortune and the favour of the king smile upon this contract whose ceremony shall seem expedient on the now born brief and be performd to night the solemn feast shall more attend upon the coming space expecting absent friends as thou lovst her thy loves to me religious else does err exeunt all but lafeu and parolles who stay behind commenting of this wedding lafeu do you hear monsieur a word with you parolles your pleasure sir lafeu your lord and master did well to make his recantation parolles recantation my lord my master lafeu ay is it not a language i speak parolles a most harsh one and not to be understood without bloody succeeding my master lafeu are you companion to the count rousillon parolles to any count to all counts to what is man lafeu to what is counts man counts master is of another style parolles you are too old sir let it satisfy you you are too old lafeu i must tell thee sirrah i write man to which title age cannot bring thee parolles what i dare too well do i dare not do lafeu 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 thourt scarce worth parolles hadst thou not the privilege of antiquity upon thee lafeu 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 parolles my lord you give me most egregious indignity lafeu ay with all my heart and thou art worthy of it parolles i have not my lord deservd it lafeu yes good faith evry dram of it and i will not bate thee a scruple parolles well i shall be wiser lafeu evn as soon as thou canst for thou hast to pull at a smack o th contrary if ever thou best 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 parolles my lord you do me most insupportable vexation lafeu 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 exit parolles 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 ill beat him by my life if i can meet him with any convenience an he were double and double a lord ill have no more pity of his age than i would have of ill beat him and if i could but meet him again re enter lafeu lafeu sirrah your lord and masters married theres news for you you have a new mistress parolles 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 lafeu who god parolles ay sir lafeu the devil it is thats 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 id beat thee methinkst thou art a general offence and every man should beat thee i think thou wast created for men to breathe themselves upon thee parolles this is hard and undeserved measure my lord lafeu 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 commission of your birth and virtue gives you heraldry you are not worth another word else id call you knave i leave you exit enter bertram parolles good very good it is so then good very good let it be conceald awhile bertram undone and forfeited to cares for ever parolles whats the matter sweetheart bertram although before the solemn priest i have sworn i will not bed her parolles what what sweetheart bertram o my parolles they have married me ill to the tuscan wars and never bed her parolles france is a dog hole and it no more merits the tread of a mans foot to th wars bertram theres letters from my mother what th import is i know not yet parolles ay that would be known to th wars my boy to th 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 marss fiery steed to other regions france is a stable we that dwell int jades therefore to th war bertram it shall be so ill 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 parolles will this capriccio hold in thee art sure bertram go with me to my chamber and advise me ill send her straight away to morrow ill to the wars she to her single sorrow parolles why these balls bound theres noise in it tis hard a young man married is a man thats marrd therefore away and leave her bravely go the king has done you wrong but hush tis so exeunt act ii scene paris the kings palace enter helena and clown helena my mother greets me kindly is she well clown she is not well but yet she has her health shes very merry but yet she is not well but thanks be given shes very well and wants nothing i th world but yet she is not well helena if she be very well what does she ail that shes not very well clown truly shes very well indeed but for two things helena what two things clown one that shes not in heaven whither god send her quickly the other that shes in earth from whence god send her quickly enter parolles parolles bless you my fortunate lady helena i hope sir i have your good will to have mine own good fortunes parolles you had my prayers to lead them on and to keep them on have them still o my knave how does my old lady clown so that you had her wrinkles and i her money i would she did as you say parolles why i say nothing clown marry you are the wiser man for many a mans tongue shakes out his masters 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 parolles away thart a knave clown you should have said sir before a knave thart a knave thats before me thart a knave this had been truth sir parolles go to thou art a witty fool i have found thee clown 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 worlds pleasure and the increase of laughter parolles 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 compelld restraint whose want and whose delay is strewd with sweets which they distil now in the curbed time to make the coming hour oerflow with joy and pleasure drown the brim helena whats his else parolles that you will take your instant leave o th king and make this haste as your own good proceeding strengthned with what apology you think may make it probable need helena what more commands he parolles that having this obtaind you presently attend his further pleasure helena in everything i wait upon his will parolles i shall report it so helena i pray you exit parolles come sirrah exeunt act ii scene paris the kings palace enter lafeu and bertram lafeu but i hope your lordship thinks not him a soldier bertram yes my lord and of very valiant approof lafeu you have it from his own deliverance bertram and by other warranted testimony lafeu then my dial goes not true i took this lark for a bunting bertram i do assure you my lord he is very great in knowledge and accordingly valiant lafeu i have then sinnd against his experience and transgressd 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 enter parolles parolles to bertram these things shall be done sir lafeu pray you sir whos his tailor parolles sir lafeu o i know him well ay sir he sir s a good workman a very good tailor bertram aside to parolles is she gone to the king parolles she is bertram will she away to night parolles as youll have her bertram i have writ my letters casketed my treasure given order for our horses and to night when i should take possession of the bride end ere i do begin lafeu 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 bertram is there any unkindness between my lord and you monsieur parolles i know not how i have deserved to run into my lords displeasure lafeu you have made shift to run into t boots and spurs and all like him that leapt into the custard and out of it youll run again rather than suffer question for your residence bertram it may be you have mistaken him my lord lafeu and shall do so ever though i took him ats prayers fare you well my lord and believe this of me there can be no kernal 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 exit parolles an idle lord i swear bertram i think so parolles why do you not know him bertram yes i do know him well and common speech gives him a worthy pass here comes my clog enter helena helena i have sir as i was commanded from you spoke with the king and have procurd his leave for present parting only he desires some private speech with you bertram 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 prepard 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 giving a letter twill be two days ere i shall see you so i leave you to your wisdom helena sir i can nothing say but that i am your most obedient servant bertram come come no more of that helena and ever shall with true observance seek to eke out that wherein toward me my homely stars have faild to equal my great fortune bertram let that go my haste is very great farewell hie home helena pray sir your pardon bertram well what would you say helena 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 bertram what would you have helena 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 bertram i pray you stay not but in haste to horse helena i shall not break your bidding good my lord bertram where are my other men monsieur farewell exit helena go thou toward home where i will never come whilst i can shake my sword or hear the drum away and for our flight parolles bravely coragio exeunt act iii scene florence the dukes palace flourish enter the duke of florence attended two french lords with a troop of soldiers duke so that from point to point now have you hear the fundamental reasons of this war whose great decision hath much blood let forth and more thirsts after first lord holy seems the quarrel upon your graces part black and fearful on the opposer duke therefore we marvel much our cousin france would in so just a business shut his bosom against our borrowing prayers second lord 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 guessd duke be it his pleasure first lord but i am sure the younger of our nature that surfeit on their ease will day by day come here for physic duke 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 th field flourish exeunt act iii scene rousillon the counts palace enter countess and clown countess it hath happend all as i would have had it save that he comes not along with her clown by my troth i take my young lord to be a very melancholy man countess by what observance i pray you clown 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 countess let me see what he writes and when he means to come opening a letter clown i have no mind to isbel since i was at court our old ling and our isbels o th country are nothing like your old ling and your isbels o th court the brains of my cupids knockd out and i begin to love as an old man loves money with no stomach countess what have we here clown een that you have there exit countess reads 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 run 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 bertram 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 misprizing of a maid too virtuous for the contempt of empire re enter clown clown o madam yonder is heavy news within between two soldiers and my young lady countess what is the matter clown nay there is some comfort in the news some comfort your son will not be killd so soon as i thought he would countess why should he be killd clown so say i madam if he run away as i hear he does the danger is in standing to t thats 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 exit enter helena and the two french gentlemen second gentleman save you good madam helena madam my lord is gone for ever gone first gentleman do not say so countess 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 first gentleman madam hes 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 helena look on this letter madam heres my passport reads 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 countess brought you this letter gentlemen first gentleman ay madam and for the contents sake are sorry for our pains countess i prithee lady have a better cheer if thou engrossest all the griefs are thine thou robbst 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 first gentleman ay madam countess and to be a soldier first gentleman such is his noble purpose and believe t the duke will lay upon him all the honour that good convenience claims countess return you thither second gentleman ay madam with the swiftest wing of speed helena reads till i have no wife i have nothing in france tis bitter countess find you that there helena ay madam second gentleman tis but the boldness of his hand haply which his heart was not consenting to countess nothing in france until he have no wife theres 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 second gentleman a servant only and a gentleman which i have sometime known countess parolles was it not second gentleman ay my good lady he countess a very tainted fellow and full of wickedness my son corrupts a well derived nature with his inducement second gentleman indeed good lady the fellow has a deal of that too much which holds him much to have countess yare 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 ill entreat you written to bear along first gentleman we serve you madam in that and all your worthiest affairs countess not so but as we change our courtesies will you draw near exeunt countess and gentlemen helena 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 ist 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 tot and though i kill him not i am the cause his death was so effected better twere i met the ravin lion when he roard 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 officd 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 ill steal away exit act iii scene florence before the dukes palace flourish enter the duke of florence bertram parolles soldiers drum and trumpets duke the general of our horse thou art and we great in our hope lay our best love and credence upon thy promising fortune bertram sir it is a charge too heavy for my strength but yet well strive to bear it for your worthy sake to th extreme edge of hazard duke then go thou forth and fortune play upon thy prosperous helm as thy auspicious mistress bertram 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 exeunt act iii scene rousillon the counts palace enter countess and steward countess 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 steward reads i am saint jaques pilgrim thither gone ambitious love hath so in me offended that barefoot 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 dogs the heels of worth he is too good and fair for death and me whom i myself embrace to set him free countess 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 steward pardon me madam if i had given you this at over night she might have been oer taen and yet she writes pursuit would be but vain countess 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 exeunt act iii scene without the walls of florence a tucket afar off enter an old widow of florence her daughter diana violenta and mariana with other citizens widow nay come for if they do approach the city we shall lose all the sight diana they say the french count has done most honourable service widow it is reported that he has taken their greatst commander and that with his own hand he slew the dukes brother tucket we have lost our labour they are gone a contrary way hark you may know by their trumpets mariana come lets 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 widow i have told my neighbour how you have been solicited by a gentleman his companion mariana 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 wreck of maidenhood cannot for all that dissuade succession but that they are limed with the twigs that threatens 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 diana you shall not need to fear me enter helena in the dress of a pilgrim widow i hope so look here comes a pilgrim i know she will lie at my house thither they send one another ill question her god save you pilgrim whither are bound helena to saint jaques le grand where do the palmers lodge i do beseech you widow at the saint francis here beside the port helena is this the way a march afar widow ay marry ist 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 lodgd the rather for i think i know your hostess as ample as myself helena is it yourself widow if you shall please so pilgrim helena i thank you and will stay upon your leisure widow you came i think from france helena i did so widow here you shall see a countryman of yours that has done worthy service helena his name i pray you diana the count rousillon know you such a one helena but by the ear that hears most nobly of him his face i know not diana what someer he is hes bravely taken here he stole from france as tis reported for the king had married him against his liking think you it is so helena ay surely mere the truth i know his lady diana there is a gentleman that serves the count reports but coarsely of her helena whats his name diana monsieur parolles helena 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 examind diana alas poor lady tis a hard bondage to become the wife of a detesting lord widow i sweet good creature wheresoeer she is her heart weighs sadly this young maid might do her a shrewd turn if she pleasd helena how do you mean may be the amorous count solicits her in the unlawful purpose widow he does indeed and brokes with all that can in such a suit corrupt the tender honour of a maid but she is armd for him and keeps her guard in honestest defence enter with drum and colours bertram parolles and the whole army mariana the gods forbid else widow so now they come that is antonio the dukes eldest son that escalus helena which is the frenchman diana he that with the plume tis a most gallant fellow i would he lovd his wife if he were honester he were much goodlier ist not a handsome gentleman helena i like him well diana tis pity he is not honest yonds that same knave that leads him to these places were i his lady i would poison that vile rascal helena which is he diana that jack an apes with scarfs why is he melancholy helena perchance hes hurt i th battle parolles lose our drum well mariana hes shrewdly vexd at something look he has spied us widow marry hang you mariana and your courtesy for a ring carrier exeunt bertram parolles and army widow the troop is past come pilgrim i will bring you where you shall host of enjoind penitents theres four or five to great saint jaques bound already at my house helena 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 both well take your offer kindly exeunt act iii scene camp before florence enter bertram and the two french lords second lord nay good my lord put him tot let him have his way first lord if your lordship find him not a hiding hold me no more in your respect second lord on my life my lord a bubble bertram do you think i am so far deceived in him second lord believe it my lord in mine own direct knowledge without any malice but to speak of him as my kinsman hes a most notable coward an infinite and endless liar an hourly promise breaker the owner of no one good quality worthy your lordships entertainment first lord 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 bertram i would i knew in what particular action to try him first lord none better than to let him fetch off his drum which you hear him so confidently undertake to do second lord 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 hoodwink 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 first lord o for the love of laughter let him fetch his drum he says he has a stratagem fort when your lordship sees the bottom of his success int and to what metal this counterfeit lump of ore will be melted if you give him not john drums entertainment your inclining cannot be removed here he comes enter parolles second lord o for the love of laughter hinder not the honour of his design let him fetch off his drum in any hand bertram how now monsieur this drum sticks sorely in your disposition first lord a pox on t let it go tis but a drum parolles but a drum ist 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 first lord that was not to be blamd in the command of the service it was a disaster of war that caesar himself could not have prevented if he had been there to command bertram well we cannot greatly condemn our success some dishonour we had in the loss of that drum but it is not to be recovered parolles it might have been recovered bertram it might but it is not now parolles 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 bertram why if you have a stomach tot monsieur if you think your mystery in stratagem can bring this instrument of honour again into his 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 our worthiness parolles by the hand of a soldier i will undertake it bertram but you must not now slumber in it parolles ill 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 bertram may i be bold to acquaint his grace you are gone about it parolles i know not what the success will be my lord but the attempt i vow bertram i know th art valiant and to the of thy soldiership will subscribe for thee farewell parolles i love not many words exit second lord 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 damnd than to do t first lord you do not know him my lord as we do certain it is that he will steal himself into a mans favour and for a week escape a great deal of discoveries but when you find him out you have him ever after bertram why do you think he will make no deed at all of this that so seriously he does address himself unto second lord none in the world but return with an invention and clap upon you two or three probable lies but we have almost embossd him you shall see his fall to night for indeed he is not for your lordships respect first lord well make you some sport with the fox ere we case him he was first smokd 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 second lord i must go look my twigs he shall be caught bertram your brother he shall go along with me second lord ast please your lordship ill leave you exit bertram now will i lead you to the house and show you the lass i spoke of first lord but you say shes honest bertram thats 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 th wind tokens and letters which she did re send and this is all i have done shes a fair creature will you go see her first lord with all my heart my lord exeunt act iii scene florence the widows house enter helena and widow helena 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 widow though my estate be falln i was well born nothing acquainted with these businesses and would not put my reputation now in any staining act helena nor would i wish you first give me trust the count he 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 widow i should believe you for you have showd me that which well approves yare great in fortune helena 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 count he woos your daughter lays down his wanton siege before her beauty resolvd to carry her let her in fine consent as well direct her how tis best to bear it now his important blood will nought deny that shell demand a ring the county wears that downward 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 howeer repented after widow now i see the bottom of your purpose helena 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 ill add three thousand crowns to what is passd already widow 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 composd to her unworthiness it nothing steads us to chide him from our eaves for he persists as if his life lay on t helena 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 lets about it exeunt act iv scene without the florentine camp enter second french lord with five or six other soldiers in ambush second lord 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 first soldier good captain let me be th interpreter second lord art not acquainted with him knows he not thy voice first soldier no sir i warrant you second lord but what linsey woolsey has thou to speak to us again first soldier een such as you speak to me second lord he must think us some band of strangers i th adversarys 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 choughs 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 enter parolles parolles ten oclock 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 knockd to 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 second lord this is the first truth that eer thine own tongue was guilty of parolles 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 whats the instance tongue i must put you into a butterwomans mouth and buy myself another of bajazets mule if you prattle me into these perils second lord is it possible he should know what he is and be that he is parolles i would the cutting of my garments would serve the turn or the breaking of my spanish sword second lord we cannot afford you so parolles or the baring of my beard and to say it was in stratagem second lord twould not do parolles or to drown my clothes and say i was strippd second lord hardly serve parolles though i swore i leapd from the window of the citadel second lord how deep parolles thirty fathom second lord three great oaths would scarce make that be believed parolles i would i had any drum of the enemys i would swear i recoverd it second lord you shall hear one anon alarum within parolles a drum now of the enemys second lord throca movousus cargo cargo cargo all cargo cargo cargo villianda par corbo cargo parolles o ransom ransom do not hide mine eyes they blindfold him first soldier boskos thromuldo boskos parolles 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 ill discover that which shall undo the florentine first soldier boskos vauvado i understand thee and can speak thy tongue kerely bonto sir betake thee to thy faith for seventeen poniards are at thy bosom parolles o first soldier o pray pray pray manka revania dulche second lord oscorbidulchos volivorco first soldier the general is content to spare thee yet and hoodwinkd as thou art will lead thee on to gather from thee haply thou mayst inform something to save thy life parolles o let me live and all the secrets of our camp ill show their force their purposes nay ill speak that which you will wonder at first soldier but wilt thou faithfully parolles if i do not damn me first soldier acordo linta come on thou art granted space exit parolles guarded a short alarum within second lord go tell the count rousillon and my brother we have caught the woodcock and will keep him muffled till we do hear from them second soldier captain i will second lord a will betray us all unto ourselves inform on that second soldier so i will sir second lord till then ill keep him dark and safely lockd exeunt act iv scene florence the widows house enter bertram and diana bertram they told me that your name was fontibell diana no my good lord diana bertram 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 diana she then was honest bertram so should you be diana no my mother did but duty such my lord as you owe to your wife bertram no more othat i prithee do not strive against my vows i was compelld to her but i love the by loves own sweet constraint and will for ever do thee all rights of service diana 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 bertram how have i sworn diana tis not the many oaths that makes the truth but the plain single vow that is vowd true what is not holy that we swear not by but take the highst to witness then pray you tell me if i should swear by joves great attributes i lovd 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 unseald at least in my opinion bertram change it change it be not so holy cruel love is holy and my integrity neer knew the crafts that you do charge men with stand no more off but give thyself unto my sick desires who then recovers say thou art mine and ever my love as it begins shall so persever diana i see that men make ropes in such a scarre that well forsake ourselves give me that ring bertram ill lend it thee my dear but have no power to give it from me diana will you not my lord bertram it is an honour longing to our house bequeathed down from many ancestors which were the greatest obloquy i th world in me to lose diana mine honours such a ring my chastitys the jewel of our house bequeathed down from many ancestors which were the greatest obloquy i th world in me to lose thus your own proper wisdom brings in the champion honour on my part against your vain assault bertram here take my ring my house mine honour yea my life be thine and ill be bid by thee diana when midnight comes knock at my chamber window ill order take my mother shall not hear now will i charge you in the band of truth when you have conquerd 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 deliverd and on your finger in the night ill 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 bertram a heaven on earth i have won by wooing thee exit diana 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 ins heart she says all men have the like oaths he had sworn to marry me when his wifes dead therefore ill 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 thinkt no sin to cozen him that would unjustly win exit act iv scene the florentine camp enter the two french lords and two or three soldiers second lord you have not given him his mothers letter first lord i have delivred it an hour since there is something int that stings his nature for on the reading it he changd almost into another man second lord he has much worthy blame laid upon him for shaking off so good a wife and so sweet a lady first lord especially he hath incurred the everlasting displeasure of the king who had even tund his bounty to sing happiness to him i will tell you a thing but you shall let it dwell darkly with you second lord when you have spoken it tis dead and i am the grave of it first lord 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 second lord now god delay our rebellion as we are ourselves what things are we first lord merely our own traitors and as in the common course of all treasons we still see them reveal themselves till they attain to their abhorrd ends so he that in this action contrives against his own nobility in his proper stream oerflows himself second lord is it not meant damnable in us to be trumpeters of our unlawful intents we shall not then have his company to night first lord not till after midnight for he is dieted to his hour second lord that approaches apace i would gladly have him see his company anatomizd that he might take a measure of his own judgments wherein so curiously he had set this counterfeit first lord we will not meddle with him till he come for his presence must be the whip of the other second lord in the meantime what hear you of these wars first lord i hear there is an overture of peace second lord nay i assure you a peace concluded first lord what will count rousillon do then will he travel higher or return again into france second lord i perceive by this demand you are not altogether of his counsel first lord let it be forbid sir so should i be a great deal of his act second lord 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 accomplishd 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 first lord how is this justified second lord the stronger part of it by her own letters which makes 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 confirmd by the rector of the place first lord hath the count all this intelligence second lord ay and the particular confirmations point from point to the full arming of the verity first lord i am heartily sorry that hell be glad of this second lord how mightily sometimes we make us comforts of our losses first lord and how mightily some other times we drown our gain in tears the great dignity that his valour hath here acquird for him shall at home be encountred with a shame as ample second lord the web of our life is of a mingled yarn good and ill together our virtues would be proud if our faults whipt them not and our crimes would despair if they were not cherishd by our virtues enter a messenger how now wheres your master servant 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 second lord they shall be no more than needful there if they were more than they can commend first lord they cannot be too sweet for the kings tartness heres his lordship now enter bertram how now my lord ist not after midnight bertram i have to night dispatchd sixteen businesses a months length apiece by an abstract of success i have congied with the duke done my adieu with his nearest buried a wife mournd for her writ to my lady mother i am returning entertaind 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 second lord if the business be of any difficulty and this morning your departure hence it requires haste of your lordship bertram 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 module has deceivd me like a double meaning prophesier second lord bring him forth exeunt soldiers has sat i th stocks all night poor gallant knave bertram no matter his heels have deservd it in usurping his spurs so long how does he carry himself second lord 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 confessd 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 th stocks and what think you he hath confessd bertram nothing of me has a second lord his confession is taken and it shall be read to his face if your lordship be int as i believe you are you must have the patience to hear it enter parolles guarded and first soldier as interpreter bertram a plague upon him muffled he can say nothing of me second lord hush hush hoodman comes portotartarossa first soldier he calls for the tortures what will you say without em parolles i will confess what i know without constraint if ye pinch me like a pasty i can say no more first soldier bosko chimurcho second lord boblibindo chicurmurco first soldier you are a merciful general our general bids you answer to what i shall ask you out of a note parolles and truly as i hope to live first soldier first demand of him how many horse the duke is strong what say you to that parolles 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 first soldier shall i set down your answer so parolles do ill take the sacrament on t how and which way you will bertram alls one to him what a past saving slave is this second lord yare deceivd my lord this is monsieur parolles the gallant militarist that was his own phrase that had the whole theoric of war in the knot of his scarf and the practice in the chape of his dagger first lord 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 first soldier well thats set down parolles five or six thousand horse i said i will say true or thereabouts set down for ill speak truth second lord hes very near the truth in this bertram but i con him no thanks fort in the nature he delivers it parolles poor rogues i pray you say first soldier well thats set down parolles i humbly thank you sir a truths a truth the rogues are marvellous poor first soldier demand of him of what strength they are a foot what say you to that parolles 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 bertram what shall be done to him second lord nothing but let him have thanks demand of him my condition and what credit i have with the duke first soldier well thats set down you shall demand of him whether one captain dumain be i th camp a frenchman what his reputation is with the duke what his valour honesty 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 parolles i beseech you let me answer to the particular of the intergatories demand them singly first soldier do you know this captain dumain parolles i know him a was a botchers prentice in paris from whence he was whipt for getting the shrieves fool with child a dumb innocent that could not say him nay bertram nay by your leave hold your hands though i know his brains are forfeit to the next tile that falls first soldier well is this captain in the duke of florences camp parolles upon my knowledge he is and lousy second lord nay look not so upon me we shall hear of your lordship anon first soldier what is his reputation with the duke parolles 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 th band i think i have his letter in my pocket first soldier marry well search parolles in good sadness i do not know either it is there or it is upon a file with the dukes other letters in my tent first soldier here tis heres a paper shall i read it to you parolles i do not know if it be it or no bertram our interpreter does it well second lord excellently first soldier reads dian the counts a fool and full of gold parolles that is not the dukes 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 first soldier nay ill read it first by your favour parolles my meaning int 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 bertram damnable both sides rogue first soldier reads 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 neer 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 counts a fool i know it who pays before but not when he does owe it thine as he vowd to thee in thine ear parolles bertram he shall be whipt through the army with this rhyme ins forehead first lord this is your devoted friend sir the manifold linguist and the amnipotent soldier bertram i could endure anything before but a cat and now hes a cat to me first soldier i perceive sir by our generals looks we shall be fain to hang you parolles 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 th stocks or anywhere so i may live first soldier well see what may be done so you confess freely therefore once more to this captain dumain you have answerd to his reputation with the duke and to his valour what is his honesty parolles 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 bedclothes 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 second lord i begin to love him for this bertram for this description of thine honesty a pox upon him for me hes more and more a cat first soldier what say you to his expertness in war parolles faith sir has led the drum before the english tragedians to belie him i will not and more of his soldier ship 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 second lord he hath out villaind villainy so far that the rarity redeems him bertram a pox on him hes a cat still first soldier his qualities being at this poor price i need not to ask you if gold will corrupt him to revolt parolles sir for a cardecue he will sell the fee simple of his salvation the inheritance of it and cut th entail from all remainders and a perpetual succession for it perpetually first soldier whats his brother the other captain dumain first lord why does he ask him of me first soldier whats he parolles een a crow o th 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 outruns any lackey marry in coming on he has the cramp first soldier if your life be saved will you undertake to betray the florentine parolles ay and the captain of his horse count rousillon first soldier ill whisper with the general and know his pleasure parolles aside ill 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 first soldier there is no remedy sir but you must die the general says you that have so traitorously discoverd 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 of with his head parolles o lord sir let me live or let me see my death first soldier that shall you and take your leave of all your friends unmuffling him so look about you know you any here bertram good morrow noble captain first lord god bless you captain parolles second lord god save you noble captain first lord captain what greeting will you to my lord lafeu i am for france second lord 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 id compel it of you but fare you well exeunt bertram and lords first soldier you are undone captain all but your scarf that has a knot on t yet parolles who cannot be crushd with a plot first soldier 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 exit with soldiers parolles yet am i thankful if my heart were great twould burst at this captain ill 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 foold by foolry thrive theres place and means for every man alive ill after them exit act iv scene the widows house enter helena widow and diana helena that you may well perceive i have not wrongd 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 tartars bosom would peep forth and answer thanks i duly am informd 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 well be before our welcome widow gentle madam you never had a servant to whose trust your business was more welcome helena 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 daughters 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 cozend 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 diana let death and honesty go with your impositions i am yours upon your will to suffer helena 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 prepard and time revives us alls well that ends well still the fines the crown whateer the course the end is the renown exeunt act iv scene rousillon the counts palace enter countess lafeu and clown lafeu no no no son was misled with a snipt taffeta fellow there whose villainous saffron would have made all the unbakd 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 advancd by the king than by that red taild humble bee i speak of countess 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 lafeu twas a good lady twas a good lady we may pick a thousand sallets ere we light on such another herb clown indeed sir she was the sweet marjoram of the sallet or rather the herb of grace lafeu they are not sallet herbs you knave they are nose herbs clown i am no great nebuchadnezzar sir i have not much skill in grass lafeu whether dost thou profess thyself a knave or a fool clown a fool sir at a womans service and a knave at a mans lafeu your distinction clown i would cozen the man of his wife and do his service lafeu so you were a knave at his service indeed clown and i would give his wife my bauble sir to do her service lafeu i will subscribe for thee thou art both knave and fool clown at your service lafeu no no no clown why sir if i cannot serve you i can serve as great a prince as you are lafeu whos that a frenchman clown faith sir a has an english name but his fisnomy is more hotter in france than there lafeu what prince is that clown the black prince sir alias the prince of darkness alias the devil lafeu hold thee theres my purse i give thee not this to suggest thee from thy master thou talkst of serve him still clown 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 ins 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 theyll be for the flowry way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire lafeu 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 lookd to without any tricks clown if i put any tricks upon em sir they shall be jades tricks which are their own right by the law of nature exit lafeu a shrewd knave and an unhappy countess so a is my lord thats 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 lafeu i like him well tis not amiss and i was about to tell you since i heard of the good ladys 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 promisd 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 countess with very much content my lord and i wish it happily effected lafeu his highness comes post from marseilles of as able body as when he numberd thirty a will be here to morrow or i am deceivd by him that in such intelligence hath seldom faild countess 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 tal they meet together lafeu madam i was thinking with what manners i might safely be admitted countess you need but plead your honourable privilege lafeu lady of that i have made a bold charter but i thank my god it holds yet re enter clown clown o madam yonders my lord your son with a patch of velvet ons face whether there be a scar under t 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 lafeu a scar nobly got or a noble scar is a good livry of honour so belike is that clown but it is your carbonadod face lafeu let us go see your son i pray you i long to talk with the young noble soldier clown faith theres a dozen of em with delicate fine hats and most courteous feathers which bow the head and nod at every man exeunt act v scene marseilles a street enter helena widow and diana with two attendants helena 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 enter a gentleman in happy time this man may help me to his majestys ear if he would spend his power god save you sir gentleman and you helena sir i have seen you in the court of france gentleman i have been sometimes there helena i do presume sir that you are not falln 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 gentleman whats your will helena 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 gentleman the kings not here helena not here sir gentleman not indeed he hence removd last night and with more haste than is his use widow lord how we lose our pains helena alls well that ends well yet though time seem so adverse and means unfit i do beseech you whither is he gone gentleman marry as i take it to rousillon whither i am going helena 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 gentleman this ill do for you helena and you shall find yourself to be well thankd whateer falls more we must to horse again go go provide exeunt act v scene rousillon the inner court of the counts palace enter clown and parolles parolles 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 fortunes mood and smell somewhat strong of her strong displeasure clown truly fortunes displeasure is but sluttish if it smell so strongly as thou speakst of i will henceforth eat no fish of fortunes buttring prithee allow the wind parolles nay you need not to stop your nose sir i spake but by a metaphor clown indeed sir if your metaphor stink i will stop my nose or against any mans metaphor prithee get thee further parolles pray you sir deliver me this paper clown foh prithee stand away a paper from fortunes close stool to give to a nobleman look here he comes himself enter lafeu here is a pur of fortunes sir or of fortunes cat but not a musk cat that has falln 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 exit parolles my lord i am a man whom fortune hath cruelly scratchd lafeu 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 theres a cardecue for you let the justices make you and fortune friends i am for other business parolles i beseech your honour to hear me one single word lafeu you beg a single penny more come you shall hat save your word parolles my name my good lord is parolles lafeu you beg more than word then cox my passion give me your hand how does your drum parolles o my good lord you were the first that found me lafeu was i in sooth and i was the first that lost thee parolles it lies in you my lord to bring me in some grace for you did bring me out lafeu out upon thee knave dost thou put upon me at once both the office of god and the devil one brings the in grace and the other brings thee out trumpets sound the kings 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 parolles i praise god for you exeunt act v scene rousillon the counts palace flourish enter king countess lafeu the two french lords with attendants king we lost a jewel of her and our esteem was made much poorer by it but your son as mad in folly lackd the sense to know her estimation home countess tis past my liege and i beseech your majesty to make it natural rebellion done i th blaze of youth when oil and fire too strong for reasons force oerbears it and burns on king my honourd lady i have forgiven and forgotten all though my revenges were high bent upon him and watchd the time to shoot lafeu 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 scornd to serve humbly calld mistress king praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear well call him hither we are reconcild 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 do we bury th incensing relics of it let him approach a stranger no offender and inform him so tis our will he should gentleman i shall my liege exit gentleman king what says he to your daughter have you spoke lafeu all that he is hath reference to your highness king then shall we have a match i have letters sent me that sets him high in fame enter bertram lafeu he looks well on t king 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 bertram my high repented blames dear sovereign pardon to me king all is whole not one word more of the consumed time lets take the instant by the forward top for we are old and on our quickst decrees th inaudible and noiseless foot of time steals ere we can effect them you remember the daughter of this lord bertram admiringly my liege at first i stuck my choice upon her ere my heart durst make too bold herald of my tongue where the impression of mine eye infixing contempt his scornful perspective did lend me which warpd the line of every other favour scornd a fair colour or expressd it stoln extended or contracted all proportions to a most hideous object thence it came that she whom all men praisd and whom myself since i have lost have lovd was in mine eye the dust that did offend it king well excusd 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 thats good thats gone our rash 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 whats done while shameful hate sleeps out the afternoon be this sweet helens knell and now forget her send forth your amorous token for fair maudlin the main consents are had and here well stay to see our widowers second marriage day countess which better than the first o dear heaven bless or ere they meet in me o nature cesse lafeu come on my son in whom my houses name must be digested give a favour from you to sparkle in the spirits of my daughter that she may quickly come bertram gives a ring by my old beard and evry hair thats on t helen thats dead was a sweet creature such a ring as this the last that eer i took her leave at court i saw upon her finger bertram hers it was not king now pray you let me see it for mine eye while i was speaking oft was fastend tot 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 bertram my gracious sovereign howeer it pleases you to take it so the ring was never hers countess son on my life i have seen her wear it and she reckond it at her lifes rate lafeu i am sure i saw her wear it bertram you are deceivd my lord she never saw it in florence was it from a casement thrown me wrappd in a paper which containd the name of her that threw it noble she was and thought i stood engagd but when i had subscribd to mine own fortune and informd her fully i could not answer in that course of honour as she had made the overture she ceasd in heavy satisfaction and would never receive the ring again king plutus himself that knows the tinct and multiplying medcine hath not in natures mystery more science than i have in this ring twas mine twas helens 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 calld 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 bertram she never saw it king thou speakst it falsely as i love mine honour and makst 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 guards seize bertram my fore past proofs howeer the matter fall shall tax my fears of little vanity having vainly feard too little away with him well sift this matter further bertram if you shall prove this ring was ever hers you shall as easy prove that i husbanded her bed in florence where she yet never was exit guarded king i am wrappd in dismal thinkings enter a gentleman gentleman gracious sovereign whether i have been to blame or no i know not heres a petition from a florentine who hath for four or five removes come short to tender it herself i undertook it vanquishd 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 king reads the letter 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 honours 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 lafeu i will buy me a son in law in a fair and toll for this ill none of him king the heavens have thought well on thee lafeu to bring forth this discovry seek these suitors go speedily and bring again the count exeunt attendants i am afeard the life of helen lady was foully snatchd countess now justice on the doers enter bertram guarded king i wonder sir sith wives are monsters to you and that you fly them as you swear them lordship yet you desire to marry enter widow and diana what womans that diana 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 widow i am her mother sir whose age and honour both suffer under this complaint we bring and both shall cease without your remedy king come hither count do you know these women bertram my lord i neither can nor will deny but that i know them do they charge me further diana why do you look so strange upon your wife bertram shes none of mine my lord diana if you shall marry you give away this hand and that is mine you give away heavens 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 lafeu to bertram your reputation comes too short for my daughter you are no husband for her bertram my lord this is a fond and desprate creature whom sometime i have laughd with let your highness lay a more noble thought upon mine honour than for to think that i would sink it here king 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 diana good my lord ask him upon his oath if he does think he had not my virginity king what sayst thou to her bertram shes impudent my lord and was a common gamester to the camp diana 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 th camp if i be one countess he blushes and tis it of six preceding ancestors that gem conferrd by testament to th sequent issue hath it been owd and worn this is his wife that rings a thousand proofs king methought you said you saw one here in court could witness it diana i did my lord but loath am to produce so bad an instrument his names parolles lafeu i saw the man to day if man he be king find him and bring him hither exit an attendant bertram what of him hes quoted for a most perfidious slave with all the spots o th world taxd and debauchd whose nature sickens but to speak a truth am i or that or this for what hell utter that will speak anything king she hath that ring of yours bertram i think she has certain it is i likd her and boarded her i th wanton way of youth she knew her distance and did angle for me madding my eagerness with her restraint as all impediments in fancys course are motives of more fancy and in fine her infinite cunning with her modern grace subdud me to her rate she got the ring and i had that which any inferior might at market price have bought diana i must be patient you that have turnd 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 bertram i have it not king what ring was yours i pray you diana sir much like the same upon your finger king know you this ring this ring was his of late diana and this was it i gave him being abed king the story then goes false you threw it him out of a casement diana i have spoke the truth enter parolles bertram my lord i do confess the ring was hers king you boggle shrewdly every feather starts you is this the man you speak of diana ay my lord king tell me sirrah but tell me true i charge you not fearing the displeasure of your master which on your just proceeding ill keep off by him and by this woman here what know you parolles so please your majesty my master hath been an honourable gentleman tricks he hath had in him which gentlemen have king come come to th purpose did he love this woman parolles faith sir he did love her but how king how i pray you parolles he did love her sir as a gentleman loves a woman king how is that parolles he lovd her sir and lovd her not king as thou art a knave and no knave what an equivocal companion is this parolles i am a poor man and at your majestys command lafeu hes a good drum my lord but a naughty orator diana do you know he promisd me marriage parolles faith i know more than ill speak king but wilt thou not speak all thou knowst parolles 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 talkd 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 king 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 diana ay my good lord king where did you buy it or who gave it you diana it was not given me nor i did not buy it king who lent it you diana it was not lent me neither king where did you find it then diana i found it not king if it were yours by none of all these ways how could you give it him diana i never gave it him lafeu this womans an easy glove my lord she goes of and on at pleasure king this ring was mine i gave it his first wife diana it might be yours or hers for aught i know king take her away i do not like her now to prison with her and away with him unless thou tellst me where thou hadst this ring thou diest within this hour diana ill never tell you king take her away diana ill put in bail my liege king i think thee now some common customer diana by jove if ever i knew man twas you king wherefore hast thou accusd him all this while diana because hes guilty and he is not guilty he knows i am no maid and hell swear tot ill 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 mans wife pointing to lafeu king she does abuse our ears to prison with her diana good mother fetch my bail stay royal sir exit widow the jeweller that owes the ring is sent for and he shall surety me but for this lord who hath abusd me as he knows himself though yet he never harmd me here i quit him he knows himself my bed he hath defild and at that time he got his wife with child dead though she be she feels her young one kick so theres my riddle one thats dead is quick and now behold the meaning re enter widow with helena king is there no exorcist beguiles the truer office of mine eyes ist real that i see helena no my good lord tis but the shadow of a wife you see the name and not the thing bertram both both o pardon helena o my good lord when i was like this maid i found you wondrous kind there is your ring and look you heres your letter this it says when from my finger you can get this ring and are by me with child etc this is done will you be mine now you are doubly won bertram if she my liege can make me know this clearly ill love her dearly ever ever dearly helena if it appear not plain and prove untrue deadly divorce step between me and you o my dear mother do i see you living lafeu mine eyes smell onions i shall weep anon to parolles good tom drum lend me a handkercher so i thank thee wait on me home ill make sport with thee let thy curtsies alone they are scurvy ones king let us from point to point this story know to make the even truth in pleasure flow to diana if thou beest yet a fresh uncropped flower choose thou thy husband and ill 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 flourish epilogue epilogue king the kings 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 exeunt omnes the end the tragedy of antony and cleopatra dramatis personae mark antony triumvirs octavius caesar m aemilius lepidus sextus pompeius domitius enobarbus friend to antony ventidius eros scarus dercetas demetrius philo maecenas friend to caesar agrippa dolabella proculeius thyreus gallus menas friend to pompey menecrates varrius taurus lieutenant general to caesar canidius lieutenant general to antony silius an officer in ventidiuss army euphronius an ambassador from antony to caesar alexas attendant on cleopatra mardian seleucus diomedes a soothsayer a clown cleopatra queen of egypt octavia sister to caesar and wife to antony charmian lady attending on cleopatra iras officers soldiers messengers and attendants scene the roman empire act i scene i alexandria cleopatras palace enter demetrius and philo philo nay but this dotage of our generals oerflows the measure those his goodly eyes that oer the files and musters of the war have glowd like plated mars now bend now turn the office and devotion of their view upon a tawny front his captains 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 gipsys lust flourish enter antony cleopatra her ladies the train with eunuchs fanning her look where they come take but good note and you shall see in him the triple pillar of the world transformd into a strumpets fool behold and see cleopatra if it be love indeed tell me how much antony theres beggary in the love that can be reckond cleopatra ill set a bourn how far to be belovd antony then must thou needs find out new heaven new earth enter a messenger messenger news my good lord from rome antony grates me the sum cleopatra nay hear them antony fulvia perchance is angry or who knows if the scarce bearded caesar have not sent his powrful mandate to you do this or this take in that kingdom and enfranchise that performt or else we damn thee antony how my love cleopatra perchance nay and most like you must not stay here longer your dismission is come from caesar therefore hear it antony wheres fulvias process caesars i would say both call in the messengers as i am egypts queen thou blushest antony and that blood of thine is caesars homager else so thy cheek pays shame when shrill tongud fulvia scolds the messengers antony let rome in tiber melt and the wide arch of the rangd 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 emhracing when such a mutual pair and such a twain can dot in which i bind on pain of punishment the world to weet we stand up peerless cleopatra excellent falsehood why did he marry fulvia and not love her ill seem the fool i am not antony will be himself antony but stirrd by cleopatra now for the love of love and her soft hours lets not confound the time with conference harsh theres not a minute of our lives should stretch without some pleasure now what sport to night cleopatra hear the ambassadors antony fie wrangling queen whom everything becomes to chide to laugh to weep whose every passion fully strives to make itself in thee fair and admird no messenger but thine and all alone to night well wander through the streets and note the qualities of people come my queen last night you did desire it speak not to us exeunt antony and cleopatra with the train demetrius is caesar with antonius prizd so slight philo sir sometimes when he is not antony he comes too short of that great property which still should go with antony demetrius 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 exeunt scene ii alexandria cleopatras palace enter charmian iras alexas and a soothsayer charmian lord alexas sweet alexas most anything alexas almost most absolute alexas wheres the soothsayer that you praisd so to th queen o that i knew this husband which you say must charge his horns with garlands alexas soothsayer soothsayer your will charmian is this the man ist you sir that know things soothsayer in natures infinite book of secrecy a little i can read alexas show him your hand enter enobarbus enobarbus bring in the banquet quickly wine enough cleopatras health to drink charmian good sir give me good fortune soothsayer i make not but foresee charmian pray then foresee me one soothsayer you shall be yet far fairer than you are charmian he means in flesh iras no you shall paint when you are old charmian wrinkles forbid alexas vex not his prescience be attentive charmian hush soothsayer you shall be more beloving than beloved charmian i had rather heat my liver with drinking alexas nay hear him charmian 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 caesar and companion me with my mistress soothsayer you shall outlive the lady whom you serve charmian o excellent i love long life better than figs soothsayer you have seen and provd a fairer former fortune than that which is to approach charmian then belike my children shall have no names prithee how many boys and wenches must i have soothsayer if every of your wishes had a womb and fertile every wish a million charmian out fool i forgive thee for a witch alexas you think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes charmian nay come tell iras hers alexas well know all our fortunes enobarbus mine and most of our fortunes to night shall be drunk to bed iras theres a palm presages chastity if nothing else charmian een as the oerflowing nilus presageth famine iras go you wild bedfellow you cannot soothsay charmian nay if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication i cannot scratch mine ear prithee tell her but worky day fortune soothsayer your fortunes are alike iras but how but how give me particulars soothsayer i have said iras am i not an inch of fortune better than she charmian well if you were but an inch of fortune better than i where would you choose it iras not in my husbands nose charmian our worser thoughts heavens 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 fiftyfold a cuckold good isis hear me this prayer though thou deny me a matter of more weight good isis i beseech thee iras amen dear goddess hear that prayer of the people for as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose wivd so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded therefore dear isis keep decorum and fortune him accordingly charmian amen alexas lo now if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold they would make themselves whores but theyld dot enter cleopatra enobarbus hush here comes antony charmian not he the queen cleopatra saw you my lord enobarbus no lady cleopatra was he not here charmian no madam cleopatra he was disposd to mirth but on the sudden a roman thought hath struck him enobarbus enobarbus madam cleopatra seek him and bring him hither wheres alexas alexas here at your service my lord approaches enter antony with a messenger and attendants cleopatra we will not look upon him go with us exeunt cleopatra enobarbus and the rest messenger fulvia thy wife first came into the field antony against my brother lucius messenger ay but soon that war had end and the times state made friends of them jointing their force gainst caesar whose better issue in the war from italy upon the first encounter drave them antony well what worst messenger the nature of bad news infects the teller antony 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 lie death i hear him as he flatterd messenger 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 antony thou wouldst say messenger o my lord antony speak to me home mince not the general tongue name cleopatra as she is calld in rome rail thou in fulvias 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 minds lie still and our ills told us is as our earing fare thee well awhile messenger at your noble pleasure exit antony from sicyon ho the news speak there first attendant the man from sicyon is there such an one second attendant he stays upon your will antony let him appear these strong egyptian fetters i must break or lose myself in dotage enter another messenger with a letter what are you second messenger fulvia thy wife is dead antony where died she second messenger in sicyon her length of sickness with what else more serious importeth thee to know this bears gives the letter antony forbear me exit messenger theres a great spirit gone thus did i desire it what our contempts doth often hurl from us we wish it ours again the present pleasure by revolution lowring does become the opposite of itself shes good being gone the hand could pluck her back that shovd 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 re enter enobarbus enobarbus whats your pleasure sir antony i must with haste from hence enobarbus why then we kill all our women we see how mortal an unkindness is to them if they suffer our departure deaths the word antony i must be gone enobarbus 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 antony she is cunning past mans thought enobarbus 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 showr of rain as well as jove antony would i had never seen her enobarbus o sir you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work which not to have been blest withal would have discredited your travel antony fulvia is dead enobarbus sir antony fulvia is dead enobarbus fulvia antony dead enobarbus why sir give the gods a thankful sacrifice when it pleaseth their deities 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 crownd with consolation your old smock brings forth a new petticoat and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow antony the business she hath broached in the state cannot endure my absence enobarbus and the business you have broachd here cannot be without you especially that of cleopatras which wholly depends on your abode antony 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 to of many our contriving friends in rome petition us at home sextus pompeius hath given the dare to caesar and commands the empire of the sea our slippery people whose love is never linkd 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 th world may danger much is breeding which like the coursers hair hath yet but life and not a serpents poison say our pleasure to such whose place is under us requires our quick remove from hence enobarbus i shall dot exeunt scene iii alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra charmian iras and alexas cleopatra where is he charmian i did not see him since cleopatra see where he is whos 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 exit alexas charmian madam methinks if you did love him dearly you do not hold the method to enforce the like from him cleopatra what should i do i do not charmian in each thing give him way cross him in nothing cleopatra thou teachest like a fool the way to lose him charmian tempt him not so too far i wish forbear in time we hate that which we often fear enter antony but here comes antony cleopatra i am sick and sullen antony i am sorry to give breathing to my purpose cleopatra help me away dear charmian i shall fall it cannot be thus long the sides of nature will not sustain it antony now my dearest queen cleopatra pray you stand farther from me antony whats the matter cleopatra i know by that same eye theres 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 antony the gods best know cleopatra o never was there queen so mightily betrayd yet at the first i saw the treasons planted antony cleopatra 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 antony most sweet queen cleopatra nay pray you seek no colour for your going but bid farewell and go when you sued 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 turnd the greatest liar antony how now lady cleopatra i would i had thy inches thou shouldst know there were a heart in egypt antony hear me queen the strong necessity of time commands our services awhile but my full heart remains in use with you our italy shines oer with civil swords sextus pompeius makes his approaches to the port of rome equality of two domestic powers breed scrupulous faction the hated grown to strength are newly grown to love the condemnd pompey rich in his fathers honour creeps apace into the hearts of such as have not thrived upon the present state whose numbers threaten and quietness grown sick of rest would purge by any desperate change my more particular and that which most with you should safe my going is fulvias death cleopatra though age from folly could not give me freedom it does from childishness can fulvia die antony shes dead my queen look here and at thy sovereign leisure read the garboils she awakd at the last best see when and where she died cleopatra o most false love where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill with sorrowful water now i see i see in fulvias death how mine receivd shall be antony quarrel no more but be prepard to know the purposes i bear which are or cease as you shall give th advice by the fire that quickens nilus slime i go from hence thy soldier servant making peace or war as thou affects cleopatra cut my lace charmian come but let it be i am quickly ill and well so antony loves antony my precious queen forbear and give true evidence to his love which stands an honourable trial cleopatra 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 antony youll heat my blood no more cleopatra you can do better yet but this is meetly antony now by my sword cleopatra 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 antony ill leave you lady cleopatra courteous lord one word sir you and i must part but thats not it sir you and i have lovd but theres not it that you know well something it is i would o my oblivion is a very antony and i am all forgotten antony but that your royalty holds idleness your subject i should take you for idleness itself cleopatra 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 strewd before your feet antony let us go come our separation so abides and flies that thou residing here goes yet with me and i hence fleeting here remain with thee away exeunt scene iv rome caesars house enter octavius caesar reading a letter lepidus and their train caesar you may see lepidus and henceforth know it is not caesars 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 vouchsafd to think he had partners you shall find there a man who is the abstract of all faults that all men follow lepidus 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 nights blackness hereditary rather than purchasd what he cannot change than what he chooses caesar you are too indulgent lets 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 foils when we do bear so great weight in his lightness if he filld his vacancy with his voluptuousness full surfeits and the dryness of his bones call on him fort 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 enter a messenger lepidus heres more news messenger thy biddings have been done and every hour most noble caesar shalt thou have report how tis abroad pompey is strong at sea and it appears he is belovd of those that only have feard caesar to the ports the discontents repair and mens reports give him much wrongd caesar i should have known no less it hath been taught us from the primal state that he which is was wishd until he were and the ebbd man neer lovd till neer worth love comes deard by being lackd this common body like to a vagabond flag upon the stream goes to and back lackeying the varying tide to rot itself with motion messenger caesar 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 ont and flush youth revolt no vessel can peep forth but tis as soon taken as seen for pompeys name strikes more than could his war resisted caesar antony leave thy lascivious wassails when thou once was beaten from modena where thou slewst hirtius and pansa consuls at thy heel did famine follow whom thou foughtst 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 browsd on the alps it is reported thou didst eat strange flesh which some did die to look on and all this it wounds thine honour that i speak it now was borne so like a soldier that thy cheek so much as lankd not lepidus tis pity of him caesar let his shames quickly drive him to rome tis time we twain did show ourselves i th field and to that end assemble we immediate council pompey thrives in our idleness lepidus to morrow caesar i shall be furnishd to inform you rightly both what by sea and land i can be able to front this present time caesar till which encounter it is my business too farewell lepidus farewell my lord what you shall know meantime of stirs abroad i shall beseech you sir to let me be partaker caesar doubt not sir i knew it for my bond exeunt scene v alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra charmian iras and mardian cleopatra charmian charmian madam cleopatra ha ha give me to drink mandragora charmian why madam cleopatra that i might sleep out this great gap of time my antony is away charmian you think of him too much cleopatra o tis treason charmian madam i trust not so cleopatra thou eunuch mardian mardian whats your highness pleasure cleopatra not now to hear thee sing i take no pleasure in aught an eunuch has tis well for thee that being unseminard thy freer thoughts may not fly forth of egypt hast thou affections mardian yes gracious madam cleopatra indeed mardian not in deed madam for i can do nothing but what indeed is honest to be done yet have i fierce affections and think what venus did with mars cleopatra o charmian where thinkst 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 wotst thou whom thou movst the demi atlas of this earth the arm and burgonet of men hes speaking now or murmuring wheres my serpent of old nile for so he calls me now i feed myself with most delicious poison think on me that am with phoebus amorous pinches black and wrinkled deep in time broad fronted caesar 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 enter alexas alexas sovereign of egypt hail cleopatra how much unlike art thou mark antony yet coming from him that great medcine hath with his tinct gilded thee how goes it with my brave mark antony alexas last thing he did dear queen he kissd the last of many doubled kisses this orient pearl his speech sticks in my heart cleopatra mine ear must pluck it thence alexas 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 neighd so high that what i would have spoke was beastly dumbd by him cleopatra what was he sad or merry alexas like to the time o th year between the extremes of hot and cold he was nor sad nor merry cleopatra o well divided disposition note him note him good charmian tis the man but note him he was not sad for he would shine on those that make their looks by his he was not merry which seemd to tell them his remembrance lay in egypt with his joy but between both o heavenly mingle best thou sad or merry the violence of either thee becomes so does it no man else metst thou my posts alexas ay madam twenty several messengers why do you send so thick cleopatra whos 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 caesar so charmian o that brave caesar cleopatra be chokd with such another emphasis say the brave antony charmian the valiant caesar cleopatra by isis i will give thee bloody teeth if thou with caesar paragon again my man of men charmian by your most gracious pardon i sing but after you cleopatra 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 ill unpeople egypt exeunt act ii scene i messina pompeys house enter pompey menecrates and menas in warlike manner pompey if the great gods be just they shall assist the deeds of justest men menecrates know worthy pompey that what they do delay they not deny pompey whiles we are suitors to their throne decays the thing we sue for menecrates we ignorant of ourselves beg often our own harms which the wise powrs deny us for our good so find we profit by losing of our prayers pompey 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 th full mark antony in egypt sits at dinner and will make no wars without doors caesar gets money where he loses hearts lepidus flatters both of both is flatterd but he neither loves nor either cares for him menas caesar and lepidus are in the field a mighty strength they carry pompey where have you this tis false menas from silvius sir pompey he dreams i know they are in rome together looking for antony but all the charms of love salt cleopatra soften thy wand 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 sauce his appetite that sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour even till a lethed dullness enter varrius how now varrius 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 farther travel pompey i could have given less matter a better ear menas i did not think this amorous surfeiter would have donnd 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 egypts widow pluck the neer lust wearied antony menas i cannot hope caesar and antony shall well greet together his wife thats dead did trespasses to caesar his brother warrd upon him although i think not movd by antony pompey i know not menas how lesser enmities may give way to greater weret 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 bet as our gods will havet it only stands our lives upon to use our strongest hands come menas exeunt scene ii rome the house of lepidus enter enobarbus and lepidus lepidus good enobarbus tis a worthy deed and shall become you well to entreat your captain to soft and gentle speech enobarbus i shall entreat him to answer like himself if caesar move him let antony look over caesars head and speak as loud as mars by jupiter were i the wearer of antonius beard i would not shavet to day lepidus tis not a time for private stomaching enobarbus every time serves for the matter that is then born int lepidus but small to greater matters must give way enobarbus not if the small come first lepidus your speech is passion but pray you stir no embers up here comes the noble antony enter antony and ventidius enobarbus and yonder caesar enter caesar maecenas and agrippa antony if we compose well here to parthia hark ventidius caesar i do not know maecenas ask agrippa lepidus noble friends that which combind us was most great and let not a leaner action rend us whats 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 th matter antony tis spoken well were we before our arinies and to fight i should do thus flourish caesar welcome to rome antony thank you caesar sit antony sit sir caesar nay then they sit antony i learn you take things ill which are not so or being concern you not caesar i must be laughd at if or for nothing or a little should say myself offended and with you chiefly i the world more laughd at that i should once name you derogately when to sound your name it not concernd me antony my being in egypt caesar what wast to you caesar 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 antony how intend you practisd caesar you may be pleasd 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 antony 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 youll patch a quarrel as matter whole you have not to make it with it must not be with this caesar you praise yourself by laying defects of judgment to me but you patchd up your excuses antony not so not so i know you could not lack i am certain ont 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 th world is yours which with a snaffle you may pace easy but not such a wife enobarbus would we had all such wives that the men might go to wars with the women antony so much uncurbable her garboils caesar 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 caesar i wrote to you when rioting in alexandria you did pocket up my letters and with taunts did gibe my missive out of audience antony sir he fell upon me ere admitted then three kings i had newly feasted and did want of what i was i th morning but next day i told him of myself which was as much as to have askd him pardon let this fellow be nothing of our strife if we contend out of our question wipe him caesar you have broken the article of your oath which you shall never have tongue to charge me with lepidus soft caesar antony no lepidus let him speak the honour is sacred which he talks on now supposing that i lackd it but on caesar the article of my oath caesar to lend me arms and aid when i requird them the which you both denied antony neglected rather and then when poisoned hours had bound me up from mine own knowledge as nearly as i may ill 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 lepidus tis noble spoken maecenas 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 lepidus worthily spoken maecenas enobarbus or if you borrow one anothers 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 antony thou art a soldier only speak no more enobarbus that truth should be silent i had almost forgot antony you wrong this presence therefore speak no more enobarbus go to then your considerate stone caesar i do not much dislike the matter but the manner of his speech fort cannot be we shall remain in friendship our conditions so diffring in their acts yet if i knew what hoop should hold us stanch from edge to edge o th world i would pursue it agrippa give me leave caesar caesar speak agrippa agrippa thou hast a sister by the mothers side admird octavia great mark antony is now a widower caesar say not so agrippa if cleopatra heard you your reproof were well deservd of rashness antony i am not married caesar let me hear agrippa further speak agrippa 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 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 antony will caesar speak caesar not till he hears how antony is touchd with what is spoke already antony what power is in agrippa if i would say agrippa be it so to make this good caesar the power of caesar and his power unto octavia antony 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 caesar 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 lepidus happily amen antony 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 lepidus time calls upons of us must pompey presently be sought or else he seeks out us antony where lies he caesar about the mount misenum antony what is his strength by land caesar great and increasing but by sea he is an absolute master antony 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 talkd of caesar with most gladness and do invite you to my sisters view whither straight ill lead you antony let us lepidus not lack your company lepidus noble antony not sickness should detain me flourish exeunt all but enobarbus agrippa maecenas maecenas welcome from egypt sir enobarbus half the heart of caesar worthy maecenas my honourable friend agrippa agrippa good enobarbus maecenas we have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested you stayd well byt in egypt enobarbus ay sir we did sleep day out of countenance and made the night light with drinking maecenas eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast and but twelve persons there is this true enobarbus this was but as a fly by an eagle we had much more monstrous matter of feast which worthily deserved noting maecenas shes a most triumphant lady if report be square to her enobarbus when she first met mark antony she pursd up his heart upon the river of cydnus agrippa there she appeard indeed or my reporter devisd well for her enobarbus i will tell you the barge she sat in like a burnishd throne burnd 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 beggard all description she did lie in her pavilion cloth of gold of tissue oerpicturing that venus where we see the fancy out work nature on each side her stood pretty dimpled boys like smiling cupids with divers colourd fans whose wind did seem to glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool and what they undid did agrippa o rare for antony enobarbus her gentlewomen like the nereides so many mermaids tended her i th 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 enthrond i th market place did sit alone whistling to th air which but for vacancy had gone to gaze on cleopatra too and made a gap in nature agrippa rare egyptian enobarbus 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 neer the word of no woman heard speak being barberd ten times oer goes to the feast and for his ordinary pays his heart for what his eyes eat only agrippa royal wench she made great caesar lay his sword to bed he ploughed her and she croppd enobarbus 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 powr breathe forth maecenas now antony must leave her utterly enobarbus 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 maecenas if beauty wisdom modesty can settle the heart of antony octavia is a blessed lottery to him agrippa let us go good enobarbus make yourself my guest whilst you abide here enobarbus humbly sir i thank you exeunt scene iii rome caesars house enter antony caesar octavia between them antony the world and my great office will sometimes divide me from your bosom octavia all which time before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers to them for you antony good night sir my octavia read not my blemishes in the worlds report i have not kept my square but that to come shall all be done by th rule good night dear lady octavia good night sir caesar good night exeunt caesar and octavia enter soothsayer antony now sirrah you do wish yourself in egypt soothsayer would i had never come from thence nor you thither antony if you can your reason soothsayer i see it in my motion have it not in my tongue but yet hie you to egypt again antony say to me whose fortunes shall rise higher caesars or mine soothsayer caesars therefore o antony stay not by his side thy daemon that thy spirit which keeps thee is noble courageous high unmatchable where caesars is not but near him thy angel becomes a fear as being oerpowrd therefore make space enough between you antony speak this no more soothsayer 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 antony get thee gone say to ventidius i would speak with him exit soothsayer 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 inhoopd at odds i will to egypt and though i make this marriage for my peace i th east my pleasure lies enter ventidius o come ventidius you must to parthia your commissions ready follow me and receivet exeunt scene iv rome a street enter lepidus maecenas and agrippa lepidus trouble yourselves no further pray you hasten your generals after agrippa sir mark antony will een but kiss octavia and well follow lepidus till i shall see you in your soldiers dress which will become you both farewell maecenas we shall as i conceive the journey be at th mount before you lepidus lepidus your way is shorter my purposes do draw me much about youll win two days upon me both sir good success lepidus farewell exeunt scene v alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra charmian iras and alexas cleopatra give me some music music moody food of us that trade in love all the music ho enter mardian the eunuch cleopatra let it alone lets to billiards come charmian charmian my arm is sore best play with mardian cleopatra as well a woman with an eunuch playd as with a woman come youll play with me sir mardian as well as i can madam cleopatra and when good will is showd thought come too short the actor may plead pardon ill none now give me mine angle well to th river there my music playing far off i will betray tawny finnd fishes my bended hook shall pierce their slimy jaws and as i draw them up ill think them every one an antony and say ah ha yare caught charmian twas merry when you wagerd on your angling when your diver did hang a salt fish on his hook which he with fervency drew up cleopatra that time o times i laughed him out of patience and that night i laughd 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 enter a messenger o from italy ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears that long time have been barren messenger madam madam cleopatra antonys dead if thou say so villain thou killst 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 lippd and trembled kissing messenger first madam he is well cleopatra why theres 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 messenger good madam hear me cleopatra well go to i will but theres no goodness in thy face if antony be free and healthful why so tart a favour to trumpet such good tidings if not well thou shouldst come like a fury crownd with snakes not like a formal man messenger willt please you hear me cleopatra i have a mind to strike thee ere thou speakst yet if thou say antony lives is well or friends with caesar or not captive to him ill set thee in a shower of gold and hail rich pearls upon thee messenger madam hes well cleopatra well said messenger and friends with caesar cleopatra thart an honest man messenger caesar and he are greater friends than ever cleopatra make thee a fortune from me messenger but yet madam cleopatra 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 hes friends with caesar in state of health thou sayst and thou sayst free messenger free madam no i made no such report hes bound unto octavia cleopatra for what good turn messenger for the best turn i th bed cleopatra i am pale charmian messenger madam hes married to octavia cleopatra the most infectious pestilence upon thee strikes him down messenger good madam patience cleopatra what say you hence strikes him horrible villain or ill spurn thine eyes like balls before me ill unhair thy head she hales him up and down thou shalt be whippd with wire and stewd in brine smarting in lingring pickle messenger gracious madam i that do bring the news made not the match cleopatra 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 messenger hes married madam cleopatra rogue thou hast livd too long draws a knife messenger nay then ill run what mean you madam i have made no fault exit charmian good madam keep yourself within yourself the man is innocent cleopatra 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 charmian he is afeard to come cleopatra 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 enter the messenger again come hither sir though it be honest it is never good to bring bad news give to a gracious message an host of tongues but let ill tidings tell themselves when they be felt messenger i have done my duty cleopatra is he married i cannot hate thee worser than i do if thou again say yes messenger hes married madam cleopatra the gods confound thee dost thou hold there still messenger should i lie madam cleopatra o i would thou didst so half my egypt were submergd and made a cistern for scald snakes go get thee hence hadst thou narcissus in thy face to me thou wouldst appear most ugly he is married messenger i crave your highness pardon cleopatra he is married messenger take no offence that i would not offend you to punish me for what you make me do seems much unequal hes married to octavia cleopatra o that his fault should make a knave of thee that art not what thart 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 exit messenger charmian good your highness patience cleopatra in praising antony i have dispraisd caesar charmian many times madam cleopatra i am paid fort 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 exit alexas let him for ever go let him not charmian though he be painted one way like a gorgon the other ways a mars to mardian bid you alexas bring me word how tall she is pity me charmian but do not speak to me lead me to my chamber exeunt scene vi near misenum flourish enter pompey and menas at one door with drum and trumpet at another caesar antony lepidus enobarbus maecenas agrippa with soldiers marching pompey your hostages i have so have you mine and we shall talk before we fight caesar most meet that first we come to words and therefore have we our written purposes before us sent which if thou hast considered let us know if twill tie up thy discontented sword and carry back to sicily much tall youth that else must perish here pompey 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 caesar who at philippi the good brutus ghosted there saw you labouring for him what wast that movd pale cassius to conspire and what made the all honourd honest roman brutus with the armd 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 angerd ocean foams with which i meant to scourge th ingratitude that despiteful rome cast on my noble father caesar take your time antony thou canst not fear us pompey with thy sails well speak with thee at sea at land thou knowst how much we do oer count thee pompey at land indeed thou dost oer count me of my fathers house but since the cuckoo builds not for himself remain int as thou mayst lepidus be pleasd to tell us for this is from the present how you take the offers we have sent you caesar theres the point antony which do not be entreated to but weigh what it is worth embracd caesar and what may follow to try a larger fortune pompey 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 unhackd edges and bear back our targes undinted all thats our offer pompey know then i came before you here a man prepard 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 caesar and your brother were at blows your mother came to sicily and did find her welcome friendly antony i have heard it pompey and am well studied for a liberal thanks which i do owe you pompey let me have your hand i did not think sir to have met you here antony the beds i th east are soft and thanks to you that calld me timelier than my purpose hither for i have gained byt caesar since i saw you last there is a change upon you pompey 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 lepidus well met here pompey i hope so lepidus thus we are agreed i crave our composition may be written and seald between us caesar thats the next to do pompey well feast each other ere we part and lets draw lots who shall begin antony that will i pompey pompey no antony take the lot but first or last your fine egyptian cookery shall have the fame i have heard that julius caesar grew fat with feasting there antony you have heard much pompey i have fair meanings sir antony and fair words to them pompey then so much have i heard and i have heard apollodorus carried enobarbus no more of that he did so pompey what i pray you enobarbus a certain queen to caesar in a mattress pompey i know thee now how farst thou soldier enobarbus well and well am like to do for i perceive four feasts are toward pompey let me shake thy hand i never hated thee i have seen thee fight when i have envied thy behaviour enobarbus sir i never lovd you much but i ha praisd ye when you have well deservd ten times as much as i have said you did pompey enjoy thy plainness it nothing ill becomes thee aboard my galley i invite you all will you lead lords all shows the way sir pompey come exeunt all but enobarbus and menas menas aside thy father pompey would neer have made this treaty you and i have known sir enobarbus at sea i think menas we have sir enobarbus you have done well by water menas and you by land enobarbus i will praise any man that will praise me though it cannot be denied what i have done by land menas nor what i have done by water enobarbus yes something you can deny for your own safety you have been a great thief by sea menas and you by land enobarbus there i deny my land service but give me your hand menas if our eyes had authority here they might take two thieves kissing menas all mens faces are true whatsomeer their hands are enobarbus but there is never a fair woman has a true face menas no slander they steal hearts enobarbus we came hither to fight with you menas for my part i am sorry it is turnd to a drinking pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune enobarbus if he do sure he cannot weept back again menas yhave said sir we lookd not for mark antony here pray you is he married to cleopatra enobarbus caesar sister is calld octavia menas true sir she was the wife of caius marcellus enobarbus but she is now the wife of marcus antonius menas pray ye sir enobarbus tis true menas then is caesar and he for ever knit together enobarbus if i were bound to divine of this unity i would not prophesy so menas i think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties enobarbus 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 menas who would not have his wife so enobarbus 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 caesar 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 menas and thus it may be come sir will you aboard i have a health for you enobarbus i shall take it sir we have usd our throats in egypt menas come lets away exeunt act scene vii on board pompeys galley off misenum music plays enter two or three servants with a banquet first servant here theyll be man some o their plants are ill rooted already the least wind i th world will blow them down second servant lepidus is high colourd first servant they have made him drink alms drink second servant as they pinch one another by the disposition he cries out no more reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th drink first servant but it raises the greater war between him and his discretion second servant why this it is to have a name in great mens fellowship i had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partizan i could not heave first servant to be calld into a huge sphere and not to be seen to move int are the holes where eyes should be which pitifully disaster the cheeks a sennet sounded enter caesar antony lepidus pompey agrippa maecenas enobarbus menas with other captains antony to caesar thus do they sir they take the flow o th nile by certain scales i th pyramid they know by th 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 lepidus yhave strange serpents there antony ay lepidus lepidus your serpent of egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun so is your crocodile antony they are so pompey sit and some wine a health to lepidus lepidus i am not so well as i should be but ill neer out enobarbus not till you have slept i fear me youll be in till then lepidus nay certainly i have heard the ptolemies pyramises are very goodly things without contradiction i have heard that menas aside to pompey pompey a word pompey aside to menas say in mine ear what ist menas aside to pompey forsake thy seat i do beseech thee captain and hear me speak a word pompey whispers ins ear forbear me till anon this wine for lepidus lepidus what manner o thing is your crocodile antony it is shapd 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 lepidus what colour is it of antony of it own colour too lepidus tis a strange serpent antony tis so and the tears of it are wet caesar will this description satisfy him antony with the health that pompey gives him else he is a very epicure pompey aside to menas go hang sir hang tell me of that away do as i bid you wheres this cup i calld for menas aside to pompey if for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me rise from thy stool pompey aside to menas i think thart mad rises and walks aside the matter menas i have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes pompey thou hast servd me with much faith whats else to say be jolly lords antony these quicksands lepidus keep off them for you sink menas wilt thou be lord of all the world pompey what sayst thou menas wilt thou be lord of the whole world thats twice pompey how should that be menas but entertain it and though you think me poor i am the man will give thee all the world pompey hast thou drunk well menas no pompey i have kept me from the cup thou art if thou darst be the earthly jove whateer the ocean pales or sky inclips is thine if thou wilt hat pompey show me which way menas 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 pompey ah this thou shouldst have done and not have spoke ont in me tis villainy in theet had been good service thou must know tis not my profit that does lead mine honour mine honour it repent that eer thy tongue hath so betrayd thine act being done unknown i should have found it afterwards well done but must condemn it now desist and drink menas aside for this ill never follow thy palld fortunes more who seeks and will not take when once tis offerd shall never find it more pompey this health to lepidus antony bear him ashore ill pledge it for him pompey enobarbus heres to thee menas menas enobarbus welcome pompey fill till the cup be hid enobarbus theres a strong fellow menas pointing to the servant who carries off lepidus menas why enobarbus a bears the third part of the world man seest not menas the third part then is drunk would it were all that it might go on wheels enobarbus drink thou increase the reels menas come pompey this is not yet an alexandrian feast antony it ripens towards it strike the vessels ho heres to caesar caesar i could well forbeart its monstrous labour when i wash my brain and it grows fouler antony be a child o th time caesar possess it ill make answer but i had rather fast from all four days than drink so much in one enobarbus to antony ha my brave emperor shall we dance now the egyptian bacchanals and celebrate our drink pompey lets hat good soldier antony come lets all take hands till that the conquering wine hath steepd our sense in soft and delicate lethe enobarbus all take hands make battery to our ears with the loud music the while ill place you then the boy shall sing the holding every man shall bear as loud as his strong sides can volley music plays enobarbus places them hand in hand the song come thou monarch of the vine plumpy bacchus with pink eyne in thy fats our cares be drownd with thy grapes our hairs be crownd cup us till the world go round cup us till the world go round caesar what would you more pompey good night good brother let me request you off our graver business frowns at this levity gentle lords lets 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 antickd us all what needs more words good night good antony your hand pompey ill try you on the shore antony and shall sir gives your hand pompey o antony you have my fathers house but what we are friends come down into the boat enobarbus take heed you fall not exeunt all but enobarbus and menas menas ill not on shore menas 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 hangd sound out sound a flourish with drums enobarbus hoo says a theres my cap menas hoo noble captain come exeunt act act iii scene i a plain in syria enter ventidius as it were in triumph with silius and other romans officers and soldiers the dead body of pacorus borne before him ventidius now darting parthia art thou struck and now pleasd fortune does of marcus crassus death make me revenger bear the kings sons body before our army thy pacorus orodes pays this for marcus crassus silius 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 ventidius 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 serves away caesar 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 achievd by th minute lost his favour who does i th wars more than his captain can becomes his captains captain and ambition the soldiers 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 silius thou hast ventidius that without the which a soldier and his sword grants scarce distinction thou wilt write to antony ventidius ill humbly signify what in his name that magical word of war we have effected how with his banners and his well paid ranks the neer yet beaten horse of parthia we have jaded out o th field silius where is he now ventidius he purposeth to athens whither with what haste the weight we must convey withs will permit we shall appear before him on there pass along exeunt act scene ii rome caesars house enter agrippa at one door enobarbus at another agrippa what are the brothers parted enobarbus they have dispatchd with pompey he is gone the other three are sealing octavia weeps to part from rome caesar is sad and lepidus since pompeys feast as menas says is troubled with the green sickness agrippa tis a noble lepidus enobarbus a very fine one o how he loves caesar agrippa nay but how dearly he adores mark antony enobarbus caesar why hes the jupiter of men agrippa whats antony the god of jupiter enobarbus spake you of caesar how the nonpareil agrippa o antony o thou arabian bird enobarbus would you praise caesar say caesar go no further agrippa indeed he plied them both with excellent praises enobarbus but he loves caesar 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 caesar kneel down kneel down and wonder agrippa both he loves enobarbus they are his shards and he their beetle trumpets within so this is to horse adieu noble agrippa agrippa good fortune worthy soldier and farewell enter caesar antony lepidus and octavia antony no further sir caesar you take from me a great part of myself use me well int sister prove such a wife as my thoughts make thee and as my farthest 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 lovd without this mean if on both parts this be not cherishd antony make me not offended in your distrust caesar i have said antony 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 caesar farewell my dearest sister fare thee well the elements be kind to thee and make thy spirits all of comfort fare thee well octavia my noble brother antony the aprils in her eyes it is loves spring and these the showers to bring it on be cheerful octavia sir look well to my husbands house and caesar what octavia octavia ill tell you in your ear antony her tongue will not obey her heart nor can her heart inform her tongue the swans down feather that stands upon the swell at the full of tide and neither way inclines enobarbus aside to agrippa will caesar weep agrippa aside to enobarbus he has a cloud ins face enobarbus aside to agrippa he were the worse for that were he a horse so is he being a man agrippa aside to enobarbus why enobarbus when antony found julius caesar dead he cried almost to roaring and he wept when at philippi he found brutus slain enobarbus aside to agrippa that year indeed he was troubled with a rheum what willingly he did confound he waild believet till i weep too caesar no sweet octavia you shall hear from me still the time shall not out go my thinking on you antony come sir come ill wrestle with you in my strength of love look here i have you thus i let you go and give you to the gods caesar adieu be happy lepidus let all the number of the stars give light to thy fair way caesar farewell farewell kisses octavia antony farewell trumpets sound exeunt act scene iii alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra charmian iras and alexas cleopatra where is the fellow alexas half afeard to come cleopatra go to go to enter the messenger as before come hither sir alexas good majesty herod of jewry dare not look upon you but when you are well pleasd cleopatra that herods head ill have but how when antony is gone through whom i might command it come thou near messenger most gracious majesty cleopatra didst thou behold octavia messenger ay dread queen cleopatra where messenger madam in rome i lookd her in the face and saw her led between her brother and mark antony cleopatra is she as tall as me messenger she is not madam cleopatra didst hear her speak is she shrill tongud or low messenger madam i heard her speak she is low voicd cleopatra thats not so good he cannot like her long charmian like her o isis tis impossible cleopatra i think so charmian dull of tongue and dwarfish what majesty is in her gait remember if eer thou lookdst on majesty messenger she creeps her motion and her station are as one she shows a body rather than a life a statue than a breather cleopatra is this certain messenger or i have no observance charmian three in egypt cannot make better note cleopatra hes very knowing i do perceivet theres nothing in her yet the fellow has good judgment charmian excellent cleopatra guess at her years i prithee messenger madam she was a widow cleopatra widow charmian hark messenger and i do think shes thirty cleopatra bearst thou her face in mind ist long or round messenger round even to faultiness cleopatra for the most part too they are foolish that are so her hair what colour messenger brown madam and her forehead as low as she would wish it cleopatra theres 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 prepard exeunt messenger charmian a proper man cleopatra indeed he is so i repent me much that so i harried him why methinks by him this creatures no such thing charmian nothing madam cleopatra the man hath seen some majesty and should know charmian hath he seen majesty isis else defend and serving you so long cleopatra 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 charmian i warrant you madam exeunt act scene iv athens antonys house enter antony and octavia antony nay nay octavia not only that that were excusable that and thousands more of semblable import but he hath wagd new wars gainst pompey made his will and read it to public ear spoke scandy 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 tookt or did it from his teeth octavia o my good lord believe not all or if you must believe stomach not all a more unhappy lady if this division chance neer 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 mid way twixt these extremes at all antony 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 betweens the meantime lady ill raise the preparation of a war shall stain your brother make your soonest haste so your desires are yours octavia 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 antony 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 exeunt act scene v athens antonys house enter enobarbus and eros meeting enobarbus how now friend eros eros theres strange news come sir enobarbus what man eros caesar and lepidus have made wars upon pompey enobarbus this is old what is the success eros caesar 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 enobarbus then world thou hast a pair of chaps no more and throw between them all the food thou hast theyll grind the one the other wheres antony eros hes 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 murdred pompey enobarbus our great navys riggd eros for italy and caesar more domitius my lord desires you presently my news i might have told hereafter enobarbus twill be naught but let it be bring me to antony eros come sir exeunt act scene vi rome caesars house enter caesar agrippa and maecenas caesar contemning rome he has done all this and more in alexandria heres the manner oft i th market place on a tribunal silverd cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold were publicly enthrond at the feet sat caesarion whom they call my fathers 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 maecenas this in the public eye caesar i th common show place where they exercise his sons he there proclaimd the kings of kings great media parthia and armenia he gave to alexander to ptolemy he assignd syria cilicia and phoenicia she in th habiliments of the goddess isis that day appeard and oft before gave audience as tis reported so maecenas let rome be thus informd agrippa who queasy with his insolence already will their good thoughts call from him caesar the people knows it and have now receivd his accusations agrippa who does he accuse caesar caesar and that having in sicily sextus pompeius spoild we had not rated him his part o th isle then does he say he lent me some shipping unrestord lastly he frets that lepidus of the triumvirate should be deposd and being that we detain all his revenue agrippa sir this should be answerd caesar tis done already and messenger gone i have told him lepidus was grown too cruel that he his high authority abusd and did deserve his change for what i have conquerd i grant him part but then in his armenia and other of his conquerd kingdoms demand the like maecenas hell never yield to that caesar nor must not then be yielded to in this enter octavia with her train octavia hail caesar and my lord hail most dear caesar caesar that ever i should call thee cast away octavia you have not calld me so nor have you cause caesar why have you stoln upon us thus you come not like caesars 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 th 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 raisd 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 unlovd we should have met you by sea and land supplying every stage with an augmented greeting octavia good my lord to come thus was i not constraind but did it on my free will my lord mark antony hearing that you prepard for war acquainted my grieved ear withal whereon i beggd his pardon for return caesar which soon he granted being an obstruct tween his lust and him octavia do not say so my lord caesar i have eyes upon him and his affairs come to me on the wind where is he now octavia my lord in athens caesar no my most wronged sister cleopatra hath nodded him to her he hath given his empire up to a whore who now are levying the kings o th earth for war he hath assembled bocchus the king of libya archelaus of cappadocia philadelphos king of paphlagonia the thracian king adallas king manchus of arabia king of pont herod of jewry mithridates king of comagene polemon and amyntas the kings of mede and lycaonia with more larger list of sceptres octavia ay me most wretched that have my heart parted betwixt two friends that does afflict each other caesar welcome hither your letters did withhold our breaking forth till we perceivd both how you were wrong led and we in negligent danger cheer your heart be you not troubled with the time which drives oer your content these strong necessities but let determind things to destiny hold unbewaild their way welcome to rome nothing more dear to me you are abusd 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 agrippa welcome lady maecenas welcome dear madam each heart in rome does love and pity you only th adulterous antony most large in his abominations turns you off and gives his potent regiment to a trull that noises it against us octavia is it so sir caesar most certain sister welcome pray you be ever known to patience my dearst sister exeunt act scene vii antonys camp near actium enter cleopatra and enobarbus cleopatra i will be even with thee doubt it not enobarbus but why why cleopatra thou hast forspoke my being in these wars and sayst it is not fit enobarbus well is it is it cleopatra ist not denouncd against us why should not we be there in person enobarbus aside 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 cleopatra what ist you say enobarbus your presence needs must puzzle antony take from his heart take from his brain froms time what should not then be spard he is already traducd for levity and tis said in rome that photinus an eunuch and your maids manage this war cleopatra sink rome and their tongues rot that speak against us a charge we bear i th war and as the president of my kingdom will appear there for a man speak not against it i will not stay behind enter antony and canidius enobarbus nay i have done here comes the emperor antony 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 ont sweet cleopatra celerity is never more admird than by the negligent antony a good rebuke which might have well becomd the best of men to taunt at slackness canidius we will fight with him by sea cleopatra by sea what else canidius why will my lord do so antony for that he dares us tot enobarbus so hath my lord dard him to single fight canidius ay and to wage this battle at pharsalia where caesar fought with pompey but these offers which serve not for his vantage he shakes off and so should you enobarbus your ships are not well mannd your mariners are muleteers reapers people ingrossd by swift impress in caesars 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 prepard for land antony by sea by sea enobarbus most worthy sir you therein throw away the absolute soldiership you have by land distract your army which doth most consist of war markd footmen leave unexecuted your own renowned knowledge quite forgo the way which promises assurance and give up yourself merely to chance and hazard from firm security antony ill fight at sea cleopatra i have sixty sails caesar none better antony our overplus of shipping will we burn and with the rest full mannd from th head of actium beat th approaching caesar but if we fail we then can dot at land enter a messenger thy business messenger the news is true my lord he is descried caesar has taken toryne antony 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 well to our ship away my thetis enter a soldier how now worthy soldier soldier o noble emperor do not fight by sea trust not to rotten planks do you misdoubt this sword and these my wounds let th egyptians and the phoenicians go a ducking we have usd to conquer standing on the earth and fighting foot to foot antony well well away exeunt antony cleopatra and enobarbus soldier by hercules i think i am i th right canidius soldier thou art but his whole action grows not in the power ont so our leaders led and we are womens men soldier you keep by land the legions and the horse whole do you not canidius marcus octavius marcus justeius publicola and caelius are for sea but we keep whole by land this speed of caesars carries beyond belief soldier while he was yet in rome his power went out in such distractions as beguild all spies canidius whos his lieutenant hear you soldier they say one taurus canidius well i know the man enter a messenger messenger the emperor calls canidius canidius with news the times with labour and throes forth each minute some exeunt act scene viii a plain near actium enter caesar with his army marching caesar taurus taurus my lord caesar 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 exeunt act scene ix another part of the plain enter antony and enobarbus antony set we our squadrons on yon side o th hill in eye of caesars battle from which place we may the number of the ships behold and so proceed accordingly exeunt act scene x another part of the plain canidius marcheth with his land army one way over the stage and taurus the lieutenant of caesar the other way after their going in is heard the noise of a sea fight alarum enter enobarbus enobarbus naught naught all naught i can behold no longer th antoniad the egyptian admiral with all their sixty fly and turn the rudder to seet mine eyes are blasted enter scarus scarus gods and goddesses all the whole synod of them enobarbus whats thy passion scarus the greater cantle of the world is lost with very ignorance we have kissd away kingdoms and provinces enobarbus how appears the fight scarus on our side like the tokend pestilence where death is sure yon ribaudred nag of egypt whom leprosy oertake i th midst o th fight when vantage like a pair of twins appeard both as the same or rather ours the elder the breese upon her like a cow in june hoists sails and flies enobarbus that i beheld mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could not endure a further view scarus she once being loofd the noble ruin of her magic antony claps on 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 neer before did violate so itself enobarbus alack alack enter canidius canidius 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 enobarbus ay are you thereabouts why then good night indeed canidius toward peloponnesus are they fled scarus tis easy tot and there i will attend what further comes canidius to caesar will i render my legions and my horse six kings already show me the way of yielding enobarbus ill yet follow the wounded chance of antony though my reason sits in the wind against me exeunt act scene xi alexandria cleopatras palace enter antony with attendants antony hark the land bids me tread no more upont it is ashamd 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 caesar all fly not we antony i have fled myself and have instructed cowards to run and show their shoulders friends be gone i have myself resolvd upon a course which has no need of you be gone my treasures in the harbour take it o i followd 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 straight way 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 ill see you by and by sits down enter cleopatra led by charmian and iras eros following eros nay gentle madam to him comfort him iras do most dear queen charmian do why what else cleopatra let me sit down o juno antony no no no no no eros see you here sir antony o fie fie fie charmian madam iras madam o good empress eros sir sir antony yes my lord yes he at philippi kept his sword een 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 cleopatra ah stand by eros the queen my lord the queen iras go to him madam speak to him he is unqualitied with very shame cleopatra well then sustain me o eros most noble sir arise the queen approaches her heads declind and death will seize her but your comfort makes the rescue antony i have offended reputation a most unnoble swerving eros sir the queen antony 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 stroyd in dishonour cleopatra o my lord my lord forgive my fearful sails i little thought you would have followed antony egypt thou knewst too well my heart was to thy rudder tied by th strings and thou shouldst tow me after oer my spirit thy full supremacy thou knewst and that thy beck might from the bidding of the gods command me cleopatra o my pardon antony now i must to the young man send humble treaties dodge and palter in the shifts of lowness who with half the bulk o th world playd as i pleasd 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 cleopatra pardon pardon antony 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 a 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 exeunt act scene xii caesars camp in egypt enter caesar agrippa dolabella thyreus with others caesar let him appear thats come from antony know you him dolabella caesar tis his schoolmaster an argument that he is pluckd when hither he sends so poor a pinion of his wing which had superfluous kings for messengers not many moons gone by enter euphronius ambassador from antony caesar approach and speak euphronius 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 caesar bet so declare thine office euphronius 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 caesar 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 euphronius fortune pursue thee caesar bring him through the bands exit euphronius to thyreus to try thy eloquence now tis time dispatch 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 neer touchd vestal try thy cunning thyreus make thine own edict for thy pains which we will answer as a law thyreus caesar i go caesar observe how antony becomes his flaw and what thou thinkst his very action speaks in every power that moves thyreus caesar i shall exeunt act scene xiii alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra enobarbus charmian and iras cleopatra what shall we do enobarbus enobarbus think and die cleopatra is antony or we in fault for this enobarbus 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 nickd his captainship at such a point when half to half the world opposd he being the mered question twas a shame no less than was his loss to course your flying flags and leave his navy gazing cleopatra prithee peace enter euphronius the ambassador with antony antony is that his answer euphronius ay my lord antony the queen shall then have courtesy so she will yield us up euphronius he says so antony let her knowt to the boy caesar send this grizzled head and he will fill thy wishes to the brim with principalities cleopatra that head my lord antony 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 cowards whose ministers would prevail under the service of a child as soon as i th command of caesar i dare him therefore to lay his gay comparisons apart and answer me declind sword against sword ourselves alone ill write it follow me exeunt antony and euphronius euphronius aside yes like enough high battled caesar will unstate his happiness and be stagd to th show against a sworder i see mens 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 caesar will answer his emptiness caesar thou hast subdud his judgment too enter a servant servant a messenger from caesar cleopatra what no more ceremony see my women against the blown rose may they stop their nose that kneeld unto the buds admit him sir exit servant enobarbus aside 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 falln lord does conquer him that did his master conquer and earns a place i th story enter thyreus cleopatra caesars will thyreus hear it apart cleopatra none but friends say boldly thyreus so haply are they friends to antony enobarbus he needs as many sir as caesar has or needs not us if caesar please our master will leap to be his friend for us you know whose he is we are and that is caesars thyreus so thus then thou most renownd caesar entreats not to consider in what case thou standst further than he is caesar cleopatra go on right royal thyreus he knows that you embrace not antony as you did love but as you feard him cleopatra o thyreus the scars upon your honour therefore he does pity as constrained blemishes not as deservd cleopatra he is a god and knows what is most right mine honour was not yielded but conquerd merely enobarbus aside to be sure of that i will ask antony sir sir thou art so leaky that we must leave thee to thy sinking for thy dearest quit thee exit thyreus shall i say to caesar what you require of him for he partly begs to be desird 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 cleopatra whats your name thyreus my name is thyreus cleopatra most kind messenger say to great caesar this in deputation i kiss his conquring 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 thyreus 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 cleopatra your caesars father oft when he hath musd of taking kingdoms in bestowd his lips on that unworthy place as it raind kisses re enter antony and enobarbus antony favours by jove that thunders what art thou fellow thyreus one that but performs the bidding of the fullest man and worthiest to have command obeyd enobarbus aside you will be whipt antony 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 enter servants take hence this jack and whip him enobarbus tis better playing with a lions whelp than with an old one dying antony moon and stars whip him weret twenty of the greatest tributaries that do acknowledge caesar should i find them so saucy with the hand of she here whats 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 thymus mark antony antony tug him away being whipt bring him again the jack of caesars shall bear us an errand to him exeunt servants with thyreus you were half blasted ere i knew you ha have i my pillow left unpressd in rome forborne the getting of a lawful race and by a gem of women to be abusd by one that looks on feeders cleopatra good my lord antony you have been a boggler ever but when we in our viciousness grow hard o misery ont the wise gods seel our eyes in our own filth drop our clear judgments make us adore our errors laugh ats while we strut to our confusion cleopatra o ist come to this antony i found you as a morsel cold upon dead caesars trencher nay you were a fragment of cneius pompeys besides what hotter hours unregistred in vulgar fame you have luxuriously pickd out for i am sure though you can guess what temperance should be you know not what it is cleopatra wherefore is this antony 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 halterd neck which does the hangman thank for being yare about him re enter a servant with thyreus is he whipt servant soundly my lord antony cried he and beggd a pardon servant he did ask favour antony if that thy father live let him repent thou wast not made his daughter and be thou sorry to follow caesar in his triumph since thou hast been whipt for following him henceforth the white hand of a lady fever thee shake thou to look ont get thee back to caesar 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 dot when my good stars that were my former guides have empty left their orbs and shot their fires into th 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 exit thyreus cleopatra have you done yet antony alack our terrene moon is now eclipsd and it portends alone the fall of antony cleopatra i must stay his time antony to flatter caesar would you mingle eyes with one that ties his points cleopatra not know me yet antony cold hearted toward me cleopatra 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 caesarion 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 antony i am satisfied caesar sits down in alexandria where i will oppose his fate our force by land hath nobly held our severd navy to have knit again and fleet threatning 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 theres hope int yet cleopatra thats my brave lord antony i will be treble sinewd hearted breathd and fight maliciously for when mine hours were nice and lucky men did ransom lives of me for jests but now ill set my teeth and send to darkness all that stop me come lets have one other gaudy night call to me all my sad captains fill our bowls once more lets mock the midnight bell cleopatra it is my birthday i had thought thave held it poor but since my lord is antony again i will be cleopatra antony we will yet do well cleopatra call all his noble captains to my lord antony do so well speak to them and to night ill force the wine peep through their scars come on my queen theres sap int yet the next time i do fight ill make death love me for i will contend even with his pestilent scythe exeunt all but enobarbus enobarbus now hell 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 captains brain restores his heart when valour preys on reason it eats the sword it fights with i will seek some way to leave him exit act act iv scene i caesars camp before alexandria enter caesar agrippa and maecenas with his army caesar reading a letter caesar he calls me boy and chides as he had power to beat me out of egypt my messenger he hath whipt with rods dares me to personal combat caesar to antony let the old ruffian know i have many other ways to die meantime laugh at his challenge maecenas caesar must think when one so great begins to rage hes hunted even to falling give him no breath but now make boot of his distraction never anger made good guard for itself caesar 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 servd mark antony but late enough to fetch him in see it done and feast the army we have store to dot and they have earnd the waste poor antony exeunt act scene ii alexandria cleopatras palace enter antony cleopatra enobarbus charmian iras alexas with others antony he will not fight with me domitius enobarbus no antony why should he not enobarbus he thinks being twenty times of better fortune he is twenty men to one antony to morrow soldier by sea and land ill fight or i will live or bathe my dying honour in the blood shall make it live again woot thou fight well enobarbus ill strike and cry take all antony well said come on call forth my household servants lets to night be bounteous at our meal enter three or four servitors give me thy hand thou has been rightly honest so hast thou thou and thou and thou you have servd me well and kings have been your fellows cleopatra aside to enobarbus what means this enobarbus aside to cleopatra tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots out of the mind antony and thou art honest too i wish i could be made so many men and all of you clappd up together in an antony that i might do you service so good as you have done servant the gods forbid antony 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 sufferd my command cleopatra aside to enobarbus what does he mean enobarbus aside to cleopatra to make his followers weep antony 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 youll 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 fort enobarbus what mean you sir to give them this discomfort look they weep and i an ass am onion eyd for shame transform us not to women antony 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 ill expect victorious life than death and honour lets to supper come and drown consideration exeunt act scene iii alexandria before cleopatras palace enter a company of soldiers first soldier brother good night to morrow is the day second soldier it will determine one way fare you well heard you of nothing strange about the streets first soldier nothing what news second soldier belike tis but a rumour good night to you first soldier well sir good night they meet other soldiers second soldier soldiers have careful watch first soldier and you good night good night the two companies separate and place themselves in every corner of the stage second soldier here we and if to morrow our navy thrive i have an absolute hope our landmen will stand up third soldier tis a brave army and full of purpose music of the hautboys is under the stage second soldier peace what noise third soldier list list second soldier hark third soldier music i th air fourth soldier under the earth third soldier it signs well does it not fourth soldier no third soldier peace i say what should this mean second soldier tis the god hercules whom antony lovd now leaves him third soldier walk lets see if other watchmen do hear what we do second soldier how now masters soldiers speaking together how now how now do you hear this first soldier ay ist not strange third soldier do you hear masters do you hear first soldier follow the noise so far as we have quarter lets see how it will give off soldiers content tis strange exeunt act scene iv alexandria cleopatras palace enter antony and cleopatra charmian iras with others antony eros mine armour eros cleopatra sleep a little antony no my chuck eros come mine armour eros enter eros with armour come good fellow put mine iron on if fortune be not ours to day it is because we brave her come cleopatra nay ill help too whats this for antony ah let be let be thou art the armourer of my heart false false this this cleopatra sooth la ill help thus it must be antony well well we shall thrive now seest thou my good fellow go put on thy defences eros briefly sir cleopatra is not this buckled well antony rarely rarely he that unbuckles this till we do please to dafft for our repose shall hear a storm thou fumblest eros and my queens a squire more tight at this than thou dispatch o love that thou couldst see my wars to day and knewst the royal occupation thou shouldst see a workman int enter an armed soldier good morrow to thee welcome thou lookst like him that knows a warlike charge to business that we love we rise betime and go tot with delight soldier a thousand sir early thought be have on their riveted trim and at the port expect you shout flourish of trumpets within enter captains and soldiers captain the morn is fair good morrow general all good morrow general antony 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 whateer becomes of me this is a soldiers kiss rebukeable and worthy shameful check it were to stand on more mechanic compliment ill leave thee now like a man of steel you that will fight follow me close ill bring you tot adieu exeunt antony eros captains and soldiers charmian please you retire to your chamber cleopatra lead me he goes forth gallantly that he and caesar might determine this great war in single fight then antony but now well on exeunt act scene v alexandria antonys camp trumpets sound enter antony and eros a soldier meeting them soldier the gods make this a happy day to antony antony would thou and those thy scars had once prevaild to make me fight at land soldier hadst thou done so the kings that have revolted and the soldier that has this morning left thee would have still followed thy heels antony whos gone this morning soldier who one ever near thee call for enobarbus he shall not hear thee or from caesars camp say i am none of thine antony what sayst thou soldier sir he is with caesar eros sir his chests and treasure he has not with him antony is he gone soldier most certain antony 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 exeunt act scene vi alexandria caesars camp flourish enter agrippa caesar with dolabella and enobarbus caesar go forth agrippa and begin the fight our will is antony be took alive make it so known agrippa caesar i shall exit caesar the time of universal peace is near prove this a prosprous day the three nookd world shall bear the olive freely enter a messenger messenger antony is come into the field caesar go charge agrippa plant those that have revolted in the vant that antony may seem to spend his fury upon himself exeunt all but enobarbus enobarbus alexas did revolt and went to jewry on affairs of antony there did dissuade great herod to incline himself to caesar and leave his master antony for this pains casaer hath hangd 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 enter a soldier of caesars soldier 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 enobarbus i give it you soldier mock not enobarbus i tell you true best you safd the bringer out of the host i must attend mine office or would have donet myself your emperor continues still a jove exit enobarbus 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 dot i feel i fight against thee no i will go seek some ditch wherein to die the foulst best fits my latter part of life exit act scene vii field of battle between the camps alarum drums and trumpets enter agrippa and others agrippa retire we have engagd ourselves too far caesar himself has work and our oppression exceeds what we expected exeunt alarums enter antony and scarus wounded scarus o my brave emperor this is fought indeed had we done so at first we had droven them home with clouts about their heads antony thou bleedst apace scarus i had a wound here that was like a t but now tis made an h antony they do retire scarus well beatem into bench holes i have yet room for six scotches more enter eros eros they are beaten sir and our advantage serves for a fair victory scarus let us score their backs and snatch em up as we take hares behind tis sport to maul a runner antony i will reward thee once for thy sprightly comfort and tenfold for thy good valour come thee on scarus ill halt after exeunt act scene viii under the walls of alexandria alarum enter antony again in a march scarus with others antony we have beat him to his camp run one before and let the queen know of our gests to morrow before the sun shall sees well spill the blood that has to day escapd i thank you all for doughty handed are you and have fought not as you servd the cause but ast had been each mans 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 honourd gashes whole enter cleopatra attended to scarus give me thy hand to this great fairy ill commend thy acts make her thanks bless thee o thou day o th world chain mine armd neck leap thou attire and all through proof of harness to my heart and there ride on the pants triumphing cleopatra lord of lords o infinite virtue comst thou smiling from the worlds great snare uncaught antony mine 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 destroyed in such a shape cleopatra ill give thee friend an armour all of gold it was a kings antony he has deservd it were it carbuncled like holy phoebus car give me thy hand through alexandria make a jolly march bear our hackd 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 days fate which promises royal peril trumpeters with brazen din blast you the citys ear make mingle with our rattling tabourines that heaven and earth may strike their sounds together applauding our approach exeunt act scene ix caesars camp enter a centurion and his company enobarbus follows centurion if we be not relievd within this hour we must return to th court of guard the night is shiny and they say we shall embattle by th second hour i th morn first watch this last day was a shrewd one tos enobarbus o bear me witness night second watch what man is this first watch stand close and list him enobarbus be witness to me o thou blessed moon when men revolted shall upon record bear hateful memory poor enobarbus did before thy face repent centurion enobarbus second watch peace hark further enobarbus 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 dies first watch lets speak to him centurion lets hear him for the things he speaks may concern caesar second watch lets do so but he sleeps centurion swoons rather for so bad a prayer as his was never yet for sleep first watch go we to him second watch awake sir awake speak to us first watch hear you sir centurion the hand of death hath raught him drums afar off hark the drums demurely wake the sleepers let us bear him to th court of guard he is of note our hour is fully out second watch come on then he may recover yet exeunt with the body act scene x between the two camps enter antony and scarus with their army antony their preparation is to day by sea we please them not by land scarus for both my lord antony i would theyd fight i th fire or i th air wed 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 exeunt act scene xi between the camps enter caesar and his army caesar but being chargd we will be still by land which as i taket we shall for his best force is forth to man his galleys to the vales and hold our best advantage exeunt act scene xii a hill near alexandria enter antony and scarus antony yet they are not joind where yond pine does stand i shall discover all ill bring thee word straight how tis like to go exit scarus swallows have built in cleopatras 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 alarum afar off as at a sea fight re enter antony antony 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 turnd 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 revengd upon my charm i have done all bid them all fly begone exit scarus 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 spanield me at heels to whom i gave their wishes do discandy melt their sweets on blossoming caesar and this pine is barkd that overtoppd them all betrayd i am o this false soul of egypt this grave charm whose eye beckd forth my wars and calld them home whose bosom was my crownet my chief end like a right gypsy hath at fast and loose beguild me to the very heart of loss what eros eros enter cleopatra ah thou spell avaunt cleopatra why is my lord enragd against his love antony vanish or i shall give thee thy deserving and blemish caesars 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 poorst diminutives for doits and let patient octavia plough thy visage up with her prepared nails exit cleopatra tis well thart gone if it be well to live but better twere thou fellst 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 th moon and with those hands that graspd 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 fort eros ho exit act scene xiii alexandria cleopatras palace enter cleopatra charmian iras and mardian cleopatra help me my women o he is more mad than telamon for his shield the boar of thessaly was never so embossd charmian to thmonument there lock yourself and send him word you are dead the soul and body rive not more in parting than greatness going off cleopatra to th 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 th monument exeunt act scene xiv cleopatras palace enter antony and eros antony eros thou yet beholdst me eros ay noble lord antony sometime we see a cloud thats dragonish a vapour sometime like a bear or lion a towerd citadel a pendent rock a forked mountain or blue promontory with trees upont that nod unto the world and mock our eyes with air thou hast seen these signs they are black vespers pageants eros ay my lord antony that which is now a horse even with a thought the rack dislimns and makes it indistinct as water is in water eros it does my lord antony 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 annexd untot a million moe now lost she eros has packd cards with caesar and false playd my glory unto an enemys triumph nay weep not gentle eros there is left us ourselves to end ourselves enter mardian o thy vile lady she has robbd me of my sword mardian no antony my mistress lovd thee and her fortunes mingled with thine entirely antony hence saucy eunuch peace she hath betrayd me and shall die the death mardian death of one person can be paid but once and that she has dischargd 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 rendred life thy name so buried in her antony dead then mardian dead antony unarm eros the long days task is done and we must sleep that thou departst hence safe does pay thy labour richly go exit mardian off pluck off the sevenfold 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 exit eros i will oertake 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 farther 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 well hand in hand and with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze dido and her aeneas shall want troops and all the haunt be ours come eros eros re enter eros eros what would my lord antony since cleopatra died i have livd in such dishonour that the gods detest my baseness i that with my sword quarterd the world and oer green neptunes back with ships made cities condemn myself to lack the courage of a woman less noble mind than she which by her death our caesar 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 th inevitable prosecution of disgrace and horror that on my command thou then wouldst kill me dot the time is come thou strikst not me tis caesar thou defeatst put colour in thy cheek eros the gods withhold me shall i do that which all the parthian darts though enemy lost aim and could not antony eros wouldst thou be windowd in great rome and see thy master thus with pleachd arms bending down his corrigible neck his face subdud to penetrative shame whilst the wheeld seat of fortunate caesar drawn before him branded his baseness that ensued eros i would not seet antony come then for with a wound i must be curd draw that thy honest sword which thou hast worn most useful for thy country eros o sir pardon me antony when i did make thee free sworst thou not then to do this when i bade thee do it at once or thy precedent services are all but accidents unpurposd draw and come eros turn from me then that noble countenance wherein the worship of the whole world lies antony lo thee turning from him eros my sword is drawn antony then let it do at once the thing why thou hast drawn it eros my dear master my captain and my emperor let me say before i strike this bloody stroke farewell antony tis said man and farewell eros farewell great chief shall i strike now antony now eros eros why there then thus do i escape the sorrow of antonys death kills himself antony 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 intot as to a lovers bed come then and eros thy master dies thy scholar to do thus falling on his sword i learnd of thee how not dead not dead the guard ho o dispatch me enter dercetas and a guard first guard whats the noise antony i have done my work ill friends o make an end of what i have begun second guard the star is falln first guard and time is at his period all alas and woe antony let him that loves me strike me dead first guard not i second guard nor i third guard nor any one exeunt guard dercetas thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly this sword but shown to caesar with this tidings shall enter me with him enter diomedes diomedes wheres antony dercetas there diomed there diomedes lives he wilt thou not answer man exit dercetas antony art thou there diomed draw thy sword and give me sufficing strokes for death diomedes most absolute lord my mistress cleopatra sent me to thee antony when did she send thee diomedes now my lord antony where is she diomedes lockd 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 disposd with caesar and that your rage would not be purgd 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 antony too late good diomed call my guard i prithee diomedes what ho the emperors guard the guard what ho come your lord calls enter four or five of the guard of antony antony bear me good friends where cleopatra bides tis the last service that i shall command you first guard woe woe are we sir you may not live to wear all your true followers out all most heavy day antony 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 exeunt hearing antony act scene xv alexandria a monument enter cleopatra and her maids aloft with charmian and iras cleopatra o charmian i will never go from hence charmian be comforted dear madam cleopatra no i will not all strange and terrible events are welcome but comforts we despise our size of sorrow proportiond to our cause must be as great as that which makes it enter diomedes below how now is he dead diomedes his deaths upon him but not dead look out o th other side your monument his guard have brought him thither enter below antony borne by the guard cleopatra o sun burn the great sphere thou movst in darkling stand the varying shore o th world o antony antony antony help charmian help iras help help friends below lets draw him hither antony peace not caesars valour hath oerthrown antony but antonys hath triumphd on itself cleopatra so it should be that none but antony should conquer antony but woe tis so antony i am dying egypt dying only i here importune death awhile until of many thousand kisses the poor last i lay upon thy lips cleopatra i dare not dear dear my lord pardon i dare not lest i be taken not th imperious show of the full fortund caesar ever shall be broochd 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 antony o quick or i am gone cleopatra heres sport indeed how heavy weighs my lord our strength is all gone into heaviness that makes the weight had i great junos power the strong wingd mercury should fetch thee up and set thee by joves side yet come a little wishers were ever fools o come come they heave antony aloft to cleopatra and welcome welcome die where thou hast livd quicken with kissing had my lips that power thus would i wear them out all a heavy sight antony i am dying egypt dying give me some wine and let me speak a little cleopatra no let me speak and let me rail so high that the false huswife fortune break her wheel provokd by my offence antony one word sweet queen of caesar seek your honour with your safety o cleopatra they do not go together antony gentle hear me none about caesar trust but proculeius cleopatra my resolution and my hands ill trust none about caesar antony 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 livd the greatest prince o th world the noblest and do now not basely die not cowardly put off my helmet to my countryman a roman by a roman valiantly vanquishd now my spirit is going i can no more cleopatra noblest of men woot 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 antony dies the crown o th earth doth melt my lord o witherd is the garland of the war the soldiers pole is falln young boys and girls are level now with men the odds is gone and there is nothing left remarkable beneath the visiting moon swoons charmian o quietness lady iras shes dead too our sovereign charmian lady iras madam charmian o madam madam madam iras royal egypt empress charmian peace peace iras cleopatra no more but een 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 stoln our jewel alls but nought patience is sottish and impatience does become a dog thats 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 its out good sirs take heart well bury him and then whats brave whats noble lets 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 exeunt those above hearing off antonys body act act v scene i alexandria caesars camp enter caesar agrippa dolabella maecenas gallus proculeius and others his council of war caesar go to him dolabella bid him yield being so frustrate tell him he mocks the pauses that he makes dolabella caesar i shall exit enter dercetas with the sword of antony caesar wherefore is that and what art thou that darst appear thus to us dercetas i am calld dercetas mark antony i servd who best was worthy best to be servd 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 ill be to caesar if thou pleasest not i yield thee up my life caesar what ist thou sayst dercetas i say o caesar antony is dead caesar 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 dercetas he is dead caesar 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 robbd his wound of it behold it staind with his most noble blood caesar look you sad friends the gods rebuke me but it is tidings to wash the eyes of kings agrippa and strange it is that nature must compel us to lament our most persisted deeds maecenas his taints and honours wagd equal with him agrippa a rarer spirit never did steer humanity but you gods will give us some faults to make us men caesar is touchd maecenas when such a spacious mirrors set before him he needs must see himself caesar o antony i have followd 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 enter an egyptian but i will tell you at some meeter season the business of this man looks out of him well hear him what he says whence are you egyptian a poor egyptian yet the queen my mistress confind in all she has her monument of thy intents desires instruction that she preparedly may frame herself to th way shes forcd to caesar 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 caesar cannot learn to be ungentle egyptian so the gods preserve thee exit caesar 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 her proculeius caesar i shall exit caesar gallus go you along exit gallus wheres dolabella to second proculeius all dolabella caesar let him alone for i remember now how hes employd 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 exeunt act scene ii alexandria the monument enter cleopatra charmian iras and mardian cleopatra my desolation does begin to make a better life tis paltry to be caesar not being fortune hes but fortunes 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 beggars nurse and caesars enter to the gates of the monument proculeius gallus and soldiers proculeius caesar sends greetings to the queen of egypt and bids thee study on what fair demands thou meanst to have him grant thee cleopatra whats thy name proculeius my name is proculeius cleopatra antony did tell me of you bade me trust you but i do not greatly care to be deceivd 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 conquerd egypt for my son he gives me so much of mine own as i will kneel to him with thanks proculeius be of good cheer yare falln 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 dependency and you shall find a conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness where he for grace is kneeld to cleopatra pray you tell him i am his fortunes vassal and i send him the greatness he has got i hourly learn a doctrine of obedience and would gladly look him i th face proculeius this ill report dear lady have comfort for i know your plight is pitied of him that causd it gallus you see how easily she may be surprisd here proculeius and two of the guard ascend the monument by a ladder placed against a window and come behind cleopatra some of the guard unbar and open the gates guard her till caesar come exit iras royal queen charmian o cleopatra thou art taken queen cleopatra quick quick good hands drawing a dagger proculeius hold worthy lady hold disarms her do not yourself such wrong who are in this relievd but not betrayd cleopatra what of death too that rids our dogs of languish proculeius cleopatra do not abuse my masters bounty by th undoing of yourself let the world see his nobleness well acted which your death will never let come forth cleopatra where art thou death come hither come come come and take a queen worth many babes and beggars proculeius o temperance lady cleopatra sir i will eat no meat ill not drink sir if idle talk will once be necessary ill not sleep neither this mortal house ill ruin do caesar what he can know sir that i will not wait piniond at your masters court nor once be chastisd 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 nakd and let the water flies blow me into abhorring rather make my countrys high pyramides my gibbet and hang me up in chains proculeius you do extend these thoughts of horror further than you shall find cause in caesar enter dolabella dolabella proculeius what thou hast done thy master caesar knows and he hath sent for thee for the queen ill take her to my guard proculeius so dolabella it shall content me best be gentle to her to cleopatra to caesar i will speak what you shall please if youll employ me to him cleopatra say i would die exeunt proculeius and soldiers dolabella most noble empress you have heard of me cleopatra i cannot tell dolabella assuredly you know me cleopatra no matter sir what i have heard or known you laugh when boys or women tell their dreams ist not your trick dolabella i understand not madam cleopatra i dreamt there was an emperor antony o such another sleep that i might see but such another man dolabella if it might please ye cleopatra his face was as the heavns and therein stuck a sun and moon which kept their course and lighted the little o the earth dolabella most sovereign creature cleopatra his legs bestrid the ocean his reard 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 int an autumn twas that grew the more by reaping his delights were dolphin like they showd his back above the element they livd in in his livery walkd crowns and crownets realms and islands were as plates droppd from his pocket dolabella cleopatra cleopatra think you there was or might be such a man as this i dreamt of dolabella gentle madam no cleopatra you lie up to the hearing of the gods but if there be nor ever were one such its past the size of drearning nature wants stuff to vie strange forms with fancy yet t imagine an antony were natures piece gainst fancy condemning shadows quite dolabella hear me good madam your loss is as yourself great and you bear it as answering to the weight would i might never oertake pursud success but i do feel by the rebound of yours a grief that smites my very heart at root cleopatra i thank you sir know you what caesar means to do with me dolabella i am loath to tell you what i would you knew cleopatra nay pray you sir dolabella though he be honourable cleopatra hell lead me then in triumph dolabella madam he will i knowt flourish within make way there caesar enter caesar gallus proculeius maecenas seleucus and others of his train caesar which is the queen of egypt dolabella it is the emperor madam cleopatpa kneels caesar arise you shall not kneel i pray you rise rise egypt cleopatra sir the gods will have it thus my master and my lord i must obey caesar 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 cleopatra sole sir o th 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 shamd our sex caesar 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 antonys course you shall bereave yourself of my good purposes and put your children to that destruction which ill guard them from if thereon you rely ill take my leave cleopatra 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 caesar you shall advise me in all for cleopatra cleopatra this is the brief of money plate and jewels i am possessd of tis exactly valued not petty things admitted wheres seleucus seleucus here madam cleopatra this is my treasurer let him speak my lord upon his peril that i have reservd to myself nothing speak the truth seleucus seleucus madam i had rather seal my lips than to my peril speak that which is not cleopatra what have i kept back seleucus enough to purchase what you have made known caesar nay blush not cleopatra i approve your wisdom in the deed cleopatra see caesar o behold how pomp is followed 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 thats hird what goest thou back thou shalt go back i warrant thee but ill catch thine eyes though they had wings slave soulless villain dog o rarely base caesar good queen let us entreat you cleopatra o caesar 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 caesar that i some lady trifles have reservd 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 to seleucus prithee go hence or i shall show the cinders of my spirits through th ashes of my chance wert thou a man thou wouldst have mercy on me caesar forbear seleucus exit seleucus cleopatra 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 caesar cleopatra not what you have reservd nor what acknowledgd put we i th roll of conquest still bet yours bestow it at your pleasure and believe caesars no merchant to make prize with you of things that merchants sold therefore be cheerd 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 cleopatra my master and my lord caesar not so adieu flourish exeunt caesar and his train cleopatra he words me girls he words me that i should not be noble to myself but hark thee charmian whispers charmian iras finish good lady the bright day is done and we are for the dark cleopatra hie thee again i have spoke already and it is provided go put it to the haste charmian madam i will re enter dolabella dolabella wheres the queen charmian behold sir exit cleopatra dolabella dolabella madam as thereto sworn by your command which my love makes religion to obey i tell you this caesar through syria intends his journey and within three days you with your children will he send before make your best use of this i have performd your pleasure and my promise cleopatra dolabella i shall remain your debtor dolabella i your servant adieu good queen i must attend on caesar cleopatra farewell and thanks exit dolabella now iras what thinkst 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 forcd to drink their vapour iras the gods forbid cleopatra nay tis most certain iras saucy lictors will catch at us like strumpets and scald rhymers 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 th posture of a whore iras o the good gods cleopatra nay thats certain iras ill never seet for i am sure mine nails are stronger than mine eyes cleopatra why thats the way to fool their preparation and to conquer their most absurd intents enter charmian 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 well dispatch indeed and when thou hast done this chare ill give thee leave to play till doomsday bring our crown and all exit iras a noise within wherefores this noise enter a guardsman guardsman here is a rural fellow that will not be denied your highness presence he brings you figs cleopatra let him come in exit guardsman what poor an instrument may do a noble deed he brings me liberty my resolutions placd 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 re enter guardsman and clown with a basket guardsman this is the man cleopatra avoid and leave him exit guardsman hast thou the pretty worm of nilus there that kills and pains not clown 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 cleopatra rememberst thou any that have died ont clown 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 th worm but he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do but this is most falliable the worms an odd worm cleopatra get thee hence farewell clown i wish you all joy of the worm sets down the basket cleopatra farewell clown you must think this look you that the worm will do his kind cleopatra ay ay farewell clown 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 cleopatra take thou no care it shall be heeded clown very good give it nothing i pray you for it is not worth the feeding cleopatra will it eat me clown 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 cleopatra well get thee gone farewell clown yes forsooth i wish you joy o th worm exit re enter iras with a robe crown etc cleopatra give me my robe put on my crown i have immortal longings in me now no more the juice of egypts 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 caesar 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 kisses them iras falls and dies have i the aspic in my lips dost fall if thus thou and nature can so gently part the stroke of death is as a lovers pinch which hurts and is desird dost thou lie still if thou vanishest thou tellst the world it is not worth leave taking charmian dissolve thick cloud and rain that i may say the gods themselves do weep cleopatra this proves me base if she first meet the curled antony hell make demand of her and spend that kiss which is my heaven to have come thou mortal wretch to an asp which she applies to her breast 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 caesar ass unpolicied charmian o eastern star cleopatra peace peace dost thou not see my baby at my breast that sucks the nurse asleep charmian o break o break cleopatra as sweet as balm as soft as air as gentle o antony nay i will take thee too applying another asp to her arm what should i stay dies charmian in this vile world so fare thee well now boast thee death in thy possession lies a lass unparalleld downy windows close and golden phoebus never be beheld of eyes again so royal your crowns awry ill mend it and then play enter the guard rushing in first guard wheres the queen charmian speak softly wake her not first guard caesar hath sent charmian too slow a messenger applies an asp o come apace dispatch i partly feel thee first guard approach ho alls not well caesars beguild second guard theres dolabella sent from caesar call him first guard what work is here charmian is this well done charmian it is well done and fitting for a princes descended of so many royal kings ah soldier charmian dies re enter dolabella dolabella how goes it here second guard all dead dolabella caesar thy thoughts touch their effects in this thyself art coming to see performd the dreaded act which thou so soughtst to hinder within a way there a way for caesar re enter caesar and all his train dolabella o sir you are too sure an augurer that you did fear is done caesar bravest at the last she levelld at our purposes and being royal took her own way the manner of their deaths i do not see them bleed dolabella who was last with them first guard a simple countryman that brought her figs this was his basket caesar poisond then first guard o caesar this charmian livd but now she stood and spake i found her trimming up the diadem on her dead mistress tremblingly she stood and on the sudden droppd caesar o noble weakness if they had swallowd poison twould appear by external swelling but she looks like sleep as she would catch another antony in her strong toil of grace dolabella here on her breast there is a vent of blood and something blown the like is on her arm first guard this is an aspics trail and these fig leaves have slime upon them such as th aspic leaves upon the caves of nile caesar most probable that so she died for her physician tells me she hath pursud 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 exeunt the end as you like it dramatis personae duke living in exile frederick his brother and usurper of his dominions amiens lord attending on the banished duke jaques le beau a courtier attending upon frederick charles wrestler to frederick oliver son of sir rowland de boys jaques orlando adam servant to oliver dennis touchstone the court jester sir oliver martext a vicar corin shepherd silvius william a country fellow in love with audrey a person representing hymen rosalind daughter to the banished duke celia daughter to frederick phebe a shepherdes audrey a country wench lords pages foresters and attendants scene olivers house fredericks court and the forest of arden act i scene i orchard of olivers house enter orlando and adam orlando as i remember adam it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns and as thou sayst 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 hird 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 enter oliver adam yonder comes my master your brother orlando go apart adam and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up adam retires oliver now sir what make you here orlando nothing i am not taught to make any thing oliver what mar you then sir orlando marry sir i am helping you to mar that which god made a poor unworthy brother of yours with idleness oliver marry sir be better employed and be nought awhile orlando shall i keep your hogs and eat husks with them what prodigal portion have i spent that i should come to such penury oliver know you where you are sir orlando o sir very well here in your orchard oliver know you before whom sir orlando ay better than him 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 oliver what boy strikes him orlando come come elder brother you are too young in this oliver wilt thou lay hands on me villain orlando 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 pulld out thy tongue for saying so thou has raild on thyself adam coming forward sweet masters be patient for your fathers remembrance be at accord oliver let me go i say orlando i will not till i please you shall hear me my father chargd you in his will to give me good education you have traind 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 oliver 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 orlando i no further offend you than becomes me for my good oliver get you with him you old dog adam 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 exeunt orlando and adam oliver is it even so begin you to grow upon me i will physic your rankness and yet give no thousand crowns neither holla dennis enter dennis dennis calls your worship oliver not charles the dukes wrestler here to speak with me dennis so please you he is here at the door and importunes access to you oliver call him in exit dennis twill be a good way and to morrow the wrestling is enter charles charles good morrow to your worship oliver good monsieur charles whats the new news at the new court charles theres 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 oliver can you tell if rosalind the dukes daughter be banished with her father charles o no for the dukes 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 oliver where will the old duke live charles 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 oliver what you wrestle to morrow before the new duke charles 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 disguisd 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 thing of his own search and altogether against my will oliver charles i thank thee for thy love to me which thou shalt find i will most kindly requite i had myself notice of my brothers purpose herein and have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from it but he is resolute ill tell thee charles it is the stubbornest young fellow of france full of ambition an envious emulator of every mans good parts a secret and villainous 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 tot 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 taen 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 villainous 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 charles i am heartily glad i came hither to you if he come to morrow ill give him his payment if ever he go alone again ill never wrestle for prize more and so god keep your worship exit oliver 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 hes gentle never schoold 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 ill go about exit scene ii a lawn before the dukes palace enter rosalind and celia celia i pray thee rosalind sweet my coz be merry rosalind 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 celia herein i see thou lovst 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 temperd as mine is to thee rosalind well i will forget the condition of my estate to rejoice in yours celia 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 rosalind from henceforth i will coz and devise sports let me see what think you of falling in love celia 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 rosalind what shall be our sport then celia let us sit and mock the good housewife fortune from her wheel that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally rosalind 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 celia tis true for those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest and those that she makes honest she makes very ill favouredly rosalind nay now thou goest from fortunes office to natures fortune reigns in gifts of the world not in the lineaments of nature enter touchstone celia 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 rosalind indeed there is fortune too hard for nature when fortune makes natures natural the cutter off of natures wit celia peradventure this is not fortunes work neither but natures who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses and hath sent this natural for our whetstone for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits how now wit whither wander you touchstone mistress you must come away to your father celia were you made the messenger touchstone no by mine honour but i was bid to come for you rosalind where learned you that oath fool touchstone of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes and swore by his honour the mustard was naught now ill stand to it the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good and yet was not the knight forsworn celia how prove you that in the great heap of your knowledge rosalind ay marry now unmuzzle your wisdom touchstone stand you both forth now stroke your chins and swear by your beards that i am a knave celia by our beards if we had them thou art touchstone by my knavery if i had it then i were but if you swear by that that 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 pancackes or that mustard celia prithee who ist that thou meanst touchstone one that old frederick your father loves celia my fathers love is enough to honour him enough speak no more of him youll be whipt for taxation one of these days touchstone the more pity that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly celia 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 enter le beau rosalind with his mouth full of news celia which he will put on us as pigeons feed their young rosalind then shall we be news crammd celia all the better we shall be the more marketable bon jour monsieur le beau whats the news le beau fair princess you have lost much good sport celia sport of what colour le beau what colour madam how shall i answer you rosalind as wit and fortune will touchstone or as the destinies decrees celia well said that was laid on with a trowel touchstone nay if i keep not my rank rosalind thou losest thy old smell le beau you amaze me ladies i would have told you of good wrestling which you have lost the sight of rosalind yet tell us the manner of the wrestling le beau 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 celia well the beginning that is dead and buried le beau there comes an old man and his three sons celia i could match this beginning with an old tale le beau three proper young men of excellent growth and presence rosalind with bills on their necks be it known unto all men by these presents le beau the eldest of the three wrestled with charles the dukes 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 servd 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 rosalind alas touchstone but what is the sport monsieur that the ladies have lost le beau why this that i speak of touchstone thus men may grow wiser every day it is the first time that ever i heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies celia or i i promise thee rosalind but is there any else longs to see this broken music in his sides is there yet another dotes upon rib breaking shall we see this wrestling cousin le beau you must if you stay here for here is the place appointed for the wrestling and they are ready to perform it celia yonder sure they are coming let us now stay and see it flourish enter duke frederick lords orlando charles and attendants frederick come on since the youth will not be entreated his own peril on his forwardness rosalind is yonder the man le beau even he madam celia alas he is too young yet he looks successfully frederick how now daughter and cousin are you crept hither to see the wrestling rosalind ay my liege so please you give us leave frederick you will take little delight in it i can tell you there is such odds in the man in pity of the challengers youth i would fain dissuade him but he will not be entreated speak to him ladies see if you can move him celia call him hither good monsieur le beau frederick do so ill not be by duke frederick goes apart le beau monsieur the challenger the princess calls for you orlando i attend them with all respect and duty rosalind young man have you challengd charles the wrestler orlando no fair princess he is the general challenger i come but in as others do to try with him the strength of my youth celia young gentleman your spirits are too bold for your years you have seen cruel proof of this mans 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 rosalind 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 orlando i beseech you punish me not with your hard thoughts wherein i confess me much guilty to deny so fair and excellent ladies any thing but let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial wherein if i be foild there is but one shamd that was never gracious if killd 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 rosalind the little strength that i have i would it were with you celia and mine to eke out hers rosalind fare you well pray heaven i be deceivd in you celia your hearts desires be with you charles come where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth orlando ready sir but his will hath in it a more modest working frederick you shall try but one fall charles no i warrant your grace you shall not entreat him to a second that have so mightily persuaded him from a first orlando you mean to mock me after you should not have mockd me before but come your ways rosalind now hercules be thy speed young man celia i would i were invisible to catch the strong fellow by the leg they wrestle rosalind o excellent young man celia if i had a thunderbolt in mine eye i can tell who should down charles is thrown shout frederick no more no more orlando yes i beseech your grace i am not yet well breathd frederick how dost thou charles le beau he cannot speak my lord frederick bear him away what is thy name young man orlando orlando my liege the youngest son of sir rowland de boys frederick i would thou hadst been son to some man else the world esteemd thy father honourable but i did find him still mine enemy thou shouldst have better pleasd 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 exeunt duke train and le beau celia were i my father coz would i do this orlando i am more proud to be sir rowlands son his youngest son and would not change that calling to be adopted heir to frederick rosalind my father lovd sir rowland as his soul and all the world was of my fathers mind had i before known this young man his son i should have given him tears unto entreaties ere he should thus have venturd celia gentle cousin let us go thank him and encourage him my fathers rough and envious disposition sticks me at heart sir you have well deservd if you do keep your promises in love but justly as you have exceeded all promise your mistress shall be happy rosalind gentleman giving him a chain from her neck wear this for me one out of suits with fortune that could give more but that her hand lacks means shall we go coz celia ay fare you well fair gentleman orlando 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 rosalind he calls us back my pride fell with my fortunes ill ask him what he would did you call sir sir you have wrestled well and overthrown more than your enemies celia will you go coz rosalind have with you fare you well exeunt rosalind and celia orlando what passion hangs these weights upon my tongue i cannot speak to her yet she urgd conference o poor orlando thou art overthrown or charles or something weaker masters thee re enter le beau le beau good sir i do in friendship counsel you to leave this place albeit you have deservd high commendation true applause and love yet such is now the dukes 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 orlando 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 le beau neither his daughter if we judge by manners but yet indeed the smaller is his daughter the other is daughter to the banishd duke and here detaind 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 taen 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 fathers 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 orlando i rest much bounden to you fare you well exit le beau thus must i from the smoke into the smother from tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother but heavenly rosalind exit scene iii the dukes palace enter celia and rosalind celia why cousin why rosalind cupid have mercy not a word rosalind not one to throw at a dog celia no thy words are too precious to be cast away upon curs throw some of them at me come lame me with reasons rosalind then there were two cousins laid up when the one should be lamd with reasons and the other mad without any celia but is all this for your father rosalind no some of it is for my childs father o how full of briers is this working day world celia they are but burs cousin thrown upon thee in holiday foolery if we walk not in the trodden paths our very petticoats will catch them rosalind i could shake them off my coat these burs are in my heart celia hem them away rosalind i would try if i could cry hem and have him celia come come wrestle with thy affections rosalind o they take the part of a better wrestler than myself celia 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 rowlands youngest son rosalind the duke my father lovd his father dearly celia 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 rosalind no faith hate him not for my sake celia why should i not doth he not deserve well enter duke frederick with lords rosalind let me love him for that and do you love him because i do look here comes the duke celia with his eyes full of anger frederick mistress dispatch you with your safest haste and get you from our court rosalind me uncle frederick you cousin within these ten days if that thou beest found so near our public court as twenty miles thou diest for it rosalind 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 frederick 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 rosalind yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor tell me whereon the likelihood depends frederick thou art thy fathers daughter theres enough rosalind so was i when your highness took his dukedom so was i when your highness banishd him treason is not inherited my lord or if we did derive it from our friends whats that to me my father was no traitor then good my liege mistake me not so much to think my poverty is treacherous celia dear sovereign hear me speak frederick ay celia we stayd her for your sake else had she with her father rangd along celia 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 learnd playd eat together and wheresoeer we went like junos swans still we went coupled and inseparable frederick 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 passd upon her she is banishd celia pronounce that sentence then on me my liege i cannot live out of her company frederick 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 exeunt duke and lords celia o my poor rosalind whither wilt thou go wilt thou change fathers i will give thee mine i charge thee be not thou more grievd than i am rosalind i have more cause celia thou hast not cousin prithee be cheerful knowst thou not the duke hath banishd me his daughter rosalind that he hath not celia no hath not rosalind lacks then the love which teacheth thee that thou and i am one shall we be sundred 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 charge upon you to bear your griefs yourself and leave me out for by this heaven now at our sorrows pale say what thou canst ill go along with thee rosalind why whither shall we go celia to seek my uncle in the forest of arden rosalind alas what danger will it be to us maids as we are to travel forth so far beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold celia ill 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 rosalind 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 womans fear there will well have a swashing and a martial outside as many other mannish cowards have that do outface it with their semblances celia what shall i call thee when thou art a man rosalind ill have no worse a name than joves own page and therefore look you call me ganymede but what will you be calld celia something that hath a reference to my state no longer celia but aliena rosalind but cousin what if we assayd to steal the clownish fool out of your fathers court would he not be a comfort to our travel celia hell go along oer the wide world with me leave me alone to woo him lets 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 exeunt act ii scene i the forest of arden enter duke senior amiens and two or three lords like foresters duke senior 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 not the penalty of adam the seasons difference as the icy fang and churlish chiding of the winters 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 everything i would not change it amiens happy is your grace that can translate the stubbornness of fortune into so quiet and so sweet a style duke senior 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 gord first lord indeed my lord the melancholy jaques grieves at that and in that kind swears you do more usurp than doth your brother that hath banishd 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 sequestred stag that from the hunters aim had taen a hurt did come to languish and indeed my lord the wretched animal heavd forth such groans that their discharge did stretch his leathern coat almost to bursting and the big round tears coursd one another down his innocent nose in piteous chase and thus the hairy fool much marked of the melancholy jaques stood on th extremest verge of the swift brook augmenting it with tears duke senior but what said jaques did he not moralize this spectacle first lord o yes into a thousand similes first for his weeping into the needless stream poor deer quoth he thou makst a testament as worldlings do giving thy sum of more to that which had too much then being there alone left and abandoned 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 whats worse to fright the animals and to kill them up in their assignd and native dwelling place duke senior and did you leave him in this contemplation second lord we did my lord weeping and commenting upon the sobbing deer duke senior show me the place i love to cope him in these sullen fits for then hes full of matter first lord ill bring you to him straight exeunt scene ii the dukes palace enter duke frederick with lords frederick can it be possible that no man saw them it cannot be some villains of my court are of consent and sufferance in this first lord i cannot hear of any that did see her the ladies her attendants of her chamber saw her abed and in the morning early they found the bed untreasurd of their mistress second lord 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 oerheard 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 frederick send to his brother fetch that gallant hither if he be absent bring his brother to me ill make him find him do this suddenly and let not search and inquisition quail to bring again these foolish runaways exeunt scene iii before olivers house enter orlando and adam meeting orlando whos there adam 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 bonny prizer 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 orlando why whats the matter adam 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 orlando why whither adam wouldst thou have me go adam no matter whither so you come not here orlando what wouldst thou have me go and beg my food or with a base and boistrous 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 adam but do not so i have five hundred crowns the thrifty hire i savd 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 ill do the service of a younger man in all your business and necessities orlando 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 prunst a rotten tree that cannot so much as a blossom yield in lieu of all thy pains and husbandry but come thy ways well go along together and ere we have thy youthful wages spent well light upon some settled low content adam master go on and i will follow the to the last gasp with truth and loyalty from seventeen years till now almost four score 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 masters debtor exeunt scene iv the forest of arden enter rosalind for ganymede celia for aliena and clown alias touchstone rosalind o jupiter how weary are my spirits touchstone i care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary rosalind i could find in my heart to disgrace my mans 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 celia i pray you bear with me i cannot go no further touchstone 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 rosalind well this is the forest of arden touchstone 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 enter corin and silvius rosalind ay be so good touchstone look you who comes here a young man and an old in solemn talk corin that is the way to make her scorn you still silvius o corin that thou knewst how i do love her corin i partly guess for i have lovd ere now silvius no corin being old thou canst not guess though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover as ever sighd 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 corin into a thousand that i have forgotten silvius o thou didst then never love so heartily if thou remembrest not the slightest folly that ever love did make thee run into thou hast not lovd or if thou hast not sat as i do now wearing thy hearer in thy mistress praise thou hast not lovd or if thou hast not broke from company abruptly as my passion now makes me thou hast not lovd o phebe phebe phebe exit silvius rosalind alas poor shepherd searching of thy wound i have by hard adventure found mine own touchstone 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 cows dugs that her pretty chopt hands had milkd and i remember the wooing of 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 rosalind thou speakst wiser than thou art ware of touchstone nay i shall neer be ware of mine own wit till i break my shins against it rosalind jove jove this shepherds passion is much upon my fashion touchstone and mine but it grows something stale with me celia i pray you one of you question yond man if he for gold will give us any food i faint almost to death touchstone holla you clown rosalind peace fool hes not thy ensman corin who calls touchstone your betters sir corin else are they very wretched rosalind peace i say good even to you friend corin and to you gentle sir and to you all rosalind i prithee shepherd if that love or gold can in this desert place buy entertainment bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed heres a young maid with travel much oppressd and faints for succour corin 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 rosalind what is he that shall buy his flock and pasture corin that young swain that you saw here but erewhile that little cares for buying any thing rosalind 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 celia and we will mend thy wages i like this place and willingly could waste my time in it corin 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 exeunt scene v another part of the forest enter amiens jaques and others song amiens under the greenwood tree who loves to lie with me and turn his merry note unto the sweet birds throat come hither come hither come hither here shall he see no enemy but winter and rough weather jaques more more i prithee more amiens it will make you melancholy monsieur jaques 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 amiens my voice is ragged i know i cannot please you jaques i do not desire you to please me i do desire you to sing come more another stanzo call you em stanzos amiens what you will monsieur jaques jaques nay i care not for their names they owe me nothing will you sing amiens more at your request than to please myself jaques well then if ever i thank any man ill thank you but that they call compliment is like th encounter of two dog apes and when a man thanks me heartily methinks have given him a penny and he renders me the beggarly thanks come sing and you that will not hold your tongues amiens well ill end the song sirs cover the while the duke will drink under this tree he hath been all this day to look you jaques and i have been all this day to avoid him he is to 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 song all together here who doth ambition shun and loves to live i th sun seeking the food he eats and pleasd with what he gets come hither come hither come hither here shall he see no enemy but winter and rough weather jaques ill give you a verse to this note that i made yesterday in despite of my invention amiens and ill sing it jaques 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 amiens whats that ducdame jaques tis a greek invocation to call fools into a circle ill go sleep if i can if i cannot ill rail against all the first born of egypt amiens and ill go seek the duke his banquet is prepard exeunt severally scene vi the forest enter orlando and adam adam dear master i can go no further o i die for food here lie i down and measure out my grave farewell kind master orlando 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 arms end i will here be with the 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 lookst cheerly and ill 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 exeunt scene vii the forest a table set out enter duke senior amiens and lords like outlaws duke senior i think he be transformd into a beast for i can nowhere find him like a man first lord my lord he is but even now gone hence here was he merry hearing of a song duke senior 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 enter jaques first lord he saves my labour by his own approach duke senior why how now monsieur what a life is this that your poor friends must woo your company what you look merrily jaques a fool a fool i met a fool i th forest a motley fool a miserable world as i do live by food i met a fool who laid him down and baskd him in the sun and raild 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 oclock thus we may 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 motleys the only wear duke senior what fool is this jaques 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 crammd with observation the which he vents in mangled forms o that i were a fool i am ambitious for a motley coat duke senior thou shalt have one jaques 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 mans folly is anatomizd even by the squandring 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 duke senior fie on thee i can tell what thou wouldst do jaques what for a counter would i do but good duke senior most mischievous foul sin in chiding sin for thou thyself hast been a libertine as sensual as the brutish sting itself and all th embossed sores and headed evils that thou with license of free foot hast caught wouldst thou disgorge into the general world jaques 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 wearers 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 wrongd him if it do him right then he hath wrongd himself if he be free why then my taxing like a wild goose flies unclaimd of any man but who comes here enter orlando with his sword drawn orlando forbear and eat no more jaques why i have eat none yet orlando nor shalt not till necessity be servd jaques of what kind should this cock come of duke senior art thou thus boldend man by thy distress or else a rude despiser of good manners that in civility thou seemst so empty orlando you touchd my vein at first the thorny point of bare distress hath taen from me the show of smooth civility yet arn i 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 jaques an you will not be answerd with reason i must die duke senior what would you have your gentleness shall force more than your force move us to gentleness orlando i almost die for food and let me have it duke senior sit down and feed and welcome to our table orlando 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 whateer 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 lookd on better days if ever been where bells have knolld to church if ever sat at any good mans feast if ever from your eyelids wipd 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 duke senior true is it that we have seen better days and have with holy bell been knolld to church and sat at good mens feasts and wipd our eyes of drops that sacred pity hath engendred and therefore sit you down in gentleness and take upon command what help we have that to your wanting may be ministred orlando 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 limpd in pure love till he be first sufficd oppressd with two weak evils age and hunger i will not touch a bit duke senior go find him out and we will nothing waste till you return orlando i thank ye and be blest for your good comfort exit duke senior thou seest we are not all alone unhappy this wide and universal theatre presents more woeful pageants than the scene wherein we play in jaques all the worlds 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 nurses arms 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 woeful 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 cannons mouth and then the justice in fair round belly with good capon lind 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 slipperd pantaloon with spectacles on nose and pouch on side his youthful hose well savd 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 every thing re enter orlando with adam duke senior welcome set down your venerable burden and let him feed orlando i thank you most for him adam so had you need i scarce can speak to thank you for myself duke senior welcome fall to i will not trouble you as yet to question you about your fortunes give us some music and good cousin sing song blow blow thou winter wind thou art not so unkind as mans 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 remembred not heigh ho sing etc duke senior if that you were the good sir rowlands son as you have whisperd faithfully you were and as mine eye doth his effigies witness most truly limnd and living in your face be truly welcome hither i am the duke that lovd 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 exeunt act iii scene i the palace enter duke frederick oliver and lords frederick not see 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 wheresoeer 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 brothers mouth of what we think against thee oliver o that your highness knew my heart in this i never lovd my brother in my life frederick 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 exeunt scene ii the forest enter orlando with a paper orlando 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 ill character that every eye which in this forest looks shall see thy virtue witnessd every where run run orlando carve on every tree the fair the chaste and unexpressive she exit enter corin and touchstone corin and how like you this shepherds life master touchstone touchstone truly shepherd in respect of itself it is a good life but in respect that it is a shepherds life it is nought 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 corin 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 touchstone such a one is a natural philosopher wast ever in court shepherd corin no truly touchstone then thou art damnd corin nay i hope touchstone truly thou art damnd like an ill roasted egg all on one side corin for not being at court your reason touchstone why if thou never wast at court thou never sawst good manners if thou never sawst good manners then thy manners must be wicked and wickedness is sin and sin is damnation thou art in a parlous state shepherd corin 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 touchstone instance briefly come instance corin why we are still handling our ewes and their fells you know are greasy touchstone why do not your courtiers 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 corin besides our hands are hard touchstone your lips will feel them the sooner shallow again a more sounder instance come corin and they are often tarrd over with the surgery of our sheep and would you have us kiss tar the courtiers hands are perfumd with civet touchstone 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 corin you have too courtly a wit for me ill rest touchstone wilt thou rest damnd god help thee shallow man god make incision in thee thou art raw corin sir i am a true labourer i earn that i eat get that i wear owe no man hate envy no mans happiness glad of other mens good content with my harm and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes graze and my lambs suck touchstone 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 crooked pated old cuckoldly ram out of all reasonable match if thou beest not damnd for this the devil himself will have no shepherds i cannot see else how thou shouldst scape corin here comes young master ganymede my new mistresss brother enter rosalind reading a paper rosalind from the east to western inde no jewel is like rosalinde her worth being mounted on the wind through all the world bears rosalinde all the pictures fairest lind are but black to rosalinde let no face be kept in mind but the fair of rosalinde touchstone ill rhyme you so eight years together dinners and suppers and sleeping hours excepted it is the right butter womens rank to market rosalind out fool touchstone for a taste if a hart do lack a hind let him seek out rosalinde if the cat will after kind so be sure will rosalinde winter garments must be lind so must slender rosalinde they that reap must sheaf and bind then to cart with rosalinde sweetest nut hath sourest rind such a nut is rosalinde he that sweetest rose will find must find loves prick and rosalinde this is the very false gallop of verses why do you infect yourself with them rosalind peace you dull fool i found them on a tree touchstone truly the tree yields bad fruit rosalind ill graff it with you and then i shall graff it with a medlar then it will be the earliest fruit i th country for youll be rotten ere you be half ripe and thats the right virtue of the medlar touchstone you have said but whether wisely or no let the forest judge enter celia with a writing rosalind peace here comes my sister reading stand aside celia why should this a desert be for it is unpeopled no tongues ill hang on every tree that shall civil sayings show some how brief the life of man runs his erring pilgrimage that the streching 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 chargd that one body should be filld with all graces wide enlargd nature presently distilld helens cheek but not her heart cleopatras majesty atalantas better part sad lucretias modesty thus rosalinde of many parts by heavenly synod was devisd of many faces eyes and hearts to have the touches dearest prizd heaven would that she these gifts should have and i to live and die her slave rosalind o most gentle pulpiter what tedious homily of love have you wearied your parishioners withal and never cried have patience good people celia how now back friends shepherd go off a little go with him sirrah touchstone come shepherd let us make an honourable retreat though not with bag and baggage yet with scrip and scrippage exeunt corin and touchstone celia didst thou hear these verses rosalind o yes i heard them all and more too for some of them had in them more feet than the verses would bear celia thats no matter the feet might bear the verses rosalind ay but the feet were lame and could not bear themselves without the verse and therefore stood lamely in the verse celia but didst thou hear without wondering how thy name should be hangd and carved upon these trees rosalind 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 berhymd since pythagoras time that i was an irish rat which i can hardly remember celia trow you who hath done this rosalind is it a man celia and a chain that you once wore about his neck change you colour rosalind i prithee who celia o lord lord it is a hard matter for friends to meet but mountains may be removd with earthquakes and so encounter rosalind nay but who is it celia is it possible rosalind nay i prithee now with most petitionary vehemence tell me who it is celia o wonderful wonderful most wonderful wonderful and yet again wonderful and after that out of all whooping rosalind good my complexion dost thou think though i am caparisond 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 conceald man out of thy mouth as wine comes out of narrow mouthd 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 celia so you may put a man in your belly rosalind is he of gods making what manner of man is his head worth a hat or his chin worth a beard celia nay he hath but a little beard rosalind 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 celia it is young orlando that trippd up the wrestlers heels and your heart both in an instant rosalind nay but the devil take mocking speak sad brow and true maid celia i faith coz tis he rosalind orlando celia orlando rosalind alas the day what shall i do with my doublet and hose what did he when thou sawst him what said he how lookd 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 celia you must borrow me gargantuas mouth first tis a word too great for any mouth of this ages size to say ay and no to these particulars is more than to answer in a catechism rosalind but doth he know that i am in this forest and in mans apparel looks he as freshly as he did the day he wrestled celia 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 droppd acorn rosalind it may well be calld joves tree when it drops forth such fruit celia give me audience good madam rosalind proceed celia there lay he stretchd along like a wounded knight rosalind though it be pity to see such a sight it well becomes the ground celia cry holla to thy tongue i prithee it curvets unseasonably he was furnishd like a hunter rosalind o ominous he comes to kill my heart celia i would sing my song without a burden thou bringst me out of tune rosalind do you not know i am a woman when i think i must speak sweet say on celia you bring me out soft comes he not here enter orlando and jaques rosalind tis he slink by and note him jaques i thank you for your company but good faith i had as lief have been myself alone orlando and so had i but yet for fashion sake i thank you too for your society jaques god buy you lets meet as little as we can orlando i do desire we may be better strangers jaques i pray you mar no more trees with writing love songs in their barks orlando i pray you mar no more of my verses with reading them ill favouredly jaques rosalind is your loves name orlando yes just jaques i do not like her name orlando there was no thought of pleasing you when she was christend jaques what stature is she of orlando just as high as my heart jaques you are full of pretty answers have you not been acquainted with goldsmiths wives and connd them out of rings orlando not so but i answer you right painted cloth from whence you have studied your questions jaques you have a nimble wit i think twas made of atalantas heels will you sit down with me and we two will rail against our mistress the world and all our misery orlando i will chide no breather in the world but myself against whom i know most faults jaques the worst fault you have is to be in love orlando tis a fault i will not change for your best virtue i am weary of you jaques by my troth i was seeking for a fool when i found you orlando he is drownd in the brook look but in and you shall see him jaques there i shall see mine own figure orlando which i take to be either a fool or a cipher jaques ill tarry no longer with you farewell good signior love orlando i am glad of your departure adieu good monsieur melancholy exit jaques rosalind aside to celia i will speak to him like a saucy lackey and under that habit play the knave with him do you hear forester orlando very well what would you rosalind i pray you what ist oclock orlando you should ask me what time o day theres no clock in the forest rosalind 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 orlando and why not the swift foot of time had not that been as proper rosalind by no means sir time travels in divers paces with divers persons ill tell you who time ambles withal who time trots withal who time gallops withal and who he stands still withal orlando i prithee who doth he trot withal rosalind marry he trots hard with a young maid between the contract of her marriage and the day it is solemnizd if the interim be but a sennight times pace is so hard that it seems the length of seven year orlando who ambles time withal rosalind 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 orlando who doth he gallop withal rosalind with a thief to the gallows for though he go as softly as foot can fall he thinks himself too soon there orlando who stays it still withal rosalind with lawyers in the vacation for they sleep between term and term and then they perceive not how time moves orlando where dwell you pretty youth rosalind with this shepherdess my sister here in the skirts of the forest like fringe upon a petticoat orlando are you native of this place rosalind as the coney that you see dwell where she is kindled orlando your accent is something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling rosalind 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 touchd with so many giddy offences as he hath generally taxd their whole sex withal orlando can you remember any of the principal evils that he laid to the charge of women rosalind there were none principal they were all like one another as halfpence are every one fault seeming monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it orlando i prithee recount some of them rosalind 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 orlando i am he that is so love shakd i pray you tell me your remedy rosalind there is none of my uncles 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 orlando what were his marks rosalind 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 brothers revenue then your hose should be ungarterd your bonnet unbanded your sleeve unbuttond your shoe untied and every thing 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 orlando fair youth i would i could make thee believe i love rosalind 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 orlando i swear to thee youth by the white hand of rosalind i am that he that unfortunate he rosalind but are you so much in love as your rhymes speak orlando neither rhyme nor reason can express how much rosalind 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 punishd and cured is that the lunacy is so ordinary that the whippers are in love too yet i profess curing it by counsel orlando did you ever cure any so rosalind 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 curd him and this way will i take upon me to wash your liver as clean as a sound sheeps heart that there shall not be one spot of love in t orlando i would not be cured youth rosalind i would cure you if you would but call me rosalind and come every day to my cote and woo me orlando now by the faith of my love i will tell me where it is rosalind go with me to it and ill show it you and by the way you shall tell me where in the forest you live will you go orlando with all my heart good youth rosalind nay you must call me rosalind come sister will you go exeunt scene iii the forest enter touchstone and audrey jaques behind touchstone 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 audrey your features lord warrant us what features touchstone i am here with thee and thy goats as the most capricious poet honest ovid was among the goths jaques aside o knowledge ill inhabited worse than jove in a thatchd house touchstone when a mans verses cannot be understood nor a mans 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 audrey i do not know what poetical is is it honest in deed and word is it a true thing touchstone 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 audrey do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical touchstone i do truly for thou swearst to me thou art honest now if thou wert a poet i might have some hope thou didst feign audrey would you not have me honest touchstone no truly unless thou wert hard favourd for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar jaques aside a material fool audrey well i am not fair and therefore i pray the gods make me honest touchstone truly and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish audrey i am not a slut though i thank the gods i am foul touchstone 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 promisd to meet me in this place of the forest and to couple us jaques aside i would fain see this meeting audrey well the gods give us joy touchstone 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 walld 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 horn more precious than to want here comes sir oliver enter sir oliver martext sir oliver martext you are well met will you dispatch us here under this tree or shall we go with you to your chapel martext is there none here to give the woman touchstone i will not take her on gift of any man martext truly she must be given or the marriage is not lawful jaques discovering himself proceed proceed ill give her touchstone good even good master what ye callt how do you sir you are very well met goddild you for your last company i am very glad to see you even a toy in hand here sir nay pray be coverd jaques will you be married motley touchstone 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 jaques 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 touchstone aside 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 jaques go thou with me and let me counsel thee touchstone 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 exeunt jaques touchstone and audrey martext tis no matter neer a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling exit scene iv the forest enter rosalind and celia rosalind never talk to me i will weep celia do i prithee but yet have the grace to consider that tears do not become a man rosalind but have i not cause to weep celia as good cause as one would desire therefore weep rosalind his very hair is of the dissembling colour celia something browner than judass marry his kisses are judass own children rosalind i faith his hair is of a good colour celia an excellent colour your chestnut was ever the only colour rosalind and his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of holy bread celia he hath bought a pair of cast lips of diana a nun of winters sisterhood kisses not more religiously the very ice of chastity is in them rosalind but why did he swear he would come this morning and comes not celia nay certainly there is no truth in him rosalind do you think so celia 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 covered goblet or a worm eaten nut rosalind not true in love celia yes when he is in but i think he is not in rosalind you have heard him swear downright he was celia was is not is besides the oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster they are both the confirmer of false reckonings he attends here in the forest on the duke your father rosalind 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 laughd and let me go but what talk we of fathers when there is such a man as orlando celia o thats 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 puny tilter that spurs his horse but on one side breaks his staff like a noble goose but alls brave that youth mounts and folly guides who comes here enter corin corin mistress and master you have oft enquired after the shepherd that complaind of love who you saw sitting by me on the turf praising the proud disdainful shepherdess that was his mistress celia well and what of him corin if you will see a pageant truly playd 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 rosalind o come let us remove the sight of lovers feedeth those in love bring us to this sight and you shall say ill prove a busy actor in their play exeunt scene v another part of the forest enter silvius and phebe silvius 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 th accustomd 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 enter rosalind celia and corin at a distance phebe i would not be thy executioner i fly thee for i would not injure thee thou tellst me there is murder in mine eye tis pretty sure and very probable that eyes that are the frailst and softest things who shut their coward gates on atomies should be calld 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 swoon 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 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 not force in eyes that can do hurt silvius 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 loves keen arrows make phebe 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 rosalind advancing 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 natures sale work ods 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 makes the world full of ill favourd 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 mans 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 phebe sweet youth i pray you chide a year together i had rather hear you chide than this man woo rosalind hes falln in love with your foulness and shell fall in love with my anger if it be so as fast as she answers thee with frowning looks ill sauce her with bitter words why look you so upon me phebe for no ill will i bear you rosalind 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 abusd in sight as he come to our flock exeunt rosalind celia and corin phebe dead shepherd now i find thy saw of might who ever lovd that lovd not at first sight silvius sweet phebe phebe ha what sayst thou silvius silvius sweet phebe pity me phebe why i arn sorry for thee gentle silvius 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 extermind phebe thou hast my love is not that neighbourly silvius i would have you phebe 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 ill employ thee too but do not look for further recompense than thine own gladness that thou art employd silvius 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 scattred smile and that ill live upon phebe knowst thou the youth that spoke to me erewhile silvius 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 phebe 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 hes proud and yet his pride becomes him hell 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 hes 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 mixd in his cheek twas just the difference betwixt the constant red and mingled damask there be some women silvius had they markd 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 i 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 remembred scornd at me i marvel why i answerd not again but thats all one omittance is no quittance ill write to him a very taunting letter and thou shalt bear it wilt thou silvius silvius phebe with all my heart phebe ill write it straight the matters in my head and in my heart i will be bitter with him and passing short go with me silvius exeunt act iv scene i the forest enter rosalind celia and jaques jaques i prithee pretty youth let me be better acquainted with thee rosalind they say you are a melancholy fellow jaques i am so i do love it better than laughing rosalind those that are in extremity of either are abominable fellows and betray themselves to every modern censure worse than drunkards jaques why tis good to be sad and say nothing rosalind why then tis good to be a post jaques i have neither the scholars melancholy which is emulation nor the musicians which is fantastical nor the courtiers which is proud nor the soldiers which is ambitious nor the lawyers which is politic nor the ladys which is nice nor the lovers 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 in which my often rumination wraps me in a most humorous sadness rosalind a traveller by my faith you have great reason to be sad i fear you have sold your own lands to see other mens then to have seen much and to have nothing is to have rich eyes and poor hands jaques yes i have gaind my experience enter orlando rosalind 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 orlando good day and happiness dear rosalind jaques nay then god buy you an you talk in blank verse rosalind 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 exit jaques 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 orlando my fair rosalind i come within an hour of my promise rosalind break an hours promise in love he that will divide a minute into a thousand parts and break but a part of the thousand part of a minute in the affairs of love it may be said of him that cupid hath clappd him o th shoulder but ill warrant him heart whole orlando pardon me dear rosalind rosalind nay an you be so tardy come no more in my sight i had as lief be wood of a snail orlando of a snail rosalind 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 orlando whats that rosalind why horns which 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 orlando virtue is no horn maker and my rosalind is virtuous rosalind and i am your rosalind celia it pleases him to call you so but he hath a rosalind of a better leer than you rosalind 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 orlando i would kiss before i spoke rosalind nay you were better speak first and when you were gravelld 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 orlando how if the kiss be denied rosalind then she puts you to entreaty and there begins new matter orlando who could be out being before his beloved mistress rosalind marry that should you if i were your mistress or i should think my honesty ranker than my wit orlando what of my suit rosalind not out of your apparel and yet out of your suit am not i your rosalind orlando i take some joy to say you are because i would be talking of her rosalind well in her person i say i will not have you orlando then in mine own person i die rosalind 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 dashd 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 livd many a fair year though hero had turnd nun if it had not been for a hot midsummer night for good youth he went but forth to wash him in the hellespont and being taken with the cramp was drownd and the foolish chroniclers 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 orlando i would not have my right rosalind of this mind for i protest her frown might kill me rosalind 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 orlando then love me rosalind rosalind yes faith will i fridays and saturdays and all orlando and wilt thou have me rosalind ay and twenty such orlando what sayest thou rosalind are you not good orlando i hope so rosalind 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 orlando pray thee marry us celia i cannot say the words rosalind you must begin will you orlando celia go to will you orlando have to wife this rosalind orlando i will rosalind ay but when orlando why now as fast as she can marry us rosalind then you must say i take thee rosalind for wife orlando i take thee rosalind for wife rosalind i might ask you for your commission but i do take thee orlando for my husband theres a girl goes before the priest and certainly a womans thought runs before her actions orlando so do all thoughts they are wingd rosalind now tell me how long you would have her after you have possessd her orlando for ever and a day rosalind 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 disposd to be merry i will laugh like a hyen and that when thou are inclind to sleep orlando but will my rosalind do so rosalind by my life she will do as i do orlando o but she is wise rosalind or else she could not have the wit to do this the wiser the waywarder make the doors upon a womans 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 orlando a man that had a wife with such a wit he might say wit whither wilt rosalind nay you might keep that check for it till you met your wifes wit going to your neighbours bed orlando and what wit could wit have to excuse that rosalind 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 husbands occasion let her never nurse her child herself for she will breed it like a fool orlando for these two hours rosalind i will leave thee rosalind alas dear love i cannot lack thee two hours orlando i must attend the duke at dinner by two oclock i will be with thee again rosalind 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 oclock is your hour orlando ay sweet rosalind 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 orlando with no less religion than if thou wert indeed my rosalind so adieu rosalind well time is the old justice that examines all such offenders and let time try adieu exit orlando celia you have simply misusd our sex in your love prate we must have your doublet and hose pluckd over your head and show the world what the bird hath done to her own nest rosalind 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 celia or rather bottomless that as fast as you pour affection in it runs out rosalind no that same wicked bastard of venus that was begot of thought conceivd of spleen and born of madness that blind rascally boy that abuses every ones eyes because his own are out let him be judge how deep i am in love ill tell thee aliena i cannot be out of the sight of orlando ill go find a shadow and sigh till he come celia and ill sleep exeunt scene ii the forest enter jaques and lords in the habit of foresters jaques which is he that killed the deer lord sir it was i jaques lets present him to the duke like a roman conqueror and it would do well to set the deers horns upon his head for a branch of victory have you no song forester for this purpose lord yes sir jaques sing it tis no matter how it be in tune so it make noise enough song what shall he have that killd the deer his leather skin and horns to wear the rest shall hear this burden then sing him home take thou no scorn to wear the horn it was a crest ere thou wast born thy fathers father wore it and thy father bore it the horn the horn the lusty horn is not a thing to laugh to scorn exeunt scene iii the forest enter rosalind and celia rosalind how say you now is it not past two oclock and here much orlando celia i warrant you with pure love and troubled brain he hath taen his bow and arrows and is gone forth to sleep look who comes here enter silvius silvius 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 rosalind 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 phoenix ods 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 silvius no i protest i know not the contents phebe did write it rosalind come come you are a fool and turnd into the extremity of love i saw her hand she has a leathern hand a freestone colourd hand i verily did think that her old gloves were on but twas her hands she has a huswifes hand but thats no matter i say she never did invent this letter this is a mans invention and his hand silvius sure it is hers rosalind why tis a boisterous and a cruel style a style for challengers why she defies me like turk to christian womens gentle brain could not drop forth such giant rude invention such ethiope words blacker in their effect than in their countenance will you hear the letter silvius so please you for i never heard it yet yet heard too much of phebes cruelty rosalind she phebes me mark how the tyrant writes reads art thou god to shepherd turnd that a maidens heart hath burnd can a woman rail thus silvius call you this railing rosalind why thy godhead laid apart warrst thou with a womans 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 the 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 ill study how to die silvius call you this chiding celia alas poor shepherd rosalind 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 endurd well go your way to her for i see love hath made thee 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 exit silvius enter oliver oliver good morrow fair ones pray you if you know where in the purlieus of this forest stands a sheep cote fencd about with olive trees celia 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 theres none within oliver 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 the woman low and browner than her brother are not you the owner of the house i did inquire for celia it is no boast being askd to say we are oliver orlando doth commend him to you both and to that youth he calls his rosalind he sends this bloody napkin are you he rosalind i am what must we understand by this oliver some of my shame if you will know of me what man i am and how and why and where this handkercher was staind celia i pray you tell it oliver 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 mossd with age and high top bald with dry antiquity a wretched ragged man oergrown with hair lay sleeping on his back about his neck a green and gilded snake had wreathd itself who with her head nimble in threats approachd the opening of his mouth but suddenly seeing orlando it unlinkd itself and with indented glides did slip away into a bush under which bushs 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 celia o i have heard him speak of that same brother and he did render him the most unnatural that livd amongst men oliver and well he might so do for well i know he was unnatural rosalind but to orlando did he leave him there food to the suckd and hungry lioness oliver twice did he turn his back and purposd 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 awakd celia are you his brother rosalind wast you he rescud celia wast you that did so oft contrive to kill him oliver 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 rosalind but for the bloody napkin oliver by and by when from the first to last betwixt us two tears our recountments had most kindly bathd 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 brothers love who led me instantly unto his cave there strippd 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 recoverd 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 dyd in his blood unto the shepherd youth that he in sport doth call his rosalind rosalind swoons celia why how now ganymede sweet ganymede oliver many will swoon when they do look on blood celia there is more in it cousin ganymede oliver look he recovers rosalind i would i were at home celia well lead you thither i pray you will you take him by the arm oliver be of good cheer youth you a man you lack a mans heart rosalind 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 oliver this was not counterfeit there is too great testimony in your complexion that it was a passion of earnest rosalind counterfeit i assure you oliver well then take a good heart and counterfeit to be a man rosalind so i do but i faith i should have been a woman by right celia come you look paler and paler pray you draw homewards good sir go with us oliver that will i for i must bear answer back how you excuse my brother rosalind rosalind i shall devise something but i pray you commend my counterfeiting to him will you go exeunt act v scene i the forest enter touchstone and audrey touchstone we shall find a time audrey patience gentle audrey audrey faith the priest was good enough for all the old gentlemans saying touchstone a most wicked sir oliver audrey a most vile martext but audrey there is a youth here in the forest lays claim to you audrey ay i know who tis he hath no interest in me in the world here comes the man you mean enter william touchstone 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 william good evn audrey audrey god ye good evn william william and good evn to you sir touchstone good evn gentle friend cover thy head cover thy head nay prithee be coverd how old are you friend william five and twenty sir touchstone a ripe age is thy name william william william sir touchstone a fair name wast born i th forest here william ay sir i thank god touchstone thank god a good answer art rich william faith sir so so touchstone so so is good very good very excellent good and yet it is not it is but so so art thou wise william ay sir i have a pretty wit touchstone why thou sayst 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 william i do sir touchstone give me your hand art thou learned william no sir touchstone then learn this of me to have is to have for it is a figure in rhetoric that drink being pourd out of 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 william which he sir touchstone 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 will oer run thee with policy i will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways therefore tremble and depart audrey do good william william god rest you merry sir exit enter corin corin our master and mistress seeks you come away away touchstone trip audrey trip audrey i attend i attend exeunt scene ii the forest enter orlando and oliver orlando ist 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 oliver 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 fathers house and all the revenue that was old sir rowlands will i estate upon you and here live and die a shepherd orlando you have my consent let your wedding be to morrow thither will i invite the duke and alls contented followers go you and prepare aliena for look you here comes my rosalind enter rosalind rosalind god save you brother oliver and you fair sister exit rosalind o my dear orlando how it grieves me to see thee wear thy heart in a scarf orlando it is my arm rosalind i thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion orlando wounded it is but with the eyes of a lady rosalind did your brother tell you how i counterfeited to swoon when he showd me your handkercher orlando ay and greater wonders than that rosalind o i know where you are nay tis true there was never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams and caesars thrasonical brag of i came saw and overcame for your brother and my sister no sooner met but they lookd no sooner lookd but they lovd no sooner lovd but they sighd no sooner sighd but they askd one another the reason no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy and in these degrees have they made 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 orlando 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 mans 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 rosalind why then to morrow i cannot serve your turn for rosalind orlando i can live no longer by thinking rosalind 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 year old conversd 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 orlando speakst thou in sober meanings rosalind 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 enter silvius and phebe look here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers phebe youth you have done me much ungentleness to show the letter that i writ to you rosalind i care not if i have it is my study to seem despiteful and ungentle to you you are there followd by a faithful shepherd look upon him love him he worships you phebe good shepherd tell this youth what tis to love silvius it is to be all made of sighs and tears and so am i for phebe phebe and i for ganymede orlando and i for rosalind rosalind and i for no woman silvius it is to be all made of faith and service and so am i for phebe phebe and i for ganymede orlando and i for rosalind rosalind and i for no woman silvius 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 obedience and so am i for phebe phebe and so am i for ganymede orlando and so am i for rosalind rosalind and so am i for no woman phebe if this be so why blame you me to love you silvius if this be so why blame you me to love you orlando if this be so why blame you me to love you rosalind why do you speak too why blame you me to love you orlando to her that is not here nor doth not hear rosalind pray you no more of this tis like the howling of irish wolves against the moon to silvius i will help you if i can to phebe i would love you if i could to morrow meet me all together to phebe i will marry you if ever i marry woman and ill be married to morrow to orlando i will satisfy you if ever i satisfied man and you shall be married to morrow to silvius i will content you if what pleases you contents you and you shall be married to morrow to orlando as you love rosalind meet to silvius as you love phebe meet and as i love no woman ill meet so fare you well i have left you commands silvius ill not fail if i live phebe nor i orlando nor i exeunt scene iii the forest enter touchstone and audrey touchstone to morrow is the joyful day audrey to morrow will we be married audrey 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 banishd dukes pages enter two pages first page well met honest gentleman touchstone by my troth well met come sit sit and a song second page we are for you sit i th middle first page shall we clap intot roundly without hawking or spitting or saying we are hoarse which are the only prologues to a bad voice second page ifaith ifaith and both in a tune like two gipsies on a horse song it was a lover and his lass with a hey and a ho and a hey nonino that oer 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 etc 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 etc 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 etc touchstone truly young gentlemen though there was no great matter in the ditty yet the note was very untuneable first page you are deceivd sir we kept time we lost not our time touchstone by my troth yes i count it but time lost to hear such a foolish song god buy you and god mend your voices come audrey exeunt scene iv the forest enter duke senior amiens jaques orlando oliver and celia duke senior dost thou believe orlando that the boy can do all this that he hath promised orlando i sometimes do believe and sometimes do not as those that fear they hope and know they fear enter rosalind silvius and phebe rosalind patience once more whiles our compact is urgd you say if i bring in your rosalind you will bestow her on orlando here duke senior that would i had i kingdoms to give with her rosalind and you say you will have her when i bring her orlando that would i were i of all kingdoms king rosalind you say youll marry me if i be willing phebe that will i should i die the hour after rosalind but if you do refuse to marry me youll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd phebe so is the bargain rosalind you say that youll have phebe if she will silvius though to have her and death were both one thing rosalind i have promisd 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 youll marry me or else refusing me to wed this shepherd keep your word silvius that youll marry her if she refuse me and from hence i go to make these doubts all even exeunt rosalind and celia duke senior i do remember in this shepherd boy some lively touches of my daughters favour orlando 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 tutord 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 enter touchstone and audrey jaques 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 calld fools touchstone salutation and greeting to you all jaques 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 touchstone if any man doubt that let him put me to my purgation i have trod a measure i have flattred 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 jaques and how was that taen up touchstone faith we met and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause jaques how seventh cause good my lord like this fellow duke senior i like him very well touchstone 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 favourd thing sir but mine own a poor humour of mine sir to take that that man else will rich honesty dwells like a miser sir in a poor house as your pearl in your foul oyster duke senior by my faith he is very swift and sententious touchstone according to the fools bolt sir and such dulcet diseases jaques but for the seventh cause how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause touchstone upon a lie seven times removed bear your body more seeming audrey as thus sir i did dislike the cut of a certain courtiers beard he sent me word if i said his beard was not cut well he was in the mind it was this is calld 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 calld the quip modest if again it was not well cut he disabled my judgment this is calld the reply churlish if again it was not well cut he would answer i spake not true this is calld the reproof valiant if again it was not well cut he would say i lie this is calld the countercheck quarrelsome and so to the lie circumstantial and the lie direct jaques and how oft did you say his beard was not well cut touchstone i durst go no further than the lie circumstantial nor he durst not give me the lie direct and so we measurd swords and parted jaques can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie touchstone 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 jaques is not this a rare fellow my lord hes as good at any thing and yet a fool duke senior he uses his folly like a stalking horse and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit enter hymen rosalind and celia still music hymen 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 his bosom is rosalind to duke to you i give myself for i am yours to orlando to you i give myself for i am yours duke senior if there be truth in sight you are my daughter orlando if there be truth in sight you are my rosalind phebe if sight and shape be true why then my love adieu rosalind ill have no father if you be not he ill have no husband if you be not he nor neer wed woman if you be not she hymen peace ho i bar confusion tis i must make conclusion of these most strange events heres eight that must take hands to join in hymens 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 song wedding is great junos 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 duke senior o my dear niece welcome thou art to me even daughter welcome in no less degree phebe i will not eat my word now thou art mine thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine enter jaques de boys jaques de boys 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 addressd 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 banishd brother and all their lands restord to them again that were with him exild this to be true i do engage my life duke senior welcome young man thou offerst 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 endurd 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 falln dignity and fall into our rustic revelry play music and you brides and bridegrooms all with measure heapd in joy to th measures fall jaques sir by your patience if i heard you rightly the duke hath put on a religious life and thrown into neglect the pompous court jaques de boys he hath jaques to him will i out of these convertites there is much matter to be heard and learnd to duke you to your former honour i bequeath your patience and your virtue well deserves it to orlando you to a love that your true faith doth merit to oliver you to your land and love and great allies to silvius you to a long and well deserved bed to touchstone and you to wrangling for thy loving voyage is but for two months victualld so to your pleasures i am for other than for dancing measures duke senior stay jaques stay jaques to see no pastime i what you would have ill stay to know at your abandond cave exit duke senior proceed proceed we will begin these rites as we do trust theyll end in true delights a dance exeunt epilogue epilogue rosalind 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 furnishd like a beggar therefore to beg will not become me my way is to conjure you and ill 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 simpring none of you hates 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 pleasd me complexions that likd 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 the end the comedy of errors dramatis personae solinus duke of ephesus aegeon a merchant of syracuse antipholus of ephesus twin brothers and sons to antipholus of syracuse aegion and aemelia dromio of ephesus twin brothers and attendants on dromio of syracuse the two antipholuses balthazar a merchant angelo a goldsmith first merchant friend to antipholus of syracuse second merchant to whom angelo is a debtor pinch a schoolmaster aemilia wife to aegeon an abbess at ephesus adriana wife to antipholus of ephesus luciana her sister luce servant to adriana a courtezan gaoler officers attendants scene ephesus act i scene a hall in the dukes palace enter the duke of ephesus aegeon the merchant of syracuse gaoler officers and other attendants aegeon proceed solinus to procure my fall and by the doom of death end woes and all duke merchant of syracuse 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 seald his rigorous statutes with their bloods excludes all pity from our threatning 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 to admit no traffic to our adverse towns nay more if any born at ephesus be seen at any syracusian marts and fairs again if any syracusian born come to the bay of ephesus he dies his goods confiscate to the dukes dispose unless a thousand marks be levied to quit the penalty and to ransom him thy substance valued at the highest rate cannot amount unto a hundred marks therefore by law thou art condemnd to die aegeon yet this my comfort when your words are done my woes end likewise with the evening sun duke well syracusian say in brief the cause why thou departedst from thy native home and for what cause thou camst to ephesus aegeon a heavier task could not have been imposd than i to speak my griefs unspeakable yet that the world may witness that my end was wrought by nature not by vile offence ill utter what my sorrow gives me leave in syracuse was i born and wed unto a woman happy but for me and by me had not our hap been bad with her i livd in joy our wealth increasd by prosperous voyages i often made to epidamnum till my factors 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 disdnguishd but by names that very hour and in the self same inn a mean 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 saild 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 embracd yet the incessant weepings of my wife weeping before for what she saw must come and piteous plainings of the pretty babes that mournd for fashion ignorant what to fear forcd 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 fastned him unto a small spare mast such as sea faring 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 disposd my wife and i fixing our eyes on whom our care was fixd fastned ourselves at either end the mast and floating straight obedient to the stream was carried towards corinth as we thought at length the sun gazing upon the earth dispersd those vapours that offended us and by the benefit of his wished light the seas waxd 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 duke nay forward old man do not break off so for we may pity though not pardon thee aegeon o had the gods done so i had not now worthily termd them merciless to us for ere the ships could meet by twice five leagues we were encountred 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 seizd on us and knowing whom it was their hap to save gave healthful welcome to their ship wreckd 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 severd from my bliss that by misfortunes was my life prolongd to tell sad stories of my own mishaps duke and for the sake of them thou sorrowest for do me the favour to dilate at full what have befalln of them and thee till now aegeon my youngest boy and yet my eldest care at eighteen years became inquisitive after his brother and importund me that his attendant so his case was like reft of his brother but retaind his name might bear him company in the quest of him whom whilst i laboured of a love to see i hazarded the loss of whom i lovd five summers have i spent in farthest 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 duke hapless aegeon whom the fates have markd 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 recalld but to our honours great disparagement yet will i favour thee in what i can therefore merchant ill limit thee this day to seek thy help by beneficial hap try all the friends thou hast in ephesus beg thou or borrow to make up the sum and live if no then thou art doomd to die gaoler take him to thy custody gaoler i will my lord aegeon hopeless and helpless doth aegeon wend but to procrastinate his lifeless end exeunt scene the mart enter antipholus of syracuse dromio of syracuse and first merchant first merchant 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 antipholus of syracuse 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 ill 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 dromio of syracuse many a man would take you at your word and go indeed having so good a mean exit antipholus of syracuse 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 first merchant i am invited sir to certain merchants of whom i hope to make much benefit i crave your pardon soon at five oclock please you ill meet with you upon the mart and afterward consort you till bed time my present business calls me from you now antipholus of syracuse farewell till then i will go lose myself and wander up and down to view the city first merchant sir i commend you to your own content exit first merchant antipholus of syracuse 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 enter dromio of ephesus here comes the almanac of my true date what now how chance thou art returnd so soon dromio of ephesus returnd so soon rather approachd 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 antipholus of syracuse stop in your wind sir tell me this i pray where have you left the money that i gave you dromio of ephesus o sixpence that i had a wednesday last to pay the saddler for my mistress crupper the saddler had it sir i kept it not antipholus of syracuse i am not in a sportive humour now tell me and dally not where is the money we being strangers here how darst thou trust so great a charge from thine own custody dromio of ephesus 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 antipholus of syracuse 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 dromio of ephesus to me sir why you gave no gold to me antipholus of syracuse come on sir knave have done your foolishness and tell me how thou hast disposd thy charge dromio of ephesus my charge was but to fetch you from the mart home to your house the phoenix sir to dinner my mistress and her sister stays for you antipholus of syracuse now as i am a christian answer me in what safe place you have bestowd my money or i shall break that merry sconce of yours that stands on tricks when i am undisposd where is the thousand marks thou hadst of me dromio of ephesus 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 antipholus of syracuse thy mistress marks what mistress slave hast thou dromio of ephesus your worships wife my mistress at the phoenix she that doth fast till you come home to dinner and prays that you will hie you home to dinner antipholus of syracuse what wilt thou flout me thus unto my face being forbid there take you that sir knave beats him dromio of ephesus what mean you sir for gods sake hold your hands nay an you will not sir ill take my heels exit antipholus of syracuse upon my life by some device or other the villain is oerraught 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 ill to the centaur to go seek this slave i greatly fear my money is not safe exit act ii scene the house of antipholus of ephesus enter adriana wife to antipholus of ephesus with luciana her sister adriana neither my husband nor the slave returnd that in such haste i sent to seek his master sure luciana it is two oclock luciana perhaps some merchant hath invited him and from the mart hes 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 theyll go or come if so be patient sister adriana why should their liberty than ours be more luciana because their business still lies out o door adriana look when i serve him so he takes it ill luciana o know he is the bridle of your will adriana theres none but asses will be bridled so luciana why headstrong liberty is lashd with woe theres nothing situate under heavens 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 man more divine the master of all these lord of the wide world and wild watry seas indud 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 adriana this servitude makes you to keep unwed luciana not this but troubles of the marriage bed adriana but were you wedded you would bear some sway luciana ere i learn love ill practise to obey adriana how if your husband start some other where luciana till he come home again i would forbear adriana patience unmovd no marvel though she pause they can be meek that have no other cause a wretched soul bruisd with adversity we bid be quiet when we hear it cry but were we burdned 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 would relieve me but if thou live to see like right bereft this fool beggd patience in thee will be left luciana well i will marry one day but to try here comes your man now is your husband nigh enter dromio of ephesus adriana say is your tardy master now at hand dromio of ephesus nay hes at two hands with me and that my two ears can witness adriana say didst thou speak with him knowst thou his mind dromio of ephesus ay ay he told his mind upon mine ear beshrew his hand i scarce could understand it luciana spake he so doubtfully thou couldst not feel his meaning dromio of ephesus nay he struck so plainly i could to well feel his blows and withal so doubtfully that i could scarce understand them adriana but say i prithee is he coming home it seems he hath great care to please his wife dromio of ephesus why mistress sure my master is horn mad adriana horn mad thou villain dromio of ephesus i mean not cuckold mad but sure he is stark mad when i desird him to come home to dinner he askd 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 burnd my gold quoth he my mistress sir quoth i hang up thy mistress i know not thy mistress out on thy mistress luciana quoth who dromio of ephesus 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 bare home upon my shoulders for in conclusion he did beat me there adriana go back again thou slave and fetch him home dromio of ephesus go back again and be new beaten home for gods sake send some other messenger adriana back slave or i will break thy pate across dromio of ephesus and he will bless that cross with other beating between you i shall have a holy head adriana hence prating peasant fetch thy master home dromio of ephesus 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 exit luciana fie how impatience loureth in your face adriana his company must do his minions grace whilst i at home starve for a merry look hath homely age th 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 marrd unkindness blunts it more than marble hard do their gay vestments his affections bait thats not my fault hes master of my state what ruins are in me that can be found by him not ruind 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 luciana self harming jealousy fie beat it hence adriana unfeeling fools can with such wrongs dispense i know his eye doth homage otherwhere or else what lets it but he would be here sister you know he promisd me a chain would that alone a love he would detain so he would keep fair quarter with his bed i see the jewel best enamelled will lose his beauty yet the gold bides still that others touch and often touching will where gold and no man that hath a name by falsehood and corruption doth it shame since that my beauty cannot please his eye ill weep whats left away and weeping die luciana how many fond fools serve mad jealousy exeunt scene the mart enter antipholus of syracuse antipholus of syracuse the gold i gave to dromio is laid up safe at the centaur and the heedful slave is wandred forth in care to seek me out by computation and mine hosts report i could not speak with dromio since at first i sent him from the mart see here he comes enter dromio of syracuse how now sir is your merry humour alterd as you love strokes so jest with me again you know no centaur you receivd no gold your mistress sent to have me home to dinner my house was at the phoenix wast thou mad that thus so madly thou didst answer me dromio of syracuse what answer sir when spake i such a word antipholus of syracuse even now even here not half an hour since dromio of syracuse i did not see you since you sent me hence home to the centaur with the gold you gave me antipholus of syracuse villain thou didst deny the golds receipt and toldst me of a mistress and a dinner for which i hope thou feltst i was displeasd dromio of syracuse i am glad to see you in this merry vein what means this jest i pray you master tell me antipholus of syracuse yea dost thou jeer and flout me in the teeth thinkst thou i jest hold take thou that and that beating him dromio of syracuse hold sir for gods sake now your jest is earnest upon what bargain do you give it me antipholus of syracuse 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 dromio of syracuse 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 antipholus of syracuse dost thou not know dromio of syracuse nothing sir but that i am beaten antipholus of syracuse shall i tell you why dromio of syracuse ay sir and wherefore for they say every why hath a wherefore antipholus of syracuse why first for flouting me and then wherefore for urging it the second time to me dromio of syracuse was there ever any man thus beaten out of season when in the why and the wherefore is neither rhyme nor reason well sir i thank you antipholus of syracuse thank me sir for what dromio of syracuse marry sir for this something that you gave me for nothing antipholus of syracuse ill make you amends next to give you nothing for something but say sir is it dinnertime dromio of syracuse no sir i think the meat wants that i have antipholus of syracuse in good time sir whats that dromio of syracuse basting antipholus of syracuse well sir then twill be dry dromio of syracuse if it be sir i pray you eat none of it antipholus of syracuse your reason dromio of syracuse lest it make you choleric and purchase me another dry basting antipholus of syracuse well sir learn to jest in good time theres a time for all things dromio of syracuse i durst have denied that before you were so choleric antipholus of syracuse by what rule sir dromio of syracuse marry sir by a rule as plain as the plain bald pate of father time himself antipholus of syracuse lets hear it dromio of syracuse theres no time for a man to recover his hair that grows bald by nature antipholus of syracuse may he not do it by fine and recovery dromio of syracuse yes to pay a fine for a periwig and recover the lost hair of another man antipholus of syracuse why is time such a niggard of hair being as it is so plentiful an excrement dromio of syracuse because it is a blessing that he bestows on beasts and what he hath scanted men in hair he hath given them in wit antipholus of syracuse why but theres many a man hath more hair than wit dromio of syracuse not a man of those but he hath the wit to lose his hair antipholus of syracuse why thou didst conclude hairy men plain dealers without wit dromio of syracuse the plainer dealer the sooner lost yet he loseth it in a kind of jollity antipholus of syracuse for what reason dromio of syracuse for two and sound ones too antipholus of syracuse nay not sound i pray you dromio of syracuse sure ones then antipholus of syracuse nay not sure in a thing falsing dromio of syracuse certain ones then antipholus of syracuse name them dromio of syracuse the one to save the money that he spends in tiring the other that at dinner they should not drop in his porridge antipholus of syracuse you would all this time have provd there is no time for all things dromio of syracuse marry and did sir namely no time to recover hair lost by nature antipholus of syracuse but your reason was not substantial why there is no time to recover dromio of syracuse thus i mend it time himself is bald and therefore to the worlds end will have bald followers antipholus of syracuse i knew twould be a bald conclusion but soft who wafts us yonder enter adriana and luciana adriana 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 unurgd 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 savourd in thy taste unless i spake or lookd or touchd or carvd to thee how comes it now my husband o how comes it that thou art then estranged from thyself thyself i call it being strange to me that undividable incorporate am better than thy dear selfs 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 staind 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 possessd 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 dis staind thou undishonoured antipholus of syracuse 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 scannd wants wit in all one word to understand luciana fie brother how the world is changd with you when were you wont to use my sister thus she sent for you by dromio home to dinner antipholus of syracuse by dromio dromio of syracuse by me adriana 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 antipholus of syracuse did you converse sir with this gentlewoman what is the course and drift of your compact dromio of syracuse i sir i never saw her till this time antipholus of syracuse villain thou liest for even her very words didst thou deliver to me on the mart dromio of syracuse i never spake with her in all my life antipholus of syracuse how can she thus then call us by our names unless it be by inspiration adriana how ill agrees it with your gravity to counterfeit thus grossly with your slave abetting 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 antipholus of syracuse 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 ill entertain the offerd fallacy luciana dromio go bid the servants spread for dinner dromio of syracuse o for my beads i cross me for sinner this is the fairy land o spite of spites we talk with goblins owls and sprites if we obey them not this will ensue theyll suck our breath or pinch us black and blue luciana why pratst thou to thyself and answerst not dromio thou drone thou snail thou slug thou sot dromio of syracuse i am transformed master am not i antipholus of syracuse i think thou art in mind and so am i dromio of syracuse nay master both in mind and in my shape antipholus of syracuse thou hast thine own form dromio of syracuse no i am an ape luciana if thou art changd to aught tis to an ass dromio of syracuse 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 adriana come come no longer will i be a fool to put the finger in the eye and weep whilst man and master laughs my woes to scorn come sir to dinner dromio keep the gate husband ill 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 antipholus of syracuse am i in earth in heaven or in hell sleeping or waking mad or well advisd known unto these and to myself disguisd ill say as they say and persever so and in this mist at all adventures go dromio of syracuse master shall i be porter at the gate adriana ay and let none enter lest i break your pate luciana come come antipholus we dine too late exeunt act iii scene before the house of antipholus of ephesus enter antipholus of ephesus dromio of ephesus angelo and balthazar antipholus of ephesus good signior angelo you must excuse us all my wife is shrewish when i keep not hours say that i lingerd with you at your shop to see the making of her carcanet and that to morrow you will bring it home but heres a villain that would face me down he met me on the mart and that i beat him and chargd 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 dromio of ephesus 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 antipholus of ephesus i think thou art an ass dromio of ephesus marry so it doth appear by the wrongs i suffer and the blows i bear i should kick being kickd and being at that pass you would keep from my heels and beware of an ass antipholus of ephesus yare sad signior balthazar pray god our cheer may answer my good will and your good welcome here balthazar i hold your dainties cheap sir and your welcome dear antipholus of ephesus o signior balthazar either at flesh or fish a table full of welcome makes scarce one dainty dish balthazar good meat sir is common that every churl affords antipholus of ephesus and welcome more common for thats nothing but words balthazar small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast antipholus of ephesus 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 lockd go bid them let us in dromio of ephesus maud bridget marian cicely gillian ginn dromio of syracuse within 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 callst for such store when one is one too many go get thee from the door dromio of ephesus what patch is made our porter my master stays in the street dromio of syracuse within let him walk from whence he came lest he catch cold ons feet antipholus of ephesus who talks within there ho open the door dromio of syracuse within right sir ill tell you when an youll tell me wherefore antipholus of ephesus wherefore for my dinner i have not dind to day dromio of syracuse within nor to day here you must not come again when you may antipholus of ephesus what art thou that keepst me out from the house i owe dromio of syracuse within the porter for this time sir and my name is dromio dromio of ephesus o villain thou hast stoln both mine office and my name the one neer got me credit the other mickle blame if thou hadst been dromio to day in my place thou wouldst have changd thy face for a name or thy name for an ass enter luce within luce within what a coil is there dromio who are those at the gate dromio of ephesus let my master in luce luce within faith no he comes too late and so tell your master dromio of ephesus o lord i must laugh have at you with a proverb shall i set in my staff luce within have at you with another thats when can you tell dromio of syracuse within if thy name be called luce luce thou hast answerd him well antipholus of ephesus do you hear you minion youll let us in i hope luce within i thought to have askd you dromio of syracuse within and you said no dromio of ephesus so come help well struck there was blow for blow antipholus of ephesus thou baggage let me in luce within can you tell for whose sake dromio of ephesus master knock the door hard luce within let him knock till it ache antipholus of ephesus youll cry for this minion if beat the door down luce within what needs all that and a pair of stocks in the town enter adriana within adriana within who is that at the door that keeps all this noise dromio of syracuse within by my troth your town is troubled with unruly boys antipholus of ephesus are you there wife you might have come before adriana within your wife sir knave go get you from the door dromio of ephesus if you went in pain master this knave would go sore angelo here is neither cheer sir nor welcome we would fain have either balthazar in debating which was best we shall part with neither dromio of ephesus they stand at the door master bid them welcome hither antipholus of ephesus there is something in the wind that we cannot get in dromio of ephesus 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 antipholus of ephesus go fetch me something ill break ope the gate dromio of syracuse within break any breaking here and ill break your knaves pate dromio of ephesus 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 dromio of syracuse within it seems thou wantst breaking out upon thee hind dromio of ephesus heres too much out upon thee pray thee let me in dromio of syracuse within ay when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin antipholus of ephesus well ill break in go borrow me a crow dromio of ephesus a crow without feather master mean you so for a fish without a fin theres a fowl without a feather if a crow help us in sirrah well pluck a crow together antipholus of ephesus go get thee gone fetch me an iron crow balthazar have patience sir o let it not be so herein you war against your reputation and draw within the compass of suspect th 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 ruld 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 housd where it gets possession antipholus of ephesus you have prevaild 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 to angelo get you home and fetch the chain by this i know tis made bring it i pray you to the porpentine for theres 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 ill knock elsewhere to see if theyll disdain me angelo ill meet you at that place some hour hence antipholus of ephesus do so this jest shall cost me some expense exeunt scene before the house of antipholus of ephesus enter luciana with antipholus of syracuse luciana and may it be that you have quite forgot a husbands 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 wealths 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 shames orator look sweet speak fair become disloyalty apparel vice like virtues 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 is 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 antipholus of syracuse 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 earths wonder more than earth divine teach me dear creature how to think and speak lay open to my earthy gross conceit smothred in errors feeble shallow weak the folded meaning of your words deceit against my souls 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 powr ill 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 sisters flood of tears sing siren for thyself and i will dote spread oer the silver waves thy golden hairs and as a bed ill take them and there he 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 luciana what are you mad that you do reason so antipholus of syracuse not mad but mated how i do not know luciana it is a fault that springeth from your eye antipholus of syracuse for gazing on your beams fair sun being by luciana gaze where you should and that will clear your sight antipholus of syracuse as good to wink sweet love as look on night luciana why call you me love call my sister so antipholus of syracuse thy sisters sister luciana thats my sister antipholus of syracuse no it is thyself mine own selfs better part mine eyes clear eye my dear hearts dearer heart my food my fortune and my sweet hopes aim my sole earths heaven and my heavens claim luciana all this my sister is or else should be antipholus of syracuse call thyself sister sweet for i am thee thee will i love and with thee lead my life thou hast no husband yet nor i no wife give me thy hand luciana o soft sir hold you still ill fetch my sister to get her good will exit luciana enter dromio of syracuse antipholus of syracuse why how now dromio where runst thou so fast dromio of syracuse do you know me sir am i dromio am i your man am i myself antipholus of syracuse thou art dromio thou art my man thou art thyself dromio of syracuse i am an ass i am a womans man and besides myself antipholus of syracuse what womans man and how besides thyself dromio of syracuse marry sir besides myself i am due to a woman one that claims me one that haunts me one that will have me antipholus of syracuse what claim lays she to thee dromio of syracuse 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 antipholus of syracuse what is she dromio of syracuse a very reverent body ay 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 antipholus of syracuse how dost thou mean a fat marriage dromio of syracuse marry sir shes 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 poland winter if she lives till doomsday shell burn week longer than the whole world antipholus of syracuse what complexion is she of dromio of syracuse 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 antipholus of syracuse thats a fault that water will mend dromio of syracuse no sir tis in grain noahs flood could not do it antipholus of syracuse whats her name dromio of syracuse nell sir but her name and three quarters thats an ell and three quarters will not measure her from hip to hip antipholus of syracuse then she bears some breadth dromio of syracuse no longer from head to foot than from hip to hip she is spherical like a globe i could find out countries in her antipholus of syracuse in what part of her body stands ireland dromio of syracuse marry sir in her buttocks i found it out by the bogs antipholus of syracuse where scotland dromio of syracuse i found it by the barrenness hard in the palm of the hand antipholus of syracuse where france dromio of syracuse in her forehead armd and reverted making war against her heir antipholus of syracuse where england dromio of syracuse i lookd 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 antipholus of syracuse where spain dromio of syracuse faith i saw it not but i felt it hot in her breath antipholus of syracuse where america the indies dromio of syracuse o sir upon her nose an oer 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 antipholus of syracuse where stood belgia the netherlands dromio of syracuse o sir i did not look so low to conclude this drudge or diviner laid claim to me calld me dromio swore i was assurd 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 amazd 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 transformd me to a curtal dog and made me turn i th wheel antipholus of syracuse 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 dromio of syracuse as from a bear a man would run for life so fly i from her that would be my wife exit antipholus of syracuse theres 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 possessd 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 ill stop mine ears against the mermaids song enter angelo with the chain angelo master antipholus antipholus of syracuse ay thats my name angelo i know it well sir lo here is the chain i thought to have taen you at the porpentine the chain unfinishd made me stay thus long antipholus of syracuse what is your will that i shall do with this angelo what please yourself sir i have made it for you antipholus of syracuse made it for me sir i bespoke it not angelo not once nor twice but twenty times you have go home with it and please your wife withal and soon at supper time ill visit you and then receive my money for the chain antipholus of syracuse i pray you sir receive the money now for fear you neer see chain nor money more angelo you are a merry man sir fare you well exit antipholus of syracuse what i should think of this cannot tell but this i think theres no man is so vain that would refuse so fair an offerd chain i see a man here needs not live by shifts when in the streets he meets such golden gifts ill to the mart and there for dromio stay if any ship put out then straight away exit act iv scene a public place enter second merchant angelo and an officer second merchant you know since pentecost the sum is due and since i have not much importund you nor now i had not but that i am bound to persia and want guilders for my voyage therefore make present satisfaction or ill attach you by this officer angelo 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 oclock 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 enter antipholus of ephesus and dromio of ephesus from the courtezans officer that labour may you save see where he comes antipholus of ephesus while i go to the goldsmiths house go thou and buy a ropes end that will i 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 dromio of ephesus i buy a thousand pound a year i buy a rope exit dromio antipholus of ephesus 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 chaind together and therefore came not angelo saving your merry humour heres 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 dischargd for he is bound to sea and stays but for it antipholus of ephesus i am not furnishd 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 angelo then you will bring the chain to her yourself antipholus of ephesus no bear it with you lest i come not time enough angelo well sir i will have you the chain about you antipholus of ephesus an if i have not sir i hope you have or else you may return without your money angelo 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 antipholus of ephesus good lord you use this dalliance to excuse your breach of promise to the porpentine i should have chid you for not bringing it but like a shrew you first begin to brawl second merchant the hour steals on i pray you sir dispatch angelo you hear how he importunes me the chain antipholus of ephesus why give it to my wife and fetch your money angelo come come you know i gave it you even now either send the chain or send by me some token antipholus of ephesus fie now you run this humour out of breath come wheres the chain i pray you let me see it second merchant my business cannot brook this dalliance good sir say wher youll answer me or no if not ill leave him to the officer antipholus of ephesus i answer you what should i answer you angelo the money that you owe me for the chain antipholus of ephesus i owe you none till i receive the chain angelo you know i gave it you half an hour since antipholus of ephesus you gave me none you wrong me much to say so angelo you wrong me more sir in denying it consider how it stands upon my credit second merchant well officer arrest him at my suit officer i do and charge you in the dukes name to obey me angelo this touches me in reputation either consent to pay this sum for me or i attach you by this officer antipholus of ephesus consent to pay thee that i never had arrest me foolish fellow if thou darst angelo here is thy fee arrest him officer i would not spare my brother in this case if he should scorn me so apparently officer i do arrest you sir you hear the suit antipholus of ephesus 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 angelo sir sir i shall have law in ephesus to your notorious shame i doubt it not enter dromio of syracuse from the bay dromio of syracuse master theres a bark of epidamnum that stays but till her owner comes aboard and then sir she bears away our fraughtage sir i have conveyd aboard and i have bought the oil the balsamum and aqua vitx the ship is in her trim the merry wind blows fair from land they stay for nought at an but for their owner master and yourself antipholus of ephesus how now a madman why thou peevish sheep what ship of epidamnum stays for me dromio of syracuse a ship you sent me to to hire waftage antipholus of ephesus thou drunken slave i sent the for a rope and told thee to what purpose and what end dromio of syracuse you sent me for a ropes end as soon you sent me to the bay sir for a bark antipholus of ephesus 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 thats coverd oer 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 exeunt all but dromio dromio of syracuse to adriana that is where we dind 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 exit scene the house of antipholus of ephesus enter adriana and luciana adriana ah luciana did he tempt thee so mightst thou perceive austerely in his eye that he did plead in earnest yea or no lookd he or red or pale or sad or merrily what observation madst thou in this case of his hearts meteors tilting in his face luciana first he denied you had in him no right adriana he meant he did me none the more my spite luciana then swore he that he was a stranger here adriana and true he swore though yet forsworn he were luciana then pleaded i for you adriana and what said he luciana that love i beggd for you he beggd of me adriana with what persuasion did he tempt thy love luciana with words that in an honest suit might move first he did praise my beauty then my speech adriana didst speak him fair luciana have patience i beseech adriana 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 facd worse bodied shapeless everywhere vicious ungentle foolish blunt unkind stigmatical in making worse in mind luciana who would be jealous then of such a one no evil lost is waild when it is gone adriana 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 enter dromio of syracuse dromio of syracuse here go the desk the purse sweet now make haste luciana how hast thou lost thy breath dromio of syracuse by running fast adriana where is thy master dromio is he well dromio of syracuse no hes in tartar limbo worse than hell a devil in an everlasting garment hath him one whose hard heart is buttond 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 dry foot well one that before the judgment carries poor souls to hell adriana why man what is the matter dromio of syracuse i do not know the matter he is rested on the case adriana what is he arrested tell me at whose suit dromio of syracuse i know not at whose suit he is arrested well but hes in a suit of buff which rested him that can i tell will you send him mistress redemption the money in his desk adriana go fetch it sister exit luciana this i wonder at thus he unknown to me should be in debt tell me was he arrested on a band dromio of syracuse on a band but on a stronger thing a chain a chain do you not hear it ring adriana what the chain dromio of syracuse no no the bell tis time that i were gone it was two ere i left him and now the clock strikes one adriana the hours come back that did i never hear dromio of syracuse o yes if any hour meet a sergeant a turns back for very fear adriana as if time were in debt how fondly dost thou reason dromio of syracuse time is a very bankrupt and owes more than hes worth to season nay hes a thief too have you not heard men say that time comes stealing on by night and day if a be in debt and theft and a sergeant in the way hath he not reason to turn back an hour in a day re enter luciana with a purse adriana go dromio theres the money bear it straight and bring thy master home immediately come sister i am pressd down with conceit conceit my comfort and my injury exeunt scene the mart enter antipholus of syracuse antipholus of syracuse theres 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 calld me in his shop and showd 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 enter dromio of syracuse dromio of syracuse master heres the gold you sent me for what have you got the picture of old adam new apparelld antipholus of syracuse what gold is this what adam dost thou mean dromio of syracuse not that adam that kept the paradise but that adam that keeps the prison he that goes in the calfs skin that was killd for the prodigal he that came behind you sir like an evil angel and bid you forsake your liberty antipholus of syracuse i understand thee not dromio of syracuse no why tis a plain case he that went like a bass viol in a case of leather the man sir that when gentlemen are tired gives them a sob and rest them he sir that takes pity on decayed men and give them suits of durance he that sets up his rest to do more exploits with his mace than a morris pike antipholus of syracuse what thou meanst an officer dromio of syracuse ay sir the sergeant of the band that brings any man to answer it that breaks his band on that thinks a man always going to bed and says god give you good rest antipholus of syracuse well sir there rest in your foolery is there any ship puts forth to night may we be gone dromio of syracuse why sir i brought you word an hour since that the bark expedition put forth to night and then were you hindred by the sergeant to tarry for the boy delay here are the angels that you sent for to deliver you antipholus of syracuse the fellow is distract and so am i and here we wander in illusions some blessed power deliver us from hence enter a courtezan courtezan well met well met master antipholus i see sir you have found the goldsmith now is that the chain you promisd me to day antipholus of syracuse satan avoid i charge thee tempt me not dromio of syracuse master is this mistress satan antipholus of syracuse it is the devil dromio of syracuse nay she is worse she is the devils dam and here she comes in the habit of a light wench and thereof comes that the wenches say god damn me thats as much 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 courtezan your man and you are marvellous merry sir will you go with me well mend our dinner here dromio of syracuse master if you do expect spoon meat or bespeak a long spoon antipholus of syracuse why dromio dromio of syracuse marry he must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil antipholus of syracuse avoid then fiend what tellst thou me of supping thou art as you are all a sorceress i conjure thee to leave me and be gone courtezan give me the ring of mine you had at dinner or for my diamond the chain you promisd and ill be gone sir and not trouble you dromio of syracuse some devils ask but the parings of ones 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 courtezan i pray you sir my ring or else the chain i hope you do not mean to cheat me so antipholus of syracuse avaunt thou witch come dromio let us go dromio of syracuse fly pride says the peacock mistress that you know exeunt antipholus of syracuse and dromio of syracuse courtezan 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 promisd 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 rushd into my house and took perforce my ring away this course i fittest choose for forty ducats is too much to lose exit scene a street enter antipholus of ephesus with the officer antipholus of ephesus fear me not man i will not break away ill 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 attachd in ephesus i tell you twill sound harshly in her cars enter dromio of ephesus with a ropes end here comes my man i think he brings the money how now sir have you that i sent you for dromio of ephesus heres that i warrant you will pay them all antipholus of ephesus but wheres the money dromio of ephesus why sir i gave the money for the rope antipholus of ephesus five hundred ducats villain for rope dromio of ephesus ill serve you sir five hundred at the rate antipholus of ephesus to what end did i bid thee hie thee home dromio of ephesus to a ropes end sir and to that end am i returnd antipholus of ephesus and to that end sir i will welcome you beating him officer good sir be patient dromio of ephesus nay tis for me to be patient i am in adversity officer good now hold thy tongue dromio of ephesus nay rather persuade him to hold his hands antipholus of ephesus thou whoreson senseless villain dromio of ephesus i would i were senseless sir that i might not feel your blows antipholus of ephesus thou art sensible in nothing but blows and so is an ass dromio of ephesus 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 wakd with it when i sleep raisd with it when i sit driven out of doors with it when i go from home welcomd home with it when i return nay i bear it on my shoulders as beggar wont her brat and i think when he hath lamd me i shall beg with it from door to door enter adriana luciana the courtezan and a schoolmaster calld pinch antipholus of ephesus come go along my wife is coming yonder dromio of ephesus mistress respice finem respect your end or rather to prophesy like the parrot beware the ropes end antipholus of ephesus wilt thou still talk beating him courtezan how say you now is not your husband mad adriana 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 luciana alas how fiery and how sharp he looks courtezan mark how he trembles in his ecstasy pinch give me your hand and let me feel your pulse antipholus of ephesus there is my hand and let it feel your ear striking him pinch i charge thee satan housd 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 antipholus of ephesus peace doting wizard peace i am not mad adriana o that thou wert not poor distressed soul antipholus of ephesus 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 adriana o husband god doth know you dind at home where would you had remaind until this time free from these slanders and this open shame antipholus of ephesus dind at home thou villain what sayest thou dromio of ephesus sir sooth to say you did not dine at home antipholus of ephesus were not my doors lockd up and i shut out dromio of ephesus perdie your doors were lockd and you shut out antipholus of ephesus and did not she herself revile me there dromio of ephesus sans fable she herself revild you there antipholus of ephesus did not her kitchen maid rail taunt and scorn me dromio of ephesus certes she did the kitchen vestal scornd you antipholus of ephesus and did not i in rage depart from thence dromio of ephesus in verity you did my bones bear witness that since have felt the vigour of his rage adriana ist good to soothe him in these contraries pinch it is no shame the fellow finds his vein and yielding to him humours well his frenzy antipholus of ephesus thou hast subornd the goldsmith to arrest me adriana alas i sent you money to redeem you by dromio here who came in haste for it dromio of ephesus money by me heart and goodwill you might but surely master not a rag of money antipholus of ephesus wentst not thou to her for purse of ducats adriana he came to me and i deliverd it luciana and i am witness with her that she did dromio of ephesus god and the rope maker bear me witness that i was sent for nothing but a rope pinch mistress both man and master is possessd i know it by their pale and deadly looks they must be bound and laid in some dark room antipholus of ephesus say wherefore didst thou lock me forth to day and why dost thou deny the bag of gold adriana i did not gentle husband lock thee forth dromio of ephesus and gentle master i receivd no gold but i confess sir that we were lockd out adriana dissembling villain thou speakst false in both antipholus of ephesus 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 ill pluck out these false eyes that would behold in me this shameful sport adriana o bind him bind him let him not come near me pinch more company the fiend is strong within him enter three or four and offer to bind him he strives luciana ay me poor man how pale and wan he looks antipholus of ephesus what will you murder me thou gaoler thou i am thy prisoner wilt thou suffer them to make a rescue officer masters let him go he is my prisoner and you shall not have him pinch go bind this man for he is frantic too they bind dromio adriana what wilt thou do thou peevish officer hast thou delight to see a wretched man do outrage and displeasure to himself officer he is my prisoner if i let him go the debt he owes will be requird of me adriana 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 conveyd home to my house o most unhappy day antipholus of ephesus o most unhappy strumpet dromio of ephesus master i am here entred in bond for you antipholus of ephesus out on thee villian wherefore dost thou mad me dromio of ephesus will you be bound for nothing be mad good master cry the devil luciana god help poor souls how idly do they talk adriana go bear him hence sister go you with me exeunt all but adriana luciana officers and courtezan say now whose suit is he arrested at officer one angelo a goldsmith do you know him adriana i know the man what is the sum he owes officer two hundred ducats adriana say how grows it due officer due for a chain your husband had of him adriana he did bespeak a chain for me but had it not courtezan 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 adriana 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 enter antipholus of syracuse with his rapier drawn and dromio of syracuse luciana god for thy mercy they are loose again adriana and come with naked swords lets call more help to have them bound again officer away theyll kill us exeunt all but antipholus of syracuse and dromio of syracuse as fast as may be frighted antipholus of syracuse i see these witches are afraid of swords dromio of syracuse she that would be your wife now ran from you antipholus of syracuse come to the centaur fetch our stuff from thence i long that we were safe and sound aboard dromio of syracuse 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 could find in my heart to stay here still and turn witch antipholus of syracuse i will not stay to night for all the town therefore away to get our stuff aboard exeunt act v scene a street before a priory enter second merchant and angelo angelo i am sorry sir that i have hindred you but i protest he had the chain of me though most dishonestly he doth deny it second merchant how is the man esteemd here in the city angelo of very reverend reputation sir of credit infinite highly belovd second to none that lives here in the city his word might bear my wealth at any time second merchant speak softly yonder as i think he walks enter antipholus of syracuse and dromio of syracuse angelo tis so and that self chain about his neck which he forswore most monstrously to have good sir draw near to me ill speak to him signior andpholus 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 antipholus of syracuse i think i had i never did deny it second merchant yes that you did sir and forswore it too antipholus of syracuse who heard me to deny it or forswear it second merchant these ears of mine thou knowst did hear thee fie on thee wretch tis pity that thou livst to walk where any honest men resort antipholus of syracuse thou art a villain to impeach me thus ill prove mine honour and mine honesty against thee presently if thou darst stand second merchant i dare and do defy thee for a villain they draw enter adriana luciana the courtezan and others adriana hold hurt him not for gods sake he is mad some get within him take his sword away bind dromio too and bear them to my house dromio of syracuse run master run for gods sake take a house this is some priory in or we are spoild exeunt antipholus of syracuse and dromio of syracuse to the priory enter the lady abbess abbess be quiet people wherefore throng you hither adriana to fetch my poor distracted husband hence let us come in that we may bind him fast and bear him home for his recovery angelo i knew he was not in his perfect wits second merchant i am sorry now that i did draw on him abbess how long hath this possession held the man adriana this week he hath been heavy sour sad and much different from the man he was but till this afternoon his passion neer brake into extremity of rage abbess hath he not lost much wealth by wreck of sea buried some dear friend hath not else his eye strayd 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 adriana to none of these except it be the last namely some love that drew him oft from home abbess you should for that have reprehended him adriana why so i did abbess ay but not rough enough adriana as roughly as my modesty would let me abbess haply in private adriana and in assemblies too abbess ay but not enough adriana 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 abbess and thereof came it that the man was mad the venom clamours of a jealous woman poisons more deadly than a mad dogs tooth it seems his sleeps were hindred by thy railing and thereof comes it that his head is light thou sayst his meat was saucd with thy upbraidings unquiet meals make ill digestions thereof the raging fire of fever bred and whats a fever but a fit of madness thou sayst his sports were hindred by thy brawls sweet recreation barrd what doth ensue but moody 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 disturbd would mad or man or beast the consequence is then thy jealous fits hath scard thy husband from the use of wits luciana she never reprehended him but mildly when he demeand himself rough rude and wildly why bear you these rebukes and answer not adriana she did betray me to my own reproof good people enter and lay hold on him abbess no not a creature enters in my house adriana then let your servants bring my husband forth abbess 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 adriana 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 abbess be patient for i will not let him stir till i have usd 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 adriana i will not hence and leave my husband here and ill it doth beseem your holiness to separate the husband and the wife abbess be quiet and depart thou shalt not have him exit luciana complain unto the duke of this indignity adriana 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 second merchant by this i think the dial points at five anon im 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 angelo upon what cause second merchant 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 angelo see where they come we will behold his death luciana kneel to the duke before he pass the abbey enter the duke attended aegeon bareheaded with the headsman and other officers duke yet once again proclaim it publicly if any friend will pay the sum for him he shall not die so much we tender him adriana justice most sacred duke against the abbess duke she is a virtuous and a reverend lady it cannot be that she hath done thee wrong adriana may it please your grace antipholus my husband who 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 desprately 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 chasd us away till raising of more aid we came again to bind them then they fled into this abbey whither we pursud 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 duke long since thy husband servd me in my wars and i to thee engagd a princes 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 enter a messenger messenger 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 singd off with brands of fire and ever as it blazd 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 adriana peace fool thy master and his man are here and that is false thou dost report to us messenger mistress upon my life i tell you true i have not breathd almost since i did see it he cries for you and vows if he can take you to scorch your face and to disfigure you cry within hark hark i hear him mistress fly be gone duke come stand by me fear nothing guard with halberds adriana ay me it is my husband witness you that he is borne about invisible even now we housd him in the abbey here and now hes there past thought of human reason enter antipholus ofephesus and dromio ofephesus antipholus ofephesus 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 aegeon unless the fear of death doth make me dote i see my son antipholus and dromio antipholus ofephesus justice sweet prince against that woman there she whom thou gavst to me to be my wife that hath abused and dishonoured me even in the strength and height of injury beyond imagination is the wrong that she this day hath shameless thrown on me duke discover how and thou shalt find me just antipholus ofephesus this day great duke she shut the doors upon me while she with harlots feasted in my house duke a grievous fault say woman didst thou so adriana 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 luciana neer may i look on day nor sleep on night but she tells to your highness simple truth angelo o peflurd woman they are both forsworn in this the madman justly chargeth them antipholus of ephesus my liege i am advised what i say neither disturbed with the effect of wine nor heady rash provokd with raging ire albeit my wrongs might make one wiser mad this woman lockd me out this day from dinner that goldsmith there were he not packd 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 perjurd goldsmith swear me down that i this day of him receivd 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 returnd then fairly i bespoke the officer to go in person with me to my house by th way we met my wife her sister and a rabble more of vile confederates along with them they brought one pinch a hungry lean facd villain a mere anatomy a mountebank a threadbare juggler and a fortune teller a needy hollow eyd 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 outfacing me cries out i was possessd then all together 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 gaind my freedom and immediately ran hither to your grace whom i beseech to give me ample satisfaction for these deep shames and great indignities angelo my lord in truth thus far i witness with him that he dind not at home but was lockd out duke but had he such a chain of thee or no angelo he had my lord and when he ran in here these people saw the chain about his neck second merchant 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 antipholus of ephesus 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 duke why what an intricate impeach is this i think you all have drunk of circes cup if here you housd him here he would have been if he were mad he would not plead so coldly you say he dind at home the goldsmith here denies that saying sirrah what say you dromio of ephesus sir he dind with her there at the porpentine courtezan he did and from my finger snatchd that ring antipholus of ephesus tis true my liege this ring i had of her duke sawst thou him enter at the abbey here courtezan as sure my liege as i do see your grace duke why this is strange go call the abbess hither i think you are all mated or stark mad exit one to the abbess aegeon 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 duke speak freely syracusian what thou wilt aegeon is not your name sir calld antipholus and is not that your bondman dromio dromio of ephesus within this hour i was his bondman sir but he i thank him gnawd in two my cords now am i dromio and his man unbound aegeon i am sure you both of you remember me dromio of ephesus ourselves we do remember sir by you for lately we were bound as you are now you are not pinchs patient are you sir aegeon why look you strange on me you know me well antipholus of ephesus i never saw you in my life till now aegeon o grief hath changd me since you saw me last and careful hours with times deformed hand have written strange defeatures in my face but tell me yet dost thou not know my voice antipholus of ephesus neither aegeon dromio nor thou dromio of ephesus no trust me sir nor i aegeon i am sure thou dost dromio of ephesus ay sir but i am sure i do not and whatsoever a man denies you are now bound to believe him aegeon not know my voice o times extremity hast thou so crackd and splitted my poor tongue in seven short years that here my only son knows not my feeble key of untund cares though now this grained face of mine be hid in sap consuming winters 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 antipholus of ephesus i never saw my father in my life aegeon but seven years since in syracuse boy thou knowst we parted but perhaps my son thou shamst to acknowledge me in misery antipholus of ephesus the duke and all that know me in the city can witness with me that it is not so i neer saw syracuse in my life duke i tell thee syracusian twenty years have i been patron to antipholus during which time he neer saw syracuse i see thy age and dangers make thee dote re enter the abbess with antipholus of syracuse and dromio of syracuse abbess most mighty duke behold a man much wrongd all gather to see them adriana i see two husbands or mine eyes deceive me duke 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 dromio of syracuse i sir am dromio command him away dromio of ephesus i sir am dromio pray let me stay antipholus of syracuse aegeon art thou not or else his dromio of syracuse o my old master who hath bound abbess whoever bound him i will loose his bonds and gain a husband by his liberty speak old aegeon if thou best the man that hadst a wife once calld aemilia that bore thee at a burden two fair sons o if thou best the same aegeon speak and speak unto the same aemilia aegeon if i dream not thou art aemilia if thou art she tell me where is that son that floated with thee on the fatal raft abbess 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 duke 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 wreck at sea these are the parents to these children which accidentally are met together antipholus thou camst from corinth first antipholus of syracuse no sir not i i came from syracuse duke stay stand apart i know not which is which antipholus of ephesus i came from corinth my most gracious lord dromio of ephesus and i with him antipholus of ephesus brought to this town by that most famous warrior duke menaphon your most renowned uncle adriana which of you two did dine with me to day antipholus of syracuse i gentle mistress adriana and are not you my husband antipholus of ephesus no i say nay to that antipholus of syracuse and so do i yet did she call me so and this fair gentlewoman her sister here did call me brother to luciana what i told you then i hope i shall have leisure to make good if this be not a dream i see and hear angelo that is the chain sir which you had of me antipholus of syracuse i think it be sir i deny it not antipholus of ephesus and you sir for this chain arrested me angelo i think i did sir i deny it not adriana i sent you money sir to be your bail by dromio but i think he brought it not dromio of ephesus no none by me antipholus of syracuse this purse of ducats i receivd from you and dromio my man did bring them me i see we still did meet each others man and i was taen for him and he for me and thereupon these errors are arose antipholus of ephesus these ducats pawn i for my father here duke it shall not need thy father hath his life courtezan sir i must have that diamond from you antipholus of ephesus there take it and much thanks for my good cheer abbess 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 days error have sufferd 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 burden neer delivered the duke my husband and my children both and you the calendars of their nativity go to a gossips feast and go with me after so long grief such nativity duke with all my heart ill gossip at this feast exeunt all but antipholus of syracuse antipholus of ephesus dromio of syracuse and dromio of ephesus dromio of syracuse master shall i fetch your stuff from shipboard antipholus of ephesus dromio what stuff of mine hast thou embarkd dromio of syracuse your goods that lay at host sir in the centaur antipholus of syracuse he speaks to me i am your master dromio come go with us well look to that anon embrace thy brother there rejoice with him exeunt antipholus of syracuse and antipholus of ephesus dromio of syracuse there is a fat friend at your masters house that kitchend me for you to day at dinner she now shall be my sister not my wife dromio of ephesus methinks you are my glass and not my brother i see by you i am a sweet facd youth will you walk in to see their gossiping dromio of syracuse not i sir you are my elder dromio of ephesus thats a question how shall we try it dromio of syracuse well draw cuts for the senior till then lead thou first dromio of ephesus nay then thus we came into the world like brother and brother and now lets go hand in hand not one before another exeunt the end the tragedy of coriolanus dramatis personae caius marcius afterwards caius marcius coriolanus generals against the volscians titus lartius cominius menenius agrippa friend to coriolanus tribunes of the people sicinius velutus junius brutus young marcius son to coriolanus a roman herald nicanor a roman tullus aufidius general of the volscians lieutenant to aufidius conspirators with aufidius adrian a volscian a citizen of antium two volscian guards volumnia mother to coriolanus virgilia wife to coriolanus valeria friend to virgilia gentlewoman attending on virgilia roman and volscian senators patricians aediles lictors soldiers citizens messengers servants to aufidius and other attendants scene rome and the neighbourhood corioli and the neighbourhood antium act i scene i rome a street enter a company of mutinous citizens with staves clubs and other weapons first citizen before we proceed any further hear me speak all speak speak first citizen you are all resolvd rather to die than to famish all resolvd resolvd first citizen first you know caius marcius is chief enemy to the people all we knowt we knowt first citizen let us kill him and well have corn at our own price ist a verdict all no more talking ont let it be done away away second citizen one word good citizens first citizen 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 particularize 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 second citizen would you proceed especially against caius marcius first citizen against him first hes a very dog to the commonalty second citizen consider you what services he has done for his country first citizen very well and could be content to give him good report fort but that he pays himself with being proud second citizen nay but speak not maliciously first citizen i say unto you what he hath done famously he did it to that end though soft consciencd 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 second citizen what he cannot help in his nature you account a vice in him you must in no way say he is covetous first citizen if i must not i need not be barren of accusations he hath faults with surplus to tire in repetition shouts within what shouts are these the other side o th city is risen why stay we prating here to th capitol all come come first citizen soft who comes here enter menenius agrippa second citizen worthy menenius agrippa one that hath always lovd the people first citizen hes one honest enough would all the rest were so menenius what works my countrymen in hand where go you with bats and clubs the matter speak i pray you first citizen our business is not unknown to th senate they have had inkling this fortnight what we intend to do which now well show em in deeds they say poor suitors have strong breaths they shall know we have strong arms too menenius why masters my good friends mine honest neighbours will you undo yourselves first citizen we cannot sir we are undone already menenius 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 th state who care for you like fathers when you curse them as enemies first citizen care for us true indeed they neer card for us yet suffer us to famish and their storehouses crammd 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 theres all the love they bear us menenius either you must confess yourselves wondrous malicious or be accusd 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 stalet a little more first citizen well ill hear it sir yet you must not think to fob off our disgrace with a tale but ant please you deliver menenius there was a time when all the bodys members rebelld against the belly thus accusd it that only like a gulf it did remain i th midst o th body idle and unactive still cupboarding the viand never bearing like labour with the rest where th 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 answerd first citizen well sir what answer made the belly menenius sir i shall tell you with a kind of smile which neer came from the lungs but even thus for look you i may make the belly smile as well as speak it tauntingly replied to th 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 first citizen your bellys 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 is this our fabric if that they menenius what then fore me this fellow speaks what then what then first citizen should by the cormorant belly be restraind who is the sink o th body menenius well what then first citizen the former agents if they did complain what could the belly answer menenius i will tell you if youll bestow a small of what you have little patience awhile youst hear the bellys answer first citizen yare long about it menenius note me this good friend your most grave belly was deliberate not rash like his accusers and thus answered 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 storehouse 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 th seat o th 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 first citizen ay sir well well menenius 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 first citizen it was an answer how apply you this menenius 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 th 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 first citizen i the great toe why the great toe menenius for that being one o th lowest basest poorest of this most wise rebellion thou goest foremost thou rascal that art worst in blood to run leadst 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 enter caius marcius hail noble marcius marcius thanks whats the matter you dissentious rogues that rubbing the poor itch of your opinion make yourselves scabs first citizen we have ever your good word marcius 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 mans 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 whats 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 whats their seeking menenius for corn at their own rates whereof they say the city is well stord marcius hang em they say theyll sit by th fire and presume to know whats done i th capitol whos 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 theres grain enough would the nobility lay aside their ruth and let me use my sword id make a quarry with thousands of these quarterd slaves as high as i could pick my lance menenius 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 marcius they are dissolvd hang em they said they were an hungry sighd 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 answerd 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 th moon shouting their emulation menenius what is granted them marcius five tribunes to defend their vulgar wisdoms of their own choice ones junius brutus sicinius velutus and i know not sdeath the rabble should have first unroofd the city ere so prevaild with me it will in time win upon power and throw forth greater themes for insurrections arguing menenius this is strange marcius go get you home you fragments enter a messenger hastily messenger wheres caius marcius marcius here whats the matter messenger the news is sir the volsces are in arms marcius i am glad ont then we shall ha means to vent our musty superfluity see our best elders enter cominius titus lartius with other senators junius brutus and sicinius velutus first senator marcius tis true that you have lately told us the volsces are in arms marcius they have a leader tullus aufidius that will put you tot i sin in envying his nobility and were i anything but what i am i would wish me only he cominius you have fought together marcius were half to half the world by th ears and he upon my party id revolt to make only my wars with him he is a lion that i am proud to hunt first senator then worthy marcius attend upon cominius to these wars cominius it is your former promise marcius sir it is and i am constant titus lartius thou shalt see me once more strike at tullus face what art thou stiff standst out lartius no caius marcius ill lean upon one crutch and fight with tother ere stay behind this business menenius o true bred first senator your company to th capitol where i know our greatest friends attend us lartius to cominius lead you on to marcius follow cominius we must follow you right worthy you priority cominius noble marcius first senator to the citizens hence to your homes be gone marcius nay let them follow the volsces have much corn take these rats thither to gnaw their garners worshipful mutineers your valour puts well forth pray follow ciitzens steal away exeunt all but sicinius and brutus sicinius was ever man so proud as is this marcius brutus he has no equal sicinius when we were chosen tribunes for the people brutus markd you his lip and eyes sicinius nay but his taunts brutus being movd he will not spare to gird the gods sicinius bemock the modest moon brutus the present wars devour him he is grown too proud to be so valiant sicinius 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 brutus fame at the which he aims in whom already he is well gracd cannot better be held nor more attaind than by a place below the first for what miscarries shall be the generals fault though he perform to th utmost of a man and giddy censure will then cry out of marcius o if he had borne the business sicinius besides if things go well opinion that so sticks on marcius shall of his demerits rob cominius brutus come half all cominius honours are to marcius though marcius earnd them not and all his faults to marcius shall be honours though indeed in aught he merit not sicinius lets hence and hear how the dispatch is made and in what fashion more than his singularity he goes upon this present action brutus lets along exeunt scene ii corioli the senate house enter tullus aufidius with senators of corioli first senator so your opinion is aufidius that they of rome are entred in our counsels and know how we proceed aufidius 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 reads they have pressd a power but it is not known whether for east or west the dearth is great the people mutinous and it is rumourd 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 first senator our armys in the field we never yet made doubt but rome was ready to answer us aufidius nor did you think it folly to keep your great pretences veild till when they needs must show themselves which in the hatching it seemd appeard to rome by the discovery we shall be shortned in our aim which was to take in many towns ere almost rome should know we were afoot second senator noble aufidius take your commission hie you to your bands let us alone to guard corioli if they set down befores for the remove bring up your army but i think youll find th have not prepard for us aufidius 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 all the gods assist you aufidius and keep your honours safe first senator farewell second senator farewell all farewell exeunt scene iii rome marcius house enter volumnia and virgilia mother and wife to marcius they set them down on two low stools and sew volumnia i pray you daughter sing or express yourself in a more comfortable sort if my son were my husband i should 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 pluckd 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 th wall if renown made it not stir was pleasd to let him seek danger where he was to find fame to a cruel war i sent him from whence he returnd 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 virgilia but had he died in the business madam how then volumnia 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 enter a gentlewoman gentlewoman madam the lady valeria is come to visit you virgilia beseech you give me leave to retire myself volumnia indeed you shall not methinks i hear hither your husbands drum see him pluck aufidius down by th 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 maild hand then wiping forth he goes like to a harvest man thats taskd to mow or all or lose his hire virgilia his bloody brow o jupiter no blood volumnia away you fool it more becomes a man than gilt his trophy the breasts of hecuba when she did suckle hector lookd not lovelier than hectors forehead when it spit forth blood at grecian sword contemning tell valeria we are fit to bid her welcome exit gentlewoman virgilia heavens bless my lord from fell aufidius volumnia hell beat aufidius head below his knee and tread upon his neck re enter gentlewoman with valeria and an usher valeria my ladies both good day to you volumnia sweet madam virgilia i am glad to see your ladyship valeria how do you both you are manifest housekeepers what are you sewing here a fine spot in good faith how does your little son virgilia i thank your ladyship well good madam volumnia he had rather see the swords and hear a drum than look upon his schoolmaster valeria o my word the fathers son ill swear tis a very pretty boy o my troth i lookd upon him a wednesday half an hour together has such a confirmd 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 catchd it again or whether his fall enragd him or how twas he did so set his teeth and tear it o i warrant how he mammockd it volumnia one ons fathers moods valeria indeed la tis a noble child virgilia a crack madam valeria come lay aside your stitchery i must have you play the idle huswife with me this afternoon virgilia no good madam i will not out of doors valeria not out of doors volumnia she shall she shall virgilia indeed no by your patience ill not over the threshold till my lord return from the wars valeria fie you confine yourself most unreasonably come you must go visit the good lady that lies in virgilia i will wish her speedy strength and visit her with my prayers but i cannot go thither volumnia why i pray you virgilia tis not to save labour nor that i want love valeria 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 virgilia no good madam pardon me indeed i will not forth valeria in truth la go with me and ill tell you excellent news of your husband virgilia o good madam there can be none yet valeria verily i do not jest with you there came news from him last night virgilia indeed madam valeria in earnest its 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 virgilia give me excuse good madam i will obey you in everything hereafter volumnia let her alone lady as she is now she will but disease our better mirth valeria 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 virgilia no at a word madam indeed i must not i wish you much mirth valeria well then farewell exeunt scene iv before corioli enter marcius titus lartius with drum and colours with captains and soldiers to them a messenger marcius yonder comes news a wager they have met lartius my horse to yours no marcius tis done lartius agreed marcius say has our general met the enemy messenger they lie in view but have not spoke as yet lartius so the good horse is mine marcius ill buy him of you lartius no ill nor sell nor give him lend you him i will for half a hundred years summon the town marcius how far off lie these armies messenger within this mile and half marcius 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 they sound a parley enter two senators with others on the walls of corioli tullus aufidius is he within your walls first senator no nor a man that fears you less than he thats lesser than a little drum afar off hark our drums are bringing forth our youth well break our walls rather than they shall pound us up our gates which yet seem shut we have but pinnd with rushes theyll open of themselves alarum far off hark you far off there is aufidius list what work he makes amongst your cloven army marcius o they are at it lartius their noise be our instruction ladders ho enter the army of the volsces marcius 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 ill take him for a volsce and he shall feel mine edge alarum the romans are beat back to their trenches re enter marcius cursing marcius all the contagion of the south light on you you shames of rome you herd of boils and plagues plaster you oer that you may be abhorrd farther 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 agued fear mend and charge home or by the fires of heaven ill leave the foe and make my wars on you look tot come on if youll stand fast well beat them to their wives as they us to our trenches follow me another alarum the volsces fly and marcius follows them to the gates 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 marcius enters the gates first soldier fool hardiness not i second soldier not i marcius is shut in first soldier see they have shut him in all to th pot i warrant him alarum continues re enter titus lartius lartius what is become of marcius all slain sir doubtless first soldier following the fliers at the very heels with them he enters who upon the sudden clappd to their gates he is himself alone to answer all the city lartius o noble fellow who sensibly outdares his senseless sword and when it bows standst 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 catos wish not fierce and terrible only in strokes but with thy grim looks and the thunder like percussion of thy sounds thou madst thine enemies shake as if the world were feverous and did tremble re enter marcius bleeding assaulted by the enemy first soldier look sir lartius o tis marcius lets fetch him off or make remain alike they fight and all enter the city scene v within corioli a street enter certain romans with spoils first roman this will i carry to rome second roman and i this third roman a murrain on t i took this for silver alarum continues still afar off enter marcius and titus lartius with a trumpeter marcius see here these movers that do prize their hours at a crackd drachma 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 exeunt pillagers and hark what noise the general makes to him there is the man of my souls 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 lartius worthy sir thou bleedst thy exercise hath been too violent for a second course of fight marcius sir praise me not my work hath yet not warmd me fare you well the blood i drop is rather physical than dangerous to me to aufidius thus i will appear and fight lartius 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 marcius thy friend no less than those she placeth highest so farewell lartius thou worthiest marcius exit marcius go sound thy trumpet in the market place call thither all the officers o th town where they shall know our mind away exeunt scene vi near the camp of cominius enter cominius as it were in retire with soldiers cominius 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 chargd again whiles we have struck by interims and conveying gusts we have heard the charges of our friends the roman gods lead their successes as we wish our own that both our powers with smiling fronts encountring may give you thankful sacrifice enter a messenger thy news messenger the citizens of corioli have issued and given to lartius and to marcius battle i saw our party to their trenches driven and then i came away cominius though thou speakst truth methinks thou speakst not well how long ist since messenger above an hour my lord cominius tis not a mile briefly we heard their drums how couldst thou in a mile confound an hour and bring thy news so late messenger spies of the volsces held me in chase that i was forcd to wheel three or four miles about else had i sir half an hour since brought my report enter marcius cominius whos yonder that does appear as he were flayd o gods he has the stamp of marcius and i have before time seen him thus marcius come i too late cominius the shepherd knows not thunder from a tabor more than i know the sound of marcius tongue from every meaner man marcius come i too late cominius ay if you come not in the blood of others but mantled in your own marcius o let me clip ye in arms as sound as when i wood in heart as merry as when our nuptial day was done and tapers burnd to bedward cominius flower of warriors how ist with titus lartius marcius as with a man busied about decrees condemning some to death and some to exile ransoming him or pitying threatning th other holding corioli in the name of rome even like a fawning greyhound in the leash to let him slip at will cominius where is that slave which told me they had beat you to your trenches where is he call him hither marcius let him alone he did inform the truth but for our gentlemen the common file a plague tribunes for them the mouse neer shunnd the cat as they did budge from rascals worse than they cominius but how prevaild you marcius will the time serve to tell i do not think where is the enemy are you lords o th field if not why cease you till you are so cominius marcius we have at disadvantage fought and did retire to win our purpose marcius how lies their battle know you on which side they have placd their men of trust cominius as i guess marcius their bands i th vaward are the antiates of their best trust oer them aufidius their very heart of hope marcius i do beseech you by all the battles wherein we have fought by th blood we have shed together by th 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 advancd and darts we prove this very hour cominius 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 marcius 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 smeard if any fear lesser his person than an ill report if any think brave death outweighs bad life and that his countrys dearer than himself let him alone or so many so minded wave thus to express his disposition and follow marcius they all shout and wave their swords take him up in their arms and cast up their caps 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 obeyd please you to march and four shall quickly draw out my command which men are best inclind cominius march on my fellows make good this ostentation and you shall divide in all with us exeunt scene vii the gates of corioli titus lartius having set a guard upon corioli going with drum and trumpet toward cominius and caius marcius enters with a lieutenant other soldiers and a scout lartius 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 lieutenant fear not our care sir lartius hence and shut your gates upons our guider come to th roman camp conduct us exeunt scene viii a field of battle between the roman and the volscian camps alarum as in battle enter marcius and aufidius at several doors marcius ill fight with none but thee for i do hate thee worse than a promise breaker aufidius we hate alike not afric owns a serpent i abhor more than thy fame and envy fix thy foot marcius let the first budger die the others slave and the gods doom him after aufidius if i fly marcius halloa me like a hare marcius within these three hours tullus alone i fought in your corioli walls and made what work i pleasd tis not my blood wherein thou seest me maskd for thy revenge wrench up thy power to th highest aufidius wert thou the hector that was the whip of your braggd progeny thou shouldst not scape me here here they fight and certain volsces come in the aid of aufidius marcius fights till they be driven in breathless officious and not valiant you have shamd me in your condemned seconds exeunt scene ix the roman camp flourish alarum a retreat is sounded enter at one door cominius with the romans at another door marcius with his arm in a scarf cominius if i should tell thee oer this thy days work thout not believe thy deeds but ill report it where senators shall mingle tears with smiles where great patricians shall attend and shrug i th end admire where ladies shall be frighted and gladly quakd 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 camst thou to a morsel of this feast having fully dind before enter titus lartius with his power from the pursuit lartius o general here is the steed we the caparison hadst thou beheld marcius 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 thats what i can inducd as you have been thats for my country he that has but effected his good will hath overtaen mine act cominius 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 vouchd 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 marcius i have some wounds upon me and they smart to hear themselves remembred cominius should they not well might they fester gainst ingratitude and tent themselves with death of all the horses whereof we have taen good and good store of all the treasure in this field achievd and city we render you the tenth to be taen forth before the common distribution at your only choice marcius 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 a long flourish they all cry marcius marcius cast up their caps and lances cominius and lartius stand bare may these same instruments which you profane never sound more when drums and trumpets shall i th field prove flatterers let courts and cities be made all of false facd soothing when steel grows soft as the parasites silk let him be made an overture for th wars no more i say for that i have not washd my nose that bled or foild some debile wretch which without note heres many else have done you shout me forth in acclamations hyperbolical as if i lovd my little should be dieted in praises saucd with lies cominius 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 incensd well 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 wars 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 can him with all th applause and clamour of the host caius marcius coriolanus bear th addition nobly ever flourish trumpets sound and drums all caius marcius coriolanus 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 th fairness of my power cominius 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 lartius i shall my lord coriolanus the gods begin to mock me i that now refusd most princely gifts am bound to beg of my lord general cominius taket tis yours what ist coriolanus i sometime lay here in corioli at a poor mans house he usd me kindly he cried to me i saw him prisoner but then aufidius was within my view and wrath oerwhelmd my pity i request you to give my poor host freedom cominius o well beggd were he the butcher of my son he should be free as is the wind deliver him titus lartius marcius his name coriolanus by jupiter forgot i am weary yea my memory is tird have we no wine here cominius go we to our tent the blood upon your visage dries tis time it should be lookd to come exeunt scene x the camp of the volsces a flourish cornets enter tullus aufidius bloody with two or three soldiers aufidius the town is taen first soldier twill be deliverd back on good condition aufidius 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 th 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 th elements if eer again i meet him beard to beard hes mine or i am his mine emulation hath not that honour int it had for where i thought to crush him in an equal force true sword to sword ill potch at him some way or wrath or craft may get him first soldier hes the devil aufidius bolder though not so subtle my valours poisond with only suffring 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 brothers guard even there against the hospitable canon would i wash my fierce hand ins heart go you to th city learn how tis held and what they are that must be hostages for rome first soldier will not you go aufidius 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 first soldier i shall sir exeunt act ii scene i rome a public place enter menenius with the two tribunes of the people sicinius and brutus menenius the augurer tells me we shall have news tonight brutus good or bad menenius not according to the prayer of the people for they love not marcius sicinius nature teaches beasts to know their friends menenius pray you who does the wolf love sicinius the lamb menenius ay to devour him as the hungry plebeians would the noble marcius brutus hes a lamb indeed that baes like a bear menenius hes a bear indeed that lives fike a lamb you two are old men tell me one thing that i shall ask you both tribunes well sir menenius in what enormity is marcius poor in that you two have not in abundance brutus hes poor in no one fault but stord with all sicinius especially in pride brutus and topping all others in boasting menenius this is strange now do you two know how you are censured here in the city i mean of us o th right hand file do you both tribunes why how are we censurd menenius because you talk of pride now will you not be angry both tribunes well well sir well menenius 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 brutus we do it not alone sir menenius 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 toward the napes of your necks and make but an interior survey of your good selves o that you could both tribunes what then sir menenius why then you should discover a brace of unmeriting proud violent testy magistrates alias fools as any in rome sicinius menenius you are known well enough too menenius i am known to be a humorous patrician and one that loves a cup of hot wine with not a drop of allaying tiber int 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 deliverd 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 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 brutus come sir come we know you well enough menenius you know neither me yourselves nor any thing 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 threepence to a second day of audience when you are hearing a matter between party and party if you chance to be pinchd 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 brutus come come you are well understood to be a perfecter giber for the table than a necessary bencher in the capitol menenius 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 botchers cushion or to be entombd in an asss 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 god 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 brutus and sicinius go aside enter volumnia virgilia and valeria how now my as fair as noble ladies and the moon were she earthly no nobler whither do you follow your eyes so fast volumnia honourable menenius my boy marcius approaches for the love of juno lets go menenius ha marcius coming home volumnia ay worthy menenius and with most prosperous approbation menenius take my cap jupiter and i thank thee hoo marcius coming home volumnia virgilia nay tis true volumnia look heres a letter from him the state hath another his wife another and i think theres one at home for you menenius i will make my very house reel to night a letter for me virgilia yes certain theres a letter for you i sawt menenius 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 virgilia o no no no volumnia o he is wounded i thank the gods fort menenius so do i too if it be not too much brings a victory in his pocket the wounds become him volumnia ons brows menenius he comes the third time home with the oaken garland menenius has he disciplind aufidius soundly volumnia titus lartius writes they fought together but aufidius got off menenius and twas time for him too ill warrant him that an he had stayd by him i would not have been so fidiusd for all the chests in corioli and the gold thats in them is the senate possessd of this volumnia good ladies lets 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 valeria in troth theres wondrous things spoke of him menenius wondrous ay i warrant you and not without his true purchasing virgilia the gods grant them true volumnia true pow waw menenius true ill be sworn they are true where is he wounded to the tribunes god save your good worships marcius is coming home he has more cause to be proud where is he wounded volumnia i th shoulder and i th 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 th body menenius one i th neck and two i th thigh theres nine that i know volumnia he had before this last expedition twenty five wounds upon him menenius now its twenty seven every gash was an enemys grave a shout and flourish hark the trumpets volumnia these are the ushers of marcius before him he carries noise and behind him he leaves tears death that dark spirit ins nervy arm doth lie which being advancd declines and then men die a sennet trumpets sound enter cominius the general and titus lartius between them coriolanus crownd with an oaken garland with captains and soldiers and a herald herald 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 flourish all welcome to rome renowned coriolanus coriolanus no more of this it does offend my heart pray now no more cominius look sir your mother coriolanus o you have i know petitiond all the gods for my prosperity kneels volumnia nay my good soldier up my gentle marcius worthy caius and by deed achieving honour newly namd what is it coriolanus must i can thee but o thy wife coriolanus my gracious silence hail wouldst thou have laughd had i come coffind home that weepst to see me triumph ah my dear such eyes the widows in corioli wear and mothers that lack sons menenius now the gods crown thee coriolanus and live you yet to valeria o my sweet lady pardon volumnia i know not where to turn o welcome home and welcome general and yare welcome all menenius a hundred thousand welcomes i could weep and i could laugh i am light and heavy welcome a curse begin at very root ons 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 cominius ever right coriolanus menenius ever ever herald give way there and go on coriolanus to his wife and mother your hand and yours ere in our own house i do shade my head the good patricians must be visited from whom i have receivd not only greetings but with them change of honours volumnia i have lived to see inherited my very wishes and the buildings of my fancy only theres one thing wanting which i doubt not but our rome will cast upon thee coriolanus know good mother i had rather be their servant in my way than sway with them in theirs cominius on to the capitol flourish cornets exeunt in state as before brutus and sicinius come forward brutus 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 clambring the walls to eye him stalls bulks windows are smotherd up leads filld and ridges horsd 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 veild dames commit the war of white and damask in their nicely gawded cheeks to th wanton spoil of phoebus 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 sicinius on the sudden i warrant him consul brutus then our office may during his power go sleep sicinius he cannot temprately transport his honours from where he should begin and end but will lose those he hath won brutus in that theres comfort sicinius 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 will give them make i as little question as he is proud to dot brutus i heard him swear were he to stand for consul never would he appear i th market place nor on him put the napless vesture of humility nor showing as the manner is his wounds to th people beg their stinking breaths sicinius tis right brutus it was his word o he would miss it rather than carry it but by the suit of the gentry to him and the desire of the nobles sicinius i wish no better than have him hold that purpose and to put it in execution brutus tis most like he will sicinius it shall be to him then as our good wills a sure destruction brutus 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 tos power he would have made them mules silencd 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 their war who have their provand only for bearing burdens and sore blows for sinking under them sicinius this as you say suggested at some time when his soaring insolence shall touch the people which time shall not want if he be put upont and thats 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 enter a messenger brutus whats the matter messenger 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 passd the nobles bended as to joves statue and the commons made a shower and thunder with their caps and shouts i never saw the like brutus lets to the capitol and carry with us ears and eyes for th time but hearts for the event sicinius have with you exeunt scene ii rome the capitol enter two officers to lay cushions as it were in the capitol first officer come come they are almost here how many stand for consulships second officer three they say but tis thought of every one coriolanus will carry it first officer thats a brave fellow but hes vengeance proud and loves not the common people second officer faith there have been many great men that have flatterd the people who neer 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 seet first officer 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 second officer 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 car that heard it first officer no more of him hes a worthy man make way they are coming a sennet enter the patricians and the tribunes of the people lictors before them coriolanus menenius cominius the consul sicinius and brutus take their places by themselves coriolanus stands menenius having determind 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 performd by caius marcius coriolanus whom we met here both to thank and to remember with honours like himself coriolanus sits first senator speak good cominius leave nothing out for length and make us think rather our states defective for requital than we to stretch it out masters o th people we do request your kindest ears and after your loving motion toward the common body to yield what passes here sicinius we are convented upon a pleasing treaty and have hearts inclinable to honour and advance the theme of our assembly brutus which the rather we shall be blessd to do if he remember a kinder value of the people than he hath hereto prizd them at menenius thats off thats off i would you rather had been silent please you to hear cominius speak brutus most willingly but yet my caution was more pertinent than the rebuke you give it menenius he loves your people but tie him not to be their bedfellow worthy cominius speak coriolanus rises and offers to go away nay keep your place first senator sit coriolanus never shame to hear what you have nobly done coriolanus your honours pardon i had rather have my wounds to heal again than hear say how i got them brutus sir i hope my words disbenchd you not coriolanus no sir yet oft when blows have made me stay i fled from words you soothd not therefore hurt not but your people i love them as they weigh menenius pray now sit down coriolanus i had rather have one scratch my head i th sun when the alarum were struck than idly sit to hear my nothings monsterd exit menenius masters of the people your multiplying spawn how can he flatter thats thousand to one good one when you now see he had rather venture all his limbs for honour than one ons ears to hear it proceed cominius cominius i shall lack voice the deeds of coriolanus should not be utterd 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 counterpoisd 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 oerpressd roman and i th consuls view slew three opposers tarquins self he met and struck him on his knee in that days feats when he might act the woman in the scene he provd best man i th field and for his meed was brow bound with the oak his pupil age man entred thus he waxed like a sea and in the brunt of seventeen battles since he lurchd all swords of the garland for this last before and in corioli let me say i cannot speak him home he stoppd the fliers and by his rare example made the coward turn terror into sport as weeds before a vessel under sail so men obeyd and fell below his stem his sword deaths stamp where it did mark it took from face to foot he was a thing of blood whose every motion was timd with dying cries alone he entred the mortal gate of th city which he painted with shunless destiny aidless came off and with a sudden re enforcement struck corioli like a planet now alls his when by and by the din of war gan pierce his ready sense then straight his doubled spirit re quickned what in flesh was fatigate and to the battle came he where he did run reeking oer the lives of men as if twere a perpetual spoil and till we calld both field and city ours he never stood to ease his breast with panting menenius worthy man first senator he cannot but with measure fit the honours which we devise him cominius our spoils he kickd at and lookd upon things precious as they were the common muck of 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 menenius hes right noble let him be calld for first senator call coriolanus officer he doth appear re enter coriolanus menenius the senate coriolanus are well pleasd to make thee consul coriolanus i do owe them still my life and services menenius it then remains that you do speak to the people coriolanus i do beseech you let me oerleap 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 sicinius sir the people must have their voices neither will they bate one jot of ceremony menenius put them not tot pray you go fit you to the custom and take to you as your predecessors have your honour with your form coriolanus it is a part that i shall blush in acting and might well be taken from the people brutus mark you that coriolanus to brag unto them thus i did and thus show them th unaching scars which i should hide as if i had receivd them for the hire of their breath only menenius do not stand upont we recommend to you tribunes of the people our purpose to them and to our noble consul wish we all joy and honour senators to coriolanus come all joy and honour flourish cornets then exeunt all but sicinius and brutus brutus you see how he intends to use the people sicinius may they perceives intent he will require them as if he did contemn what he requested should be in them to give brutus come well inform them of our proceedings here on th market place i know they do attend us exeunt scene iii rome the forum enter seven or eight citizens first citizen once if he do require our voices we ought not to deny him second citizen we may sir if we will third citizen 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 first citizen 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 third citizen we have been calld so of many not that our heads are some brown some black some abram some bald but that our wits are so diversely colourd 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 th compass second citizen think you so which way do you judge my wit would fly third citizen nay your wit will not so soon out as another mans will tis strongly wedgd up in a block head but if it were at liberty twould sure southward second citizen why that way third citizen 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 second citizen you are never without your tricks you may you may third citizen are you all resolvd to give your voices but thats no matter the greater part carries it i say if he would incline to the people there was never a worthier man enter coriolanus in a gown of humility with menenius here he comes and in the 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 hes 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 ill direct you how you shall go by him all content content exeunt citizens menenius o sir you are not right have you not known the worthiest men have donet coriolanus what must i say i pray sir plague upont i cannot bring my tongue to such a pace look sir my wounds i got them in my countrys service when some certain of your brethren roard and ran from th noise of our own drums menenius o me the gods you must not speak of that you must desire them to think upon you coriolanus think upon me hang em i would they would forget me like the virtues which our divines lose by em menenius youll mar all ill leave you pray you speak to em i pray you in wholesome manner exit re enter three of the citizens coriolanus bid them wash their faces and keep their teeth clean so here comes a brace you know the cause sir of my standing here third citizen we do sir tell us what hath brought you tot coriolanus mine own desert second citizen your own desert coriolanus ay not mine own desire third citizen how not your own desire coriolanus no sir twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging third citizen you must think if we give you anything we hope to gain by you coriolanus well then i pray your price o th consulship first citizen the price is to ask it kindly coriolanus kindly sir i pray let me hat i have wounds to show you which shall be yours in private your good voice sir what say you second citizen you shall ha it worthy sir coriolanus a match sir theres in all two worthy voices beggd i have your alms adieu third citizen but this is something odd second citizen an twere to give again but tis no matter exeunt the three citizens re enter two other citizens coriolanus pray you now if it may stand with the tune of your voices that i may be consul i have here the customary gown fourth citizen you have deserved nobly of your country and you have not deserved nobly coriolanus your enigma fourth citizen you have been a scourge to her enemies you have been a rod to her friends you have not indeed loved the common people coriolanus 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 bountiful to the desirers therefore beseech you i may be consul fifth citizen we hope to find you our friend and therefore give you our voices heartily fourth citizen you have received many wounds for your country coriolanus i will not seal your knowledge with showing them i will make much of your voices and so trouble you no farther both citizens the gods give you joy sir heartily exeunt citizens coriolanus most sweet voices better it is to die better to starve than crave the hire which first we do deserve why in this wolvish toge should i stand here to beg of hob and dick that do appear their needless vouches custom calls me tot what custom wills in all things should we dot the dust on antique time would lie unswept and mountainous error be too highly heapd for truth to oerpeer 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 suffered the other will i do re enter three citizens more here come moe voices your voices for your voices i have fought watchd 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 sixth citizen he has done nobly and cannot go without any honest mans voice seventh citizen therefore let him be consul the gods give him joy and make him good friend to the people all amen amen god save thee noble consul exeunt citizens coriolanus worthy voices re enter menenius with brutus and sicinius menenius you have stood your limitation and the tribunes endue you with the peoples voice remains that in th official marks invested you anon do meet the senate coriolanus is this done sicinius the custom of request you have dischargd the people do admit you and are summond to meet anon upon your approbation coriolanus where at the senate house sicinius there coriolanus coriolanus may i change these garments sicinius you may sir coriolanus that ill straight do and knowing myself again repair to th senate house menenius ill keep you company will you along brutus we stay here for the people sicinius fare you well exeunt coriolanus and menenius he has it now and by his looks methinks tis warm ats heart brutus with a proud heart he wore his humble weeds will you dismiss the people re enter citizens sicinius how now my masters have you chose this man first citizen he has our voices sir brutus we pray the gods he may deserve your loves second citizen amen sir to my poor unworthy notice he mockd us when he beggd our voices third citizen certainly he flouted us downright first citizen no tis his kind of speech he did not mock us second citizen not one amongst us save yourself but says he usd us scornfully he should have showd us his marks of merit wounds receivd fors country sicinius why so he did i am sure all no no no man saw em third citizen 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 sicinius why either were you ignorant to seet or seeing it of such childish friendliness to yield your voices brutus could you not have told him as you were lessond 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 th body of the weal and now arriving a place of potency and sway o th state if he should still malignantly remain fast foe to th 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 sicinius thus to have said as you were fore advisd had touchd his spirit and tried his inclination from him pluckd either his gracious promise which you might as cause had calld you up have held him to or else it would have galld his surly nature which easily endures not article tying him to aught so putting him to rage you should have taen th advantage of his choler and passd him unelected brutus 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 sicinius have you ere now denied the asker and now again of him that did not ask but mock bestow your sud for tongues third citizen hes not confirmd we may deny him yet second citizens and will deny him ill have five hundred voices of that sound first citizen i twice five hundred and their friends to piece em brutus 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 sicinius 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 scornd you but your loves thinking upon his services took from you th apprehension of his present portance which most gibingly ungravely he did fashion after the inveterate hate he bears you brutus lay a fault on us your tribunes that we labourd no impediment between but that you must cast your election on him sicinius 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 brutus ay spare us not say we read lectures to you how youngly he began to serve his country how long continued and what stock he springs of the noble house o th marcians from whence came that ancus marcius numas daughters 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 nobly named so twice being by the people chosen censor was his great ancestor sicinius 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 hes your fixed enemy and revoke your sudden approbation brutus say you neer had donet harp on that still but by our putting on and presently when you have drawn your number repair to th capitol citizens will will so almost all repent in their election exeunt plebeians brutus 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 sicinius to th capitol come we will be there before the stream o th people and this shall seem as partly tis their own which we have goaded onward exeunt act iii scene i rome a street cornets enter coriolanus menenius all the gentry cominius titus lartius and other senators coriolanus tullus aufidius then had made new head lartius he had my lord and that it was which causd our swifter composition coriolanus so then the volsces stand but as at first ready when time shall prompt them to make road upons again cominius they are worn lord consul so that we shall hardly in our ages see their banners wave again coriolanus saw you aufidius lartius on safeguard he came to me and did curse against the volsces for they had so vilely yielded the town he is retird to antium coriolanus spoke he of me lartius he did my lord coriolanus how what lartius 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 calld your vanquisher coriolanus at antium lives he lartius at antium coriolanus i wish i had a cause to seek him there to oppose his hatred fully welcome home enter sicinius and brutus behold these are the tribunes of the people the tongues o th common mouth i do despise them for they do prank them in authority against all noble sufferance sicinius pass no further coriolanus ha what is that brutus it will be dangerous to go on no further coriolanus what makes this change menenius the matter cominius hath he not passd the noble and the common brutus cominius no coriolanus have i had childrens voices first senator tribunes give way he shall to th market place brutus the people are incensd against him sicinius stop or all will fall in broil coriolanus 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 menenius be calm be calm coriolanus it is a purposd thing and grows by plot to curb the will of the nobility suffert and live with such as cannot rule nor ever will be ruld brutus callt not a plot the people cry you mockd them and of late when corn was given them gratis you repind scandald the suppliants for the people calld them time pleasers flatterers foes to nobleness coriolanus why this was known before brutus not to them all coriolanus have you informd them sithence brutus how i inform them cominius you are like to do such business brutus not unlike each way to better yours coriolanus why then should i be consul by yond clouds let me deserve so ill as you and make me your fellow tribune sicinius you show too much of that for which the people stir if you will pass to where you are bound you must enquire 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 menenius lets be calm cominius the people are abusd set on this paltring becomes not rome nor has coriolanus deserved this so dishonourd rub laid falsely i th plain way of his merit coriolanus tell me of corn this was my speech and i will speakt again menenius not now not now first senator not in this heat sir now coriolanus now as i live i will my nobler friends i crave their pardons for the mutable rank scented meiny 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 ploughd for sowd and scatterd by mingling them with us the honourd number who lack not virtue no nor power but that which they have given to beggars menenius well no more first senator no more words we beseech you coriolanus how no more as for my country i have shed my blood not fearing outward force so shall my lungs coin words till their decay against those measles which we disdain should tetter us yet sought the very way to catch them brutus you speak o th people as if you were a god to punish not a man of their infirmity sicinius twere well we let the people knowt menenius what what his choler coriolanus choler were i as patient as the midnight sleep by jove twould be my mind sicinius it is a mind that shall remain a poison where it is not poison any further coriolanus shall remain hear you this triton of the minnows mark you his absolute shall cominius twas from the canon coriolanus 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 th monsters wants not spirit to say hell 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 learnd 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 greatst 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 frownd 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 th other cominius well on to th market place coriolanus whoever gave that counsel to give forth the corn o th storehouse gratis as twas usd sometime in greece menenius well well no more of that coriolanus though there the people had more absolute powr i say they nourishd disobedience fed the ruin of the state brutus why shall the people give one that speaks thus their voice coriolanus ill give my reasons more worthier than their voices they know the corn was not our recompense resting well assurd they neer did service fort being pressd to th war even when the navel of the state was touchd they would not thread the gates this kind of service did not deserve corn gratis being i th war their mutinies and revolts wherein they showd most valour spoke not for them th accusation which they have often made against the senate all cause unborn could never be the native of our so frank donation well what then how shall this bosom multiplied digest the senates courtesy let deeds express whats 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 th senate and bring in the crows to peck the eagles menenius come enough brutus enough with over measure coriolanus 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 barrd 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 ont that prefer a noble life before a long and wish to jump a body with a dangerous physic thats 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 becomet not having the power to do the good it would for th ill which doth controlt brutus has said enough sicinius has spoken like a traitor and shall answer as traitors do coriolanus thou wretch despite oerwhelm thee what should the people do with these bald tribunes on whom depending their obedience fails to the greater bench in a rebellion when whats 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 th dust brutus manifest treason sicinius this a consul no brutus the aediles ho enter an aedile let him be apprehended sicinius go call the people exit aedile in whose name myself attach thee as a traitorous innovator a foe to th public weal obey i charge thee and follow to thine answer coriolanus hence old goat patricians well surety him cominius agd sir hands off coriolanus hence rotten thing or i shall shake thy bones out of thy garments sicinius help ye citizens enter a rabble of plebeians with the aediles menenius on both sides more respect sicinius heres he that would take from you all your power brutus seize him aediles plebeians down with him down with him second senator weapons weapons weapons they all bustle about coriolanus all tribunes patricians citizens what ho sicinius brutus coriolanus citizens patricians peace peace peace stay hold peace menenius what is about to be i am out of breath confusions near i cannot speak you tribunes to th people coriolanus patience speak good sicinius sicinius hear me people peace plebeians lets hear our tribune peace speak speak speak sicinius you are at point to lose your liberties marcius would have all from you marcius whom late you have namd for consul menenius fie fie fie this is the way to kindle not to quench first senator to unbuild the city and to lay all flat sicinius what is the city but the people plebeians true the people are the city brutus by the consent of all we were establishd the peoples magistrates plebeians you so remain menenius and so are like to do cominius 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 sicinius this deserves death brutus or let us stand to our authority or let us lose it we do here pronounce upon the part o th people in whose power we were elected theirs marcius is worthy of present death sicinius therefore lay hold of him bear him to th rock tarpeian and from thence into destruction cast him brutus aediles seize him plebeians yield marcius yield menenius hear me one word beseech you tribunes hear me but a word aediles peace peace menenius be that you seem truly your countrys friend and temprately proceed to what you would thus violently redress brutus 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 coriolanus draws his sword coriolanus no ill die here theres some among you have beheld me fighting come try upon yourselves what you have seen me menenius down with that sword tribunes withdraw awhile brutus lay hands upon him menenius help marcius help you that be noble help him young and old plebeians down with him down with him in this mutiny the tribunes the aediles and the people are beat in menenius go get you to your house be gone away all will be nought else second senator get you gone coriolanus stand fast we have as many friends as enemies menenius shall it be put to that first senator the gods forbid i prithee noble friend home to thy house leave us to cure this cause menenius for tis a sore upon us you cannot tent yourself be gone beseech you cominius come sir along with us coriolanus i would they were barbarians as they are though in rome litterd not romans as they are not though calved i th porch o th capitol menenius be gone put not your worthy rage into your tongue one time will owe another coriolanus on fair ground i could beat forty of them menenius i could myself take up a brace o th best of them yea the two tribunes cominius but now tis odds beyond arithmetic and manhood is calld foolery when it stands against a falling fabric will you hence before the tag return whose rage doth rend like interrupted waters and oerbear what they are usd to bear menenius pray you be gone ill try whether my old wit be in request with those that have but little this must be patchd with cloth of any colour cominius nay come away exeunt coriolanus and cominius with others patricians this man has marrd his fortune menenius his nature is too noble for the world he would not flatter neptune for his trident or jove fors power to thunder his hearts his mouth what his breast forges that his tongue must vent and being angry does forget that ever he heard the name of death a noise within heres goodly work patricians i would they were a bed menenius i would they were in tiber what the vengeance could he not speak em fair re enter brutus and sicinius the rabble again sicinius where is this viper that would depopulate the city and be every man himself menenius you worthy tribunes sicinius 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 first citizen he shall well know the noble tribunes are the peoples mouths and we their hands plebeians he shall sure ont menenius sir sir sicinius peace menenius do not cry havoc where you should but hunt with modest warrant sicinius sir how comest that you have holp to make this rescue menenius hear me speak as i do know the consuls worthiness so can i name his faults sicinius consul what consul menenius the consul coriolanus brutus he consul plebeians no no no no no menenius 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 sicinius 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 menenius now the good gods forbid that our renowned rome whose gratitude towards her deserved children is enrolld in joves own book like an unnatural dam should now eat up her own sicinius hes a disease that must be cut away menenius o hes a limb that has but a disease mortal to cut it off to cure it easy what has he done to rome thats 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 dropt it for his country and what is left to lose it by his country were to us all that dot and suffer it a brand to th end o th world sicinius this is clean kam brutus merely awry when he did love his country it honourd him sicinius the service of the foot being once gangrend is not then respected for what before it was brutus well hear no more pursue him to his house and pluck him thence lest his infection being of catching nature spread further menenius one word more one word this tiger footed rage when it shall find the harm of unscannd swiftness will too late tie leaden pounds tos heels proceed by process lest parties as he is belovd break out and sack great rome with romans brutus if it were so sicinius what do ye talk have we not had a taste of his obedience our aediles smote ourselves resisted come menenius consider this he has been bred i th wars since a could draw a sword and is ill schoold in bolted language meal and bran together he throws without distinction give me leave ill go to him and undertake to bring him where he shall answer by a lawful form in peace to his utmost peril first senator noble tribunes it is the humane way the other course will prove too bloody and the end of it unknown to the beginning sicinius noble menenius be you then as the peoples officer masters lay down your weapons brutus go not home sicinius meet on the market place well attend you there where if you bring not marcius well proceed in our first way menenius ill bring him to you to the senators let me desire your company he must come or what is worst will follow first senator pray you lets to him exeunt scene ii rome the house of coriolanus enter coriolanus with nobles coriolanus 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 first patrician you do the nobler coriolanus 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 enter volumnia 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 volumnia o sir sir sir i would have had you put your power well on before you had worn it out coriolanus let go volumnia you might have been enough the man you are with striving less to be so lesser had been the thwartings of your dispositions if you had not showd them how ye were disposd ere they lackd power to cross you coriolanus let them hang volumnia ay and burn too enter menenius with the senators menenius come come you have been too rough something too rough you must return and mend it first senator theres no remedy unless by not so doing our good city cleave in the midst and perish volumnia pray be counselld i have a heart as little apt as yours but yet a brain that leads my use of anger to better vantage menenius well said noble woman before he should thus stoop to th herd but that the violent fit o th time craves it as physic for the whole state i would put mine armour on which i can scarcely bear coriolanus what must i do menenius return to th tribunes coriolanus well what then what then menenius repent what you have spoke coriolanus for them i cannot do it to the gods must i then dot to them volumnia 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 unseverd friends i th war do grow together grant that and tell me in peace what each of them by th other lose that they combine not there coriolanus tush tush menenius a good demand volumnia 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 coriolanus why force you this volumnia because that now it lies you on to speak to th people not by your own instruction nor by th matter which your heart prompts you but with such words that are but roted in your tongue though but bastards and syllables of no allowance to your bosoms 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 requird 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 menenius noble lady come go with us speak fair you may salve so not what is dangerous present but the los of what is past volumnia i prithee now my son go to them with this bonnet in thy hand and thus far having stretchd it here be with them thy knee bussing the stones for in such busines action is eloquence and the eyes of th 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 menenius this but done even as she speaks why their hearts were yours for they have pardons being askd as free as words to little purpose volumnia prithee now go and be ruld although i know thou hadst rather follow thine enemy in a fiery gulf than flatter him in a bower enter cominius here is cominius cominius i have been i th market place and sir tis fit you make strong party or defend yourself by calmness or by absence alls in anger menenius only fair speech cominius i think twill serve if he can thereto frame his spirit volumnia he must and will prithee now say you will and go about it coriolanus must i go show them my unbarbd sconce must i with my base tongue give to my noble heart a lie that it must bear well i will dot yet were there but this single plot to lose this mould of marcius they to dust should grind it and throwt against the wind to th market place you have put me now to such a part which never i shall discharge to th life cominius come come well prompt you volumnia 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 coriolanus well i must dot away my disposition and possess me some harlots spirit my throat of war be turnd which quierd with my drum into a pipe small as an eunuch or the virgin voice that babies lulls asleep the smiles of knaves tent in my cheeks and schoolboys tears take up the glasses of my sight a beggars tongue make motion through my lips and my armd knees who bowd but in my stirrup bend like his that hath receivd an alms i will not dot lest i surcease to honour mine own truth and by my bodys action teach my mind a most inherent baseness volumnia 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 suckdst it from me but owe thy pride thyself coriolanus pray be content mother i am going to the market place chide me no more ill mountebank their loves cog their hearts from them and come home belovd of all the trades in rome look i am going commend me to my wife ill return consul or never trust to what my tongue can do i th way of flattery further volumnia do your will exit cominius away the tribunes do attend you arm yourself to answer mildly for they are prepard with accusations as i hear more strong than are upon you yet coriolanus the word is mildly pray you let us go let them accuse me by invention i will answer in mine honour menenius ay but mildly coriolanus well mildly be it then mildly exeunt scene iii rome the forum enter sicinius and brutus brutus 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 neer distributed enter an aedile what will he come aedile hes coming brutus how accompanied aedile with old menenius and those senators that always favourd him sicinius have you a catalogue of all the voices that we have procurd set down by th poll aedile i have tis ready sicinius have you corrected them by tribes aedile i have sicinius assemble presently the people hither and when they hear me say it shall be so i th right and strength o th 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 th truth o th cause aedile i shall inform them brutus and when such time they have begun to cry let them not cease but with a din confusd enforce the present execution of what we chance to sentence aedile very well sicinius make them be strong and ready for this hint when we shall hap to givet them brutus go about it exit aedile put him to choler straight he hath been usd ever to conquer and to have his worth of contradiction being once chafd he cannot be reind again to temperance then he speaks whats in his heart and that is there which looks with us to break his neck enter coriolanus menenius and cominius with others sicinius well here he comes menenius calmly i do beseech you coriolanus ay as an ostler that for th poorest piece will bear the knave by th volume th honourd gods keep rome in safety and the chairs of justice supplied with worthy men plant love amongs throng our large temples with the shows of peace and not our streets with war first senator amen amen menenius a noble wish re enter the aedile with the plebeians sicinius draw near ye people aedile list to your tribunes audience peace i say coriolanus first hear me speak both tribunes well say peace ho coriolanus shall i be chargd no further than this present must all determine here sicinius i do demand if you submit you to the peoples voices allow their officers and are content to suffer lawful censure for such faults as shall be provd upon you coriolanus i am content menenius lo citizens he says he is content the warlike service he has done consider think upon the wounds his body bears which show like graves i th holy churchyard coriolanus scratches with briers scars to move laughter only menenius 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 cominius well well no more coriolanus what is the matter that being passd for consul with full voice i am so dishonourd that the very hour you take it off again sicinius answer to us coriolanus say then tis true i ought so sicinius we charge you that you have contrivd to take from rome all seasond office and to wind yourself into a power tyrannical for which you are a traitor to the people coriolanus how traitor menenius nay temperately your promise coriolanus the fires i th lowest hell fold in the people call me their traitor thou injurious tribune within thine eyes sat twenty thousand deaths in thy hands clutchd 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 sicinius mark you this people plebeians to th rock to th rock with him sicinius 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 th extremest death brutus but since he hath servd well for rome coriolanus what do you prate of service brutus i talk of that that know it coriolanus you menenius is this the promise that you made your mother cominius know i pray you coriolanus ill 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 havet with saying good morrow sicinius 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 th people and in the power of us the tribunes we evn from this instant banish him our city in peril of precipitation from off the rock tarpeian never more to enter our rome gates i th peoples name i say it shall be so plebeians it shall be so it shall be so let him away hes banishd and it shall be so cominius hear me my masters and my common friends sicinius hes sentencd no more hearing cominius let me speak i have been consul and can show for rome her enemies marks upon me i do love my countrys good with a respect more tender more holy and profound than mine own life my dear wifes estimate her wombs increase and treasure of my loins then if i would speak that sicinius we know your drift speak what brutus theres no more to be said but he is banishd as enemy to the people and his country it shall be so plebeians it shall be so it shall be so coriolanus you common cry of curs whose breath i hate as reek o th rotten fens whose loves i prize as the dead carcasses 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 exeunt coriolanus cominius menenius with the other patricians aedile the peoples enemy is gone is gone they all shout and throw up their caps plebeians our enemy is banishd he is gone hoo oo sicinius go see him out at gates and follow him as he hath followd you with all despite give him deservd vexation let a guard attend us through the city plebeians come come lets see him out at gates come the gods preserve our noble tribunes come exeunt act iv scene i rome before a gate of the city enter coriolanus volumnia virgilia menenius cominius with the young nobility of rome coriolanus come leave your tears a brief farewell the beast with many heads butts me away nay mother where is your ancient courage you were usd to say extremities was the trier of spirits that common chances common men could bear that when the sea was calm all boats alike showd mastership in floating fortunes blows when most struck home being gentle wounded craves a noble cunning you were usd to load me with precepts that would make invincible the heart that connd them virgilia o heavens o heavens coriolanus nay i prithee woman volumnia now the red pestilence strike all trades in rome and occupations perish coriolanus what what what i shall be lovd when i am lackd nay mother resume that spirit when you were wont to say if you had been the wife of hercules six of his labours youd have done and savd your husband so much sweat cominius droop not adieu farewell my wife my mother ill do well yet thou old and true menenius thy tears are salter than a younger mans and venomous to thine eyes my sometime general i have seen thee stern and thou hast oft beheld heart hardning spectacles tell these sad women tis fond to wail inevitable strokes as tis to laugh at em my mother you wot well my hazards still have been your solace and believet not lightly though i go alone like to a lonely dragon that his fen makes feard and talkd of more than seen your son will or exceed the common or be caught with cautelous baits and practice volumnia 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 th way before thee virgilia o the gods cominius ill follow thee a month devise with the 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 oer the vast world to seek a single man and lose advantage which doth ever cool i th absence of the needer coriolanus fare ye well thou hast years upon thee and thou art too full of the wars surfeits to go rove with one thats yet unbruisd 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 menenius thats worthily as any ear can hear come lets not weep if i could shake off but one seven years from these old arms and legs by the good gods id with thee every foot coriolanus give me thy hand come exeunt scene ii rome a street near the gate enter the two tribunes sicinius and brutus with the aedile sicinius bid them all home hes gone and well no further the nobility are vexd whom we see have sided in his behalf brutus now we have shown our power let us seem humbler after it is done than when it was a doing sicinius bid them home say their great enemy is gone and they stand in their ancient strength brutus dismiss them home exit aedile here comes his mother enter volumnia virgilia and menenius sicinius lets not meet her brutus why sicinius they say shes mad brutus they have taen note of us keep on your way volumnia o yare well met th hoarded plague o th gods requite your love menenius peace peace be not so loud volumnia if that i could for weeping you should hear nay and you shall hear some to brutus will you be gone virgilia to sicinius you shall stay too i would i had the power to say so to my husband sicinius are you mankind volumnia 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 sicinius o blessed heavens volumnia moe noble blows than ever thou wise words and for romes good ill 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 sicinius what then virgilia what then hed make an end of thy posterity volumnia bastards and all good man the wounds that he does bear for rome menenius come come peace sicinius i would he had continued to his country as he began and not unknit himself the noble knot he made brutus i would he had volumnia i would he had twas you incensd 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 brutus pray lets go volumnia 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 ladys husband here this do you see whom you have banishd does exceed you an brutus well well well leave you sicinius why stay we to be baited with one that wants her wits exeunt tribunes volumnia 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 tot menenius you have told them home and by my troth you have cause youll sup with me volumnia angers my meat i sup upon myself and so shall starve with feeding come lets go leave this faint puling and lament as i do in anger juno like come come come exeunt volumnia and virgilia menenius fie fie fie exit scene iii a highway between rome and antium enter a roman and a volsce meeting roman i know you well sir and you know me your name i think is adrian volsce it is so sir truly i have forgot you roman i am a roman and my services are as you are against em know you me yet volsce nicanor no roman the same sir volsce you had more beard when i last saw you but your favour is well appeard by your tongue whats the news in rome i have a note from the volscian state to find you out there you have well saved me a days journey roman there hath been in rome strange insurrections the people against the senators patricians and nobles volsce hath been is it ended then our state thinks not so they are in a most warlike preparation and hope to come upon them in the heat of their division roman 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 volsce coriolanus banishd roman banishd sir volsce you will be welcome with this intelligence nicanor roman the day serves well for them now i have heard it said the fittest time to corrupt a mans wife is when shes falln 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 volsce he cannot choose i am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you you have ended my business and i will merrily accompany you home roman 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 volsce a most royal one the centurions and their charges distinctly billeted already in th entertainment and to be on foot at an hours warning roman 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 volsce you take my part from me sir i have the most cause to be glad of yours roman well let us go together scene iv antium before aufidius house enter coriolanus in mean apparel disguisd and muffled coriolanus 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 enter a citizen save you sir citizen and you coriolanus direct me if it be your will where great aufidius lies is he in antium citizen he is and feasts the nobles of the state at his house this night coriolanus which is his house beseech you citizen this here before you coriolanus thank you sir farewell exit citizen o world thy slippery turns friends now fast sworn whose double bosoms seems 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 birthplace hate i and my loves upon this enemy town ill enter if he slay me he does fair justice if he give me way ill do his country service scene v antium aufidius house music plays enter a servingman first servant wine wine wine what service is here i think our fellows are asleep exit enter another servingman second servant wheres cotus my master calls for him cotus exit enter coriolanus coriolanus a goodly house the feast smells well but i appear not like a guest re enter the first servingman first servant what would you have friend whence are you heres no place for you pray go to the door exit coriolanus i have deservd no better entertainment in being coriolanus re enter second servingman second servant whence are you sir has the porter his eyes in his head that he gives entrance to such companions pray get you out coriolanus away second servant away get you away coriolanus now th art troublesome second servant are you so brave ill have you talkd with anon enter a third servingman the first meets him third servant what fellows this first servant a strange one as ever i lookd on i cannot get him out o th house prithee call my master to him third servant what have you to do here fellow pray you avoid the house coriolanus let me but stand i will not hurt your hearth third servant what are you coriolanus a gentleman third servant a marvllous poor one coriolanus true so i am third servant pray you poor gentleman take up some other station heres no place for you pray you avoid come coriolanus follow your function go and batten on cold bits pushes him away from him third servant what you will not prithee tell my master what a strange guest he has here second servant and i shall exit third servant where dwellst thou coriolanus under the canopy third servant under the canopy coriolanus ay third servant wheres that coriolanus i th city of kites and crows third servant i th city of kites and crows what an ass it is then thou dwellst with daws too coriolanus no i serve not thy master third servant how sir do you meddle with my master coriolanus ay tis an honester service than to meddle with thy mistress thou pratst and pratst serve with thy trencher hence beats him away enter aufidius with the second servingman aufidius where is this fellow second servant here sir id have beaten him like a dog but for disturbing the lords within aufidius whence comst thou what wouldst thou thy name why speakst not speak man whats thy name coriolanus unmuffling if tullus not yet thou knowst me and seeing me dost not think me for the man i am necessity commands me name myself aufidius what is thy name coriolanus a name unmusical to the volscians ears and harsh in sound to thine aufidius say whats thy name thou has a grim appearance and thy face bears a command int though thy tackles torn thou showst a noble vessel whats thy name coriolanus prepare thy brow to frown knowst thou me yet aufidius i know thee not thy name coriolanus 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 devourd the rest an sufferd me by th voice of slaves to be whoopd 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 feard death of all the men i th 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 wilt 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 cankred country with the spleen of all the under fiends but if so be thou darst not this and that to prove more fortunes thart tird 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 followed thee with hate drawn tuns of blood out of thy countrys breast and cannot live but to thy shame unless it be to do thee service aufidius 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 id not believe them more than thee all noble marcius let me twine mine arms about that body where against my grained ash an hundred times hath broke and scarrd 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 lovd the maid i married never man sighd 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 the we have a power on foot and i had purpose once more to hew thy target from thy brawn or lose mine arm fort 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 others throat and wakd half dead with nothing worthy marcius had we no other quarrel else to rome but that thou art thence banishd we would muster all from twelve to seventy and pouring war into the bowels of ungrateful rome like a bold flood oerbeat o come go in and take our friendly senators by th hands who now are here taking their leaves of me who am prepard against your territories though not for rome itself coriolanus you bless me gods aufidius therefore most absolute sir if thou wilt have the leading of thine own revenges take th one half of my commission and set down as best thou art experiencd since thou knowst thy countrys 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 eer an enemy yet marcius that was much your hand most welcome exeunt coriolanus and aufidius the two servingmen come forward first servant heres a strange alteration second servant 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 first servant what an arm he has he turnd me about with his finger and his thumb as one would set up a top second servant 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 first servant he had so looking as it were would i were hangd but i thought there was more in him than i could think second servant so did i ill be sworn he is simply the rarest man i th world first servant i think he is but a greater soldier than he you wot on second servant who my master first servant nay its no matter for that second servant worth six on him first servant nay not so neither but i take him to be the greater soldier second servant faith look you one cannot tell how to say that for the defence of a town our general is excellent first servant ay and for an assault too re enter the third servingman third servant o slaves i can tell you news news you rascals both what what what lets partake third servant i would not be a roman of all nations i had as lief be a condemnd man both wherefore wherefore third servant why heres he that was wont to thwack our general caius marcius first servant why do you say thwack our general third servant i do not say thwack our general but he was always good enough for him second servant come we are fellows and friends he was ever too hard for him i have heard him say so himself first servant he was too hard for him directly to say the troth ont before corioli he scotchd him and notchd him like a carbonado second servant an he had been cannibally given he might have broild and eaten him too first servant but more of thy news third servant why he is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to mars set at upper end o th 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 withs hand and turns up the white o th eye to his discourse but the bottom of the news is our general is cut i th middle and but one half of what he was yesterday for the other has half by the entreaty and grant of the whole table hell go he says and sowl the porter of rome gates by th ears he will mow all down before him and leave his passage polld second servant and hes as like to dot as any man i can imagine third servant dot he will dot 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 hes in directitude first servant directitude whats that third servant but when they shall see sir his crest up again and the man in blood they will out of their burrows like conies after rain and revel an with him first servant but when goes this forward third servant to morrow to day presently you shall have the drum struck up this afternoon tis as it were parcel of their feast and to be executed ere they wipe their lips second servant why then we shall have a stirring world again this peace is nothing but to rust iron increase tailors and breed ballad makers first servant let me have war say i it exceeds peace as far as day does night its spritely waking audible and full of vent peace is a very apoplexy lethargy mulld deaf sleepy insensible a getter of more bastard children than wars a destroyer of men second servant 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 first servant ay and it makes men hate one another third servant 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 both in in in in exeunt scene vi rome a public place enter the two tribunes sicinius and brutus sicinius we hear not of him neither need we fear him his remedies are tame the present peace and quietness of the people which before were in wild hurry here do make his friends blush that the world goes well who rather had though they themselves did suffer byt behold dissentious numbers pestring streets than see our tradesmen singing in their shops and going about their functions friendly enter menenius brutus we stood tot in good time is this menenius sicinius tis he tis he o he is grown most kind of late hail sir menenius hail to you both sicinius your coriolanus is not much missd but with his friends the commonwealth doth stand and so would do were he more angry at it menenius alls well and might have been much better he could have temporizd sicinius where is he hear you menenius nay i hear nothing his mother and his wife hear nothing from him enter three or four citizens citizens the gods preserve you both sicinius god den our neighbours brutus god den to you all god den to you an first citizen ourselves our wives and children on our knees are bound to pray for you both sicinius live and thrive brutus farewell kind neighbours we wishd coriolanus had lovd you as we did citizens now the gods keep you both tribunes farewell farewell exeunt citizens sicinius this is a happier and more comely time than when these fellows ran about the streets crying confusion brutus caius marcius was a worthy officer i the war but insolent oercome with pride ambitious past all thinking self loving sicinius and affecting one sole throne without assistance menenius i think not so sicinius we should by this to all our lamentation if he had gone forth consul found it so brutus the gods have well prevented it and rome sits safe and still without him enter an aedile aedile worthy tribunes there is a slave whom we have put in prison reports the volsces with several powers are entred in the roman territories and with the deepest malice of the war destroy what lies before em menenius tis aufidius who hearing of our marcius banishment thrusts forth his horns again into the world which were inshelld when marcius stood for rome and durst not once peep out sicinius come what talk you of marcius brutus go see this rumourer whippd it cannot be the volsces dare break with us menenius cannot be we have record that very well it can and three examples of the like hath 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 sicinius tell not me i know this cannot be brutus not possible enter a messenger messenger the nobles in great earnestness are going all to the senate house some news is come that turns their countenances sicinius tis this slave go whip him fore the peoples eyes his raising nothing but his report messenger yes worthy sir the slaves report is seconded and more more fearful is deliverd sicinius what more fearful messenger it is spoke freely out of many mouths how probable i do not know that marcius joind with aufidius leads a power gainst rome and vows revenge as spacious as between the youngst and oldest thing sicinius this is most likely brutus raisd only that the weaker sort may wish good marcius home again sicinius the very trick on t menenius this is unlikely he and aufidius can no more atone than violentst contrariety enter a second messenger second messenger you are sent for to the senate a fearful army led by caius marcius associated with aufidius rages upon our territories and have already oerborne their way consumd with fire and took what lay before them enter cominius cominius o you have made good work menenius what news what news cominius you have holp to ravish your own daughters and to melt the city leads upon your pates to see your wives dishonourd to your noses menenius whats the news whats the news cominius your temples burned in their cement and your franchises whereon you stood confind into an augers bore menenius pray now your news you have made fair work i fear me pray your news if marcius should be joind wi th volscians cominius 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 menenius 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 cominius hell shake your rome about your ears menenius as hercules did shake down mellow fruit you have made fair work brutus but is this true sir cominius ay and youll look pale before you find it other all the regions do smilingly revolt and who resists are mockd for valiant ignorance and perish constant fools who ist can blame him your enemies and his find something in him menenius we are all undone unless the noble man have mercy cominius who shall ask it the tribunes cannot dot 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 chargd him even as those should do that had deservd his hate and therein showd fike enemies menenius 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 cominius you have brought a trembling upon rome such as was never s incapable of help both tribunes say not we brought it menenius how wast we we lovd him but like beasts and cowardly nobles gave way unto your clusters who did hoot him out o th city cominius but i fear theyll 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 enter a troop of citizens menenius here comes 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 hes coming and not a hair upon a soldiers 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 deservd it plebeians faith we hear fearful news first citizen for mine own part when i said banish him i said twas pity second citizen and so did i third citizen 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 cominius yare goodly things you voices menenius you have made good work you and your cry shalls to the capitol cominius o ay what else exeunt cominius and menenius sicinius go masters get you be not dismayd 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 first citizen the gods be good to us come masters lets home i ever said we were i th wrong when we banishd him second citizen so did we all but come lets home exeunt citizens brutus i do not like this news sicinius nor i brutus lets to the capitol would half my wealth would buy this for a lie sicinius pray lets go exeunt scene vii a camp at a short distance from rome enter aufidius with his lieutenant aufidius do they still fly to th roman lieutenant i do not know what witchcrafts in him but your soldiers use him as the grace fore meat their talk at table and their thanks at end and you are darkned in this action sir even by your own aufidius 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 thats no changeling and i must excuse what cannot be amended lieutenant yet i wish sir i mean for your particular you had not joind in commission with him but either had borne the action of yourself or else to him had left it solely aufidius 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 th 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 wheneer we come to our account lieutenant sir i beseech you think you hell carry rome aufidius 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 hell 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 th casque to th cushion but commanding peace even with the same austerity and garb as he controlld the war but one of these as he hath spices of them all not all for i dare so far free him made him feard so hated and so banishd but he has a merit to choke it in the uttrance so our virtues lie in th interpretation of the time and power unto itself most commendable hath not a tomb so evident as a chair t 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 lets away when caius rome is thine thou art poorst of all then shortly art thou mine exeunt act v scene i rome a public place enter menenius cominius sicinius and brutus the two tribunes with others menenius no ill not go you hear what he hath said which was sometime his general who lovd him in a most dear particular he calld me father but what o that go you that banishd him a mile before his tent fall down and knee the way into his mercy nay if he coyd to hear cominius speak ill keep at home cominius he would not seem to know me menenius do you hear cominius yet one time he did call me by my name i urgd our old acquaintance and the drops that we have bled together coriolanus he would not answer to forbid all names he was a kind of nothing titleless till he had forgd himself a name i th fire of burning rome menenius why so you have made good work a pair of tribunes that have wrackd for rome to make coals cheap a noble memory cominius 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 punishd menenius very well could he say less cominius i offerd to awaken his regard fors 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 th offence menenius 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 sicinius nay pray be patient if you refuse your aid in this so never needed help yet do not upbraids with our distress but sure if you would be your countrys pleader your good tongue more than the instant army we can make might stop our countryman menenius no ill not meddle sicinius pray you go to him menenius what should i do brutus only make trial what your love can do for rome towards marcius menenius well and say that marcius return me as cominius is returnd unheard what then but as a discontented friend grief shot with his unkindness sayt be so sicinius yet your good will must have that thanks from rome after the measure as you intended well menenius ill undertaket i think hell hear me yet to bite his lip and hum at good cominius much unhearts me he was not taken well he had not dind the veins unfilld our blood is cold and then we pout upon the morning are unapt to give or to forgive but when we have stuffd these pipes and these conveyances of our blood with wine and feeding we have suppler souls than in our priest like fasts therefore ill watch him till he be dieted to my request and then ill set upon him brutus you know the very road into his kindness and cannot lose your way menenius good faith ill prove him speed how it will i shall ere long have knowledge of my success exit cominius hell never hear him sicinius not cominius i tell you he does sit in gold his eye red as twould burn rome and his injury the gaoler to his pity i kneeld before him twas very faintly he said rise dismissd 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 lets hence and with our fair entreaties haste them on exeunt scene ii the volscian camp before rome enter menenius to the watch on guard first watch stay whence are you second watch stand and go back menenius you guard like men tis well but by your leave i am an officer of state and come to speak with coriolanus first watch from whence menenius from rome first watch you may not pass you must return our general will no more hear from thence second watch youll see your rome embracd with fire before youll speak with coriolanus menenius 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 touchd your ears it is menenius first watch be it so go back the virtue of your name is not here passable menenius i tell thee fellow thy general is my lover i have been the book of his good acts whence men have read his fame unparalleld haply amplified for i have ever verified my friends of whom hes 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 stampd the leasing therefore fellow i must have leave to pass first watch 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 menenius prithee fellow remember my name is menenius always factionary on the party of your general second watch 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 menenius has he dind canst thou tell for i would not speak with him till after dinner first watch you are a roman are you menenius i am as thy general is first watch then you should hate rome as he does can you when you have pushd 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 decayd 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 deceivd therefore back to rome and prepare for your execution you are condemnd our general has sworn you out of reprieve and pardon menenius sirrah if thy captain knew i were here he would use me with estimation first watch come my captain knows you not menenius i mean thy general first watch my general cares not for you back i say go lest i let forth your half pint of blood back thats the utmost of your having back menenius nay but fellow fellow enter coriolanus with aufidius coriolanus whats the matter menenius now you companion ill 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 standst not i th state of hanging or of some death more long in spectatorship and crueller in suffering behold now presently and swoon for whats 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 heres 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 coriolanus away menenius how away coriolanus 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 lovd thee take this along i writ it for thy sake gives a letter and would have sent it another word menenius i will not hear thee speak this man aufidius was my belovd in rome yet thou beholdst aufidius you keep a constant temper exeunt coriolanus and aufidius first watch now sir is your name menenius second watch tis a spell you see of much power you know the way home again first watch do you hear how we are shent for keeping your greatness back second watch what cause do you think i have to swoon menenius i neither care for th world nor your general for such things as you i can scarce think theres any yare 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 exit first watch a noble fellow i warrant him second watch the worthy fellow is our general hes the rock the oak not to be wind shaken exeunt scene iii the tent of coriolanus enter coriolanus aufidius and others coriolanus we will before the walls of rome to morrow set down our host my partner in this action you must report to th volscian lords how plainly i have borne this business aufidius only their ends you have respected stoppd your ears against the general suit of rome never admitted a private whisper no not with such friends that thought them sure of you coriolanus this last old man whom with crackd heart i have sent to rome lovd 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 showd sourly to him once more offerd 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 shout within ha what shout is this shall i be tempted to infringe my vow in the same time tis made i will not enter in mourning habits virgilia volumnia valeria young marcius with attendants my wife comes foremost then the honourd mould wherein this trunk was framd 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 ill never be such a gosling to obey instinct but stand as if a man were author of himself and knew no other kin virgilia my lord and husband coriolanus these eyes are not the same i wore in rome virgilia the sorrow that delivers us thus changd makes you think so coriolanus 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 virgind it eer since you gods i prate and the most noble mother of the world leave unsaluted sink my knee i th earth kneels of thy deep duty more impression show than that of common sons volumnia o stand up blest 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 kneels coriolanus whats 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 murdring impossibility to make what cannot be slight work volumnia thou art my warrior i holp to frame thee do you know this lady coriolanus the noble sister of publicola the moon of rome chaste as the icicle thats curdied by the frost from purest snow and hangs on dians temple dear valeria volumnia this is a poor epitome of yours which by th interpretation of full time may show like all yourself coriolanus 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 th wars like a great sea mark standing every flaw and saving those that eye thee volumnia your knee sirrah coriolanus thats my brave boy volumnia even he your wife this lady and myself are suitors to you coriolanus i beseech you peace or if youd ask remember this before the thing i have forsworn to grant may never be held by you denials do not bid me dismiss my soldiers or capitulate again with romes mechanics tell me not wherein i seem unnatural desire not tallay my rages and revenges with your colder reasons volumnia 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 coriolanus aufidius and you volsces mark for well hear nought from rome in private your request volumnia 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 countrys bowels out and to poor we thine enmitys most capital thou barst 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 countrys ruin and bear the palm for having bravely shed thy wife and childrens blood for myself son i purpose not to wait on fortune till these wars determine if i can not 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 tot thou shalt not on thy mothers womb that brought thee to this world virgilia ay and mine that brought you forth this boy to keep your name living to time boy a shall not tread on me ill run away till i am bigger but then ill fight coriolanus not of a womans tenderness to be requires nor child nor womans face to see i have sat too long rising volumnia 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 showd the romans this we receivd and each in either side give the all hail to thee and cry be blest for making up this peace thou knowst great son the end of wars uncertain but this certain that if thou conquer rome the benefit which thou shalt thereby reap is such a name whose repetition will be doggd with curses whose chronicle thus writ the man was noble but with his last attempt he wipd it out destroyd his country and his name remains to th ensuing age abhorrd 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 th air and yet to charge thy sulphur with a bolt that should but rive an oak why dost not speak thinkst 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 theres no man in the world more bound tos mother yet here he lets me prate like one i th stocks thou hast never in thy life showd thy dear mother any courtesy when she poor hen fond of no second brood has cluckd thee to the wars and safely home loaden with honour say my requests unjust and spurn me back but if it he not so thou art not honest and the gods will plague thee that thou restrainst from me the duty which to a mothers 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 beholds 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 denyt 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 hushd until our city be afire and then ill speak a little he holds her by the hand silent coriolanus 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 prevaild if not most mortal to him but let it come aufidius though i cannot make true wars ill frame convenient peace now good aufidius were you in my stead would you have heard a mother less or granted less aufidius aufidius i was movd withal coriolanus 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 youfl make advise me for my part ill not to rome ill back with you and pray you stand to me in this cause o mother wife aufidius aside i am glad thou hast set thy mercy and thy honour at difference in thee out of that ill work myself a former fortune coriolanus to the ladies ay by and by but we will drink together and you shall bear a better witness back than words which we on like conditions will have counter seald 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 exeunt scene iv rome a public place enter menenius and sicinius menenius see you yond coign o th capitol yond cornerstone sicinius why what of that menenius 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 int our throats are sentencd and stay upon execution sicinius ist possible that so short a time can alter the condition of a man menenius 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 hes more than a creeping thing sicinius he lovd his mother dearly menenius 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 finishd with his bidding he wants nothing of a god but eternity and a heaven to throne in sicinius yes mercy if you report him truly menenius 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 sicinius the gods be good unto us menenius no in such a case the gods will not be good unto us when we banishd him we respected not them and he returning to break our necks they respect not us enter a messenger messenger sir if youd 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 theyll give him death by inches enter another messenger sicinius whats the news second messenger good news good news the ladies have prevaild the volscians are dislodgd and marcius gone a merrier day did never yet greet rome no not th expulsion of the tarquins sicinius friend art thou certain this is true ist most certain second messenger as certain as i know the sun is fire where have you lurkd that you make doubt of it neer through an arch so hurried the blown tide as the recomforted through th gates why hark you trumpets hautboys drums beat all together the trumpets sackbuts psalteries and fifes tabors and cymbals and the shouting romans make the sun dance hark you a shout within menenius 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 prayd well to day this morning for ten thousand of your throats id not have given a doit hark how they joy sound still with the shouts sicinius first the gods bless you for your tidings next accept my thankfulness second messenger sir we have all great cause to give great thanks sicinius they are near the city messenger almost at point to enter sicinius well meet them and help the joy exeunt scene v rome a street near the gate enter two senators with volumnia virgilia valeria passing over the stage with other lords first senator 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 banishd marcius repeal him with the welcome of his mother all welcome ladies welcome a flourish with drums and trumpets exeunt scene vi corioli a public place enter tullus aufidius with attendents aufidius go tell the lords o th city i am here deliver them this paper having read it bid them repair to th 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 enterd and intends t appear before the people hoping to purge himself with words dispatch exeunt attendants enter three or four conspirators of aufidius faction most welcome first conspirator how is it with our general aufidius even so as with a man by his own alms empoisond and with his charity slain second conspirator most noble sir if you do hold the same intent wherein you wishd us parties well deliver you of your great danger aufidius sir i cannot tell we must proceed as we do find the people third conspirator the people will remain uncertain whilst twixt you theres difference but the fall of either makes the survivor heir of all aufidius i know it and my pretext to strike at him admits a good construction i raisd him and i pawnd mine honour for his truth who being so heightend he watered his new plants with dews of flattery seducing so my friends and to this end he bowd his nature never known before but to be rough unswayable and free third conspirator sir his stoutness when he did stand for consul which he lost by lack of stooping aufidius that i would have spoken of being banishd fort 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 servd 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 seemd his follower not partner and he wagd me with his countenance as if i had been mercenary first conspirator so he did my lord the army marvelld at it and in the last when he had carried rome and that we lookd for no less spoil than glory aufidius there was it for which my sinews shall be stretchd upon him at a few drops of womens rheum which are as cheap as lies he sold the blood and labour of our great action therefore shall he die and ill renew me in his fall but hark drums and trumpets sound with great shouts of the people first conspirator your native town you enterd like a post and had no welcomes home but he returns splitting the air with noise second conspirator and patient fools whose children he hath slain their base throats tear with giving him glory third conspirator 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 pronouncd shall bury his reasons with his body aufidius say no more here come the lords enter the lords of the city lords you are most welcome home aufidius i have not deservd it but worthy lords have you with heed perused what i have written to you lords we have first lord and grieve to heart 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 aufidius he approaches you shall hear him enter coriolanus marching with drum and colours the commoners being with him coriolanus hail lords i am returnd your soldier no more infected with my countrys 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 doth 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 th romans and we here deliver subscribd by th consuls and patricians together with the seal o th senate what we have compounded on aufidius read it not noble lords but tell the traitor in the highest degree he hath abusd your powers coriolanus traitor how now aufidius ay traitor marcius coriolanus marcius aufidius ay marcius caius marcius dost thou think ill grace thee with that robbery thy stoln name coriolanus in corioli you lords and heads o th state perfidiously he has betrayd 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 th war but at his nurses tears he whind and roard away your victory that pages blushd at him and men of heart lookd wondring each at others coriolanus hearst thou mars aufidius name not the god thou boy of tears coriolanus ha aufidius no more coriolanus 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 forcd to scold your judgments my grave lords must give this cur the lie and his own notion who wears my stripes impressd upon him that must bear my beating to his grave shall join to thrust the lie unto him first lord peace both and hear me speak coriolanus 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 flutterd your volscians in corioli alone i did it boy aufidius 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 conspirators let him die fort all the people tear him to pieces do it presently he killd my son my daughter he killd my cousin marcus he killd my father second lord peace ho no outrage peace the man is noble and his fame folds in this orb o th earth his last offences to us shall have judicious hearing stand aufidius and trouble not the peace coriolanus o that i had him with six aufidiuses or more his tribe to use my lawful sword aufidius insolent villain conspirators kill kill kill kill kill him the conspirators draw and kill coriolanus who falls aufidius stands on him lords hold hold hold hold aufidius my noble masters hear me speak first lord o tullus second lord thou hast done a deed whereat valour will weep third lord tread not upon him masters all be quiet put up your swords aufidius my lords when you shall know as in this rage provokd by him you cannot the great danger which this mans life did owe you youll rejoice that he is thus cut off please it your honours to call me to your senate ill deliver myself your loyal servant or endure your heaviest censure first lord 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 um second lord his own impatience takes from aufidius a great part of blame lets make the best of it aufidius my rage is gone and i am struck with sorrow take him up help three o th chiefest soldiers ill be one beat thou the drum that it speak mournfully trail your steel pikes though in this city he hath widowed and unchilded many a one which to this hour bewail the injury yet he shall have a noble memory assist exeunt bearing the body of coriolanus a dead march sounded the end cymbeline dramatis personae cymbeline king of britain cloten son to the queen by a former husband posthumus leonatus a gentleman husband to imogen belarius a banished lord disguised under the name of morgan guiderius and arviragus sons to cymbeline disguised under the names of polydore and cadwal supposed sons to belarius philario italian friend to posthumus iachimo italian friend to philario a french gentleman friend to philario caius lucius general of the roman forces a roman captain two british captains pisanio servant to posthumus cornelius a physician two lords of cymbelines court two gentlemen of the same two gaolers queen wife to cymbeline imogen daughter to cymbeline by a former queen helen a lady attending on imogen apparitions lords ladies roman senators tribunes a soothsayer a dutch gentleman a spanish gentleman musicians officers captains soldiers messengers and attendants scene britain italy act i scene i britain the garden of cymbelines palace first gentleman you do not meet a man but frowns our bloods no more obey the heavens than our courtiers still seem as does the kings second gentleman but whats the matter first gentleman his daughter and the heir ofs kingdom whom he purposd to his wifes sole son a widow that late he married hath referrd herself unto a poor but worthy gentleman shes wedded her husband banishd she imprisond all is outward sorrow though i think the king be touchd at very heart second gentleman none but the king first gentleman he that hath lost her too so is the queen that most desird the match but not a courtier although they wear their faces to the bent of the kings looks hath a heart that is not glad at the thing they scowl at second gentleman and why so first gentleman he that hath missd 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 banishd 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 second gentleman you speak him far first gentleman i do extend him sir within himself crush him together rather than unfold his measure duly second gentleman whats his name and birth first gentleman i cannot delve him to the root his father was calld sicilius who did join his honour against the romans with cassibelan but had his titles by tenantius whom he servd with glory and admird success so gaind the sur addition leonatus and had besides this gentleman in question two other sons who in the wars o th 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 deceasd as he was born the king he takes the babe to his protection calls him posthumus leonatus breeds him and makes him of his bed chamber 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 ministred and ins spring became a harvest livd in court which rare it is to do most praisd most lovd a sample to the youngest to th more mature a glass that feated them and to the graver a child that guided dotards to his mistress for whom he now is banishd her own price proclaims how she esteemd him and his virtue by her election may be truly read what kind of man he is second gentleman i honour him even out of your report but pray you tell me is she sole child to th king first gentleman his only child he had two sons if this be worth your hearing mark it the eldest of them at three years old i th swathing clothes the other from their nursery were stoln and to this hour no guess in knowledge which way they went second gentleman how long is this ago first gentleman some twenty years second gentleman that a kings children should be so conveyd so slackly guarded and the search so slow that could not trace them first gentleman howsoeer tis strange or that the negligence may well be laughd at yet is it true sir second gentleman i do well believe you first gentleman we must forbear here comes the gentleman the queen and princess exeunt enter the queen posthumus and imogen queen no be assurd you shall not find me daughter after the slander of most stepmothers evil eyd unto you youre my prisoner but your gaoler shall deliver you the keys that lock up your restraint for you posthumus so soon as i can win th offended king i will be known your advocate marry yet the fire of rage is in him and twere good you leand unto his sentence with what patience your wisdom may inform you posthumus please your highness i will from hence to day queen you know the peril ill fetch a turn about the garden pitying the pangs of barrd affections though the king hath chargd you should not speak together exit imogen o dissembling courtesy how fine this tyrant can tickle where she wounds my dearest husband i something fear my fathers wrath but nothing always reservd 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 posthumus 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 loyalst husband that did eer plight troth my residence in rome at one philarios who to my father was a friend to me known but by letter thither write my queen and with mine eyes ill drink the words you send though ink be made of gall re enter queen queen be brief i pray you if the king come i shall incur i know not how much of his displeasure aside yet ill 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 exit posthumus should we be taking leave as long a term as yet we have to live the loathness to depart would grow adieu imogen nay stay a little were you but riding forth to air yourself such parting were too petty look here love this diamond was my mothers take it heart but keep it till you woo another wife when imogen is dead posthumus 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 puts on the ring 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 ill place it upon this fairest prisoner puts a bracelet on her arm imogen o the gods when shall we see again enter cymbeline and lords posthumus alack the king cymbeline thou basest thing avoid hence from my sight if after this command thou fraught the court with thy unworthiness thou diest away thourt poison to my blood posthumus the gods protect you and bless the good remainders of the court i am gone exit imogen there cannot be a pinch in death more sharp than this is cymbeline o disloyal thing that shouldst repair my youth thou heapst a years age on me imogen 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 cymbeline past grace obedience imogen past hope and in despair that way past grace cymbeline that mightst have had the sole son of my queen imogen o blessed that i might not i chose an eagle and did avoid a puttock cymbeline thou tookst a beggar wouldst have made my throne a seat for baseness imogen no i rather added a lustre to it cymbeline o thou vile one imogen sir it is your fault that i have lovd posthumus you bred him as my playfellow and he is a man worth any woman overbuys me almost the sum he pays cymbeline what art thou mad imogen almost sir heaven restore me would i were a neat herds daughter and my leonatus our neighbour shepherds son re enter queen cymbeline thou foolish thing to the queen they were again together you have done not after our command away with her and pen her up queen beseech your patience peace dear lady daughter peace sweet sovereign leave us to ourselves and make yourself some comfort out of your best advice cymbeline nay let her languish a drop of blood a day and being aged die of this folly exit with lords enter pisanio queen fie you must give way here is your servant how now sir what news pisanio my lord your son drew on my master queen ha no harm i trust is done pisanio there might have been but that my master rather playd than fought and had no help of anger they were parted by gentlemen at hand queen i am very glad ont imogen your sons my fathers 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 pisanio 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 whent pleasd you to employ me queen this hath been your faithful servant i dare lay mine honour he will remain so pisanio i humbly thank your highness queen pray walk awhile imogen about some half hour hence pray you speak with me you shall at least go see my lord aboard for this time leave me exeunt scene ii britain a public place enter cloten and two lords first lord 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 theres none abroad so wholesome as that you vent cloten if my shirt were bloody then to shift it have i hurt him second lord aside no faith not so much as his patience first lord hurt him his bodys a passable carcass if he be not hurt it is a throughfare for steel if it be not hurt second lord aside his steel was in debt it went o th back side the town cloten the villain would not stand me second lord aside no but he fled forward still toward your face first lord stand you you have land enough of your own but he added to your having gave you some ground second lord aside as many inches as you have oceans puppies cloten i would they had not come between us second lord aside so would i till you had measurd how long a fool you were upon the ground cloten and that she should love this fellow and refuse me second lord aside if it be a sin to make a true election she is damnd first lord sir as i told you always her beauty and her brain go not together shes a good sign but i have seen small reflection of her wit second lord aside she shines not upon fools lest the reflection should hurt her cloten come ill to my chamber would there had been some hurt done second lord aside i wish not so unless it had been the fall of an ass which is no great hurt cloten youll go with us first lord ill attend your lordship cloten nay come lets go together second lord well my lord exeunt scene iii britain cymbelines palace enter imogen and pisanio imogen i would thou grewst unto the shores o th haven and questionedst every sail if he should write and i not have it twere a paper lost as offerd mercy is what was the last that he spake to thee pisanio it was his queen his queen imogen then wavd his handkerchief pisanio and kissd it madam imogen senseless linen happier therein than i and that was all pisanio no madam for so long as he could make me with his eye or care distinguish him from others he did keep the deck with glove or hat or handkerchief still waving as the fits and stirs ofs mind could best express how slow his soul saild on how swift his ship imogen thou shouldst have made him as little as a crow or less ere left to after eye him pisanio madam so i did imogen i would have broke mine eyestrings crackd them but to look upon him till the diminution of space had pointed him sharp as my needle nay followed him till he had melted from the smallness of a gnat to air and then have turnd mine eye and wept but good pisanio when shall we hear from him pisanio be assurd madam with his next vantage imogen 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 chargd him at the sixth hour of morn at noon at midnight t 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 enter a lady lady the queen madam desires your highness company imogen those things i bid you do get them dispatchd i will attend the queen pisanio madam i shall exeunt scene iv rome philarios house enter philario iachimo a frenchman a dutchman and a spaniard iachimo 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 lookd 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 philario you speak of him when he was less furnishd than now he is with that which makes him both without and within frenchman i have seen him in france we had very many there could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he iachimo this matter of marrying his kings daughter wherein he must be weighed rather by her value than his own words him i doubt not a great deal from the matter frenchman and then his banishment iachimo 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 philario his father and i were soldiers together to whom i have been often bound for no less than my life enter posthumus 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 frenchman sir we have known together in orleans posthumus since when i have been debtor to you for courtesies which i will be ever to pay and yet pay still frenchman sir you oerrate 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 posthumus by your pardon sir i was then a young traveller rather shunnd 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 frenchman 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 falln both iachimo can we with manners ask what was the difference frenchman 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 iachimo that lady is not now living or this gentlemans opinion by this worn out posthumus she holds her virtue still and i my mind iachimo you must not so far prefer her fore ours of italy posthumus being so far provokd as i was in france i would abate her nothing though i profess myself her adorer not her friend iachimo 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 posthumus i praisd her as i rated her so do i my stone iachimo what do you esteem it at posthumus more than the world enjoys iachimo either your unparagond mistress is dead or shes outprizd by a trifle posthumus you are mistaken the one may be sold or given 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 iachimo which the gods have given you posthumus which by their graces i will keep iachimo you may wear her in title yours but you know strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds your ring may be stoln too so your brace of unprizable estimations the one is but frail and the other casual a cunning thief or a that way accomplishd courtier would hazard the winning both of first and last posthumus your italy contains none so accomplishd 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 philario let us leave here gentlemen posthumus sir with all my heart this worthy signior i thank him makes no stranger of me we are familiar at first iachimo 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 posthumus no no iachimo i dare thereupon pawn the moiety of my estate to your ring which in my opinion oervalues 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 posthumus you are a great deal abusd in too bold a persuasion and i doubt not you sustain what yare worthy of by your attempt iachimo whats that posthumus a repulse though your attempt as you call it deserve more a punishment too philario gentlemen enough of this it came in too suddenly let it die as it was born and i pray you be better acquainted iachimo would i had put my estate and my neighbours on th approbation of what i have spoke posthumus what lady would you choose to assail iachimo 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 reservd posthumus i will wage against your gold gold to it my ring i hold dear as my finger tis part of it iachimo you are a friend 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 posthumus this is but a custom in your tongue you bear a graver purpose i hope iachimo i am the master of my speeches and would undergo whats spoken i swear posthumus will you i shall but lend my diamond till your return let there be covenants drawn betweens my mistress exceeds in goodness the hugeness of your unworthy thinking i dare you to this match heres my ring philario i will have it no lay iachimo by the gods it is one if i bring you no sufficient testimony that i have enjoyd 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 posthumus 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 you have prevaild i am no further your enemy she is not worth our debate if she remain unseducd you not making it appear otherwise for your ill opinion and th assault you have made to her chastity you shall answer me with your sword iachimo 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 posthumus agreed exeunt posthumus and iachimo frenchman will this hold think you philario signior iachimo will not from it pray let us follow em exeunt scene v britain cymbelines palace enter queen ladies and cornelius queen whiles yet the dews on ground gather those flowers make haste who has the note of them lady i madam queen dispatch exeunt ladies now master doctor have you brought those drugs cornelius pleaseth your highness ay here they are madam presenting a box 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 queen i wonder doctor thou askst me such a question have i not been thy pupil long hast thou not learnd 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 thinkst me devilish ist 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 cornelius your highness shall from this practice but make hard your heart besides the seeing these effects will be both noisome and infectious queen o content thee enter pisanio aside here comes a flattering rascal upon him will i first work hes for his master an enemy to my son how now pisanio doctor your service for this time is ended take your own way cornelius aside i do suspect you madam but you shall do no harm queen to pisanio hark thee a word cornelius aside i do not like her she doth think she has strange lingring poisons i do know her spirit and will not trust one of her malice with a drug of such damnd nature those she has will stupefy and dull the sense awhile which first perchance shell 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 foold with a most false effect and i the truer so to be false with her queen no further service doctor until i send for thee cornelius i humbly take my leave exit queen 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 ill 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 comes to a days 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 the queen drops the box pisanio takes it up thou takst up thou knowst not what but take it for thy labour it is a thing i made which hath the king five times redeemd 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 dot 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 ill move the king to any shape of thy preferment such as thoult 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 exit pisanio a sly and constant knave not to be shakd 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 assurd to taste of too re enter pisanio and ladies so so well done well done the violets cowslips and the primroses bear to my closet fare thee well pisanio think on my words exeunt queen and ladies pisanio and shall do but when to my good lord i prove untrue ill choke myself theres all ill do for you exit scene vi britain the palace enter imogen alone imogen a father cruel and a step dame false a foolish suitor to a wedded lady that hath her husband banishd o that husband my supreme crown of grief and those repeated vexations of it had i been thief stoln as my two brothers happy but most miserable is the desire thats glorious blessed be those how mean soeer that have their honest wills which seasons comfort who may this be fie enter pisanio and iachimo pisanio madam a noble gentleman of rome comes from my lord with letters iachimo change you madam the worthy leonatus is in safety and greets your highness dearly presents a letter imogen thanks good sir youre kindly welcome iachimo aside all of her that is out of door most rich if she be furnishd with a mind so rare she is alone th 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 imogen reads he is one of the noblest note to whose kindnesses i am most infinitely tied reflect upon him accordingly as you value your trust leonatus so far i read aloud but even the very middle of my heart is warmd by th 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 iachimo 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 twinnd stones upon the numberd beach and can we not partition make with spectacles so precious twixt fair and foul imogen what makes your admiration iachimo it cannot be i th eye for apes and monkeys twixt two such shes would chatter this way and contemn with mows the other nor i th judgment for idiots in this case of favour would be wisely definite nor i th appetite sluttery to such neat excellence opposd should make desire vomit emptiness not so allurd to feed imogen what is the matter trow iachimo the cloyed will that satiate yet unsatisfied desire that tub both filld and running ravening first the lamb longs after for the garbage imogen what dear sir thus raps you are you well iachimo thanks madam well beseech you sir desire my mans abode where i did leave him hes strange and peevish pisanio i was going sir to give him welcome exit imogen continues well my lord his health beseech you iachimo well madam imogen is he disposd to mirth i hope he is iachimo exceeding pleasant none a stranger there so merry and so gamesome he is calld the britain reveller imogen when he was here he did incline to sadness and oft times not knowing why iachimo 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 froms 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 wills free hours languish for assured bondage imogen will my lord say so iachimo 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 imogen not he i hope iachimo not he but yet heavens bounty towards him might be usd 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 imogen what do you pity sir iachimo two creatures heartily imogen am i one sir you look on me what wreck discern you in me deserves your pity iachimo lamentable what to hide me from the radiant sun and solace i th dungeon by a snuff imogen i pray you sir deliver with more openness your answers to my demands why do you pity me iachimo 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 ont imogen 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 iachimo had i this cheek to bathe my lips upon this hand whose touch whose every touch would force the feelers soul to th oath of loyalty this object which takes prisoner the wild motion of mine eye fixing it only here should i damnd 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 illustrious as the smoky light thats fed with stinking tallow it were fit that all the plagues of hell should at one time encounter such revolt imogen my lord i fear has forgot britain iachimo and himself not i inclind 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 imogen let me hear no more iachimo o dearest soul your cause doth strike my heart with pity that doth make me sick a lady so fair and fastend to an empery would make the greatst king double to be partnerd with tomboys hird with that self exhibition which your own coffers yield with diseasd ventures that play with all infirmities for gold which rottenness can lend nature such boild stuff as well might poison poison be revengd or she that bore you was no queen and you recoil from your great stock imogen revengd how should i be revengd 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 revengd iachimo should he make me live like dianas 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 imogen what ho pisanio iachimo let me my service tender on your lips imogen 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 seekst as base as strange thou wrongst a gentleman who is as far from thy report as thou from honour and solicits 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 iachimo o happy leonatus i may say the credit that thy lady hath of thee deserves thy trust and thy most perfect goodness her assurd credit blessed live you long a lady to the worthiest sir that ever country calld his and you his mistress only for the most worthiest fit give me your pardon i have spoke this to know if your affiance were deeply rooted and shall make your lord that which he is new oer and he is one the truest mannerd such a holy witch that he enchants societies into him half all mens hearts are his imogen you make amends iachimo he sits mongst men like a descended god he hath a kind of honour sets him of more than a mortal seeming be not angry most mighty princess that i have adventurd to try your taking of a false report which hath honourd 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 imogen alls well sir take my powr i th court for yours iachimo my humble thanks i had almost forgot t 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 imogen pray what ist iachimo 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 imogen willingly and pawn mine honour for their safety since my lord hath interest in them i will keep them in my bedchamber iachimo 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 imogen o no no iachimo yes i beseech or i shall short my word by lengthning my return from gallia i crossd the seas on purpose and on promise to see your grace imogen i thank you for your pains but not away to morrow iachimo o i must madam therefore i shall beseech you if you please to greet your lord with writing dot to night i have outstood my time which is material to th tender of our present imogen i will write send your trunk to me it shall safe be kept and truly yielded you youre very welcome exeunt act ii scene i britain before cymbelines palace enter cloten and the two lords cloten was there ever man had such luck when i kissd the jack upon an up cast to be hit away i had a hundred pound ont 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 first lord what got he by that you have broke his pate with your bowl second lord aside if his wit had been like him that broke it it would have run all out cloten when a gentleman is disposd to swear it is not for any standers by to curtail his oaths ha second lord no my lord aside nor crop the ears of them cloten whoreson dog i give him satisfaction would he had been one of my rank second lord aside to have smelld like a fool cloten i am not vexd more at anything in th earth a pox ont i had rather not be so noble as i am they dare not fight with me because of the queen my mother every jackslave hath his bellyful of fighting and i must go up and down like a cock that nobody can match second lord aside you are cock and capon too and you crow cock with your comb on cloten sayest thou second lord it is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to cloten no i know that but it is fit i should commit offence to my inferiors second lord ay it is fit for your lordship only cloten why so i say first lord did you hear of a stranger thats come to court to night cloten a stranger and i not known ont second lord aside hes a strange fellow himself and knows it not first lord theres an italian come and tis thought one of leonatus friends cloten leonatus a banishd rascal and hes another whatsoever he be who told you of this stranger first lord one of your lordships pages cloten is it fit i went to look upon him is there no derogation int second lord you cannot derogate my lord cloten not easily i think second lord aside you are a fool granted therefore your issues being foolish do not derogate cloten come ill go see this italian what i have lost to day at bowls ill win to night of him come go second lord ill attend your lordship exeunt cloten and first lord 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 endurst betwixt a father by thy step dame governd 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 hed make the heavens hold firm the walls of thy dear honour keep unshakd that temple thy fair mind that thou mayst stand t enjoy thy banishd lord and this great land exit scene ii britain imogens bedchamber in cymbelines palace a trunk in one corner enter imogen in her bed and a lady attending imogen whos there my woman helen lady please you madam imogen what hour is it lady almost midnight madam imogen 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 th clock i prithee call me sleep hath seizd me wholly exit lady to your protection i commend me gods from fairies and the tempters of the night guard me beseech ye sleeps iachimo comes from the trunk iachimo the crickets sing and mans oer labourd sense repairs itself by rest our tarquin thus did softly press the rushes ere he wakend the chastity he wounded cytherea how bravely thou becomst thy bed fresh lily and whiter than the sheets that i might touch but kiss one kiss rubies unparagond how dearly they dot tis her breathing that perfumes the chamber thus the flame o th taper bows toward her and would under peep her lids to see th enclosed lights now canopied under these windows white and azure lacd with blue of heavens 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 th story ah but some natural notes about her body above ten thousand meaner movables would testify t enrich mine inventory o sleep thou ape of death lie dull upon her and be her sense but as a monument thus in a chapel lying come off come off taking off her bracelet as slippery as the gordian knot was hard tis mine and this will witness outwardly as strongly as the conscience does within to th madding of her lord on her left breast a mole cinque spotted like the crimson drops i th bottom of a cowslip heres a voucher stronger than ever law could make this secret will force him think i have pickd the lock and taen the treasure of her honour no more to what end why should i write this down thats riveted screwd to my memory she hath been reading late the tale of tereus here the leafs turnd down where philomel gave up i have enough to th trunk again and shut the spring of it swift swift you dragons of the night that dawning may bare the ravens eye i lodge in fear though this a heavenly angel hell is here clock strikes one two three time time exit into the trunk scene iii cymbelines palace an ante chamber adjoining imogens apartments enter cloten and lords first lord your lordship is the most patient man in loss the most coldest that ever turnd up ace cloten it would make any man cold to lose first lord but not every man patient after the noble temper of your lordship you are most hot and furious when you win cloten winning will put any man into courage if i could get this foolish imogen i should have gold enough its almost morning ist not first lord day my lord cloten i would this music would come i am advised to give her music a mornings they say it will penetrate enter musicians come on tune if you can penetrate her with your fingering so well try with tongue too if none will do let her remain but ill never give oer first a very excellent good conceited thing after a wonderful sweet air with admirable rich words to it and then let her consider song hark hark the lark at heavens gate sings and phoebus gins arise his steeds to water at those springs on chalicd flowrs that lies and winking mary buds begin to ope their golden eyes with everything that pretty bin 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 horsehairs and calves guts nor the voice of unpaved eunuch to boot can never amend exeunt musicians enter cymbeline and queen second lord here comes the king cloten i am glad i was up so late for thats 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 cymbeline attend you here the door of our stern daughter will she not forth cloten i have assaild her with musics but she vouchsafes no notice cymbeline 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 shes yours queen you are most bound to th 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 inspird 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 cloten senseless not so enter a messenger messenger so like you sir ambassadors from rome the one is caius lucius cymbeline a worthy fellow albeit he comes on angry purpose now but thats 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 t employ you towards this roman come our queen exeunt all but cloten cloten if she be up ill speak with her if not let her lie still and dream by your leave ho knocks 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 dianas rangers false themselves yield up their deer to th stand o th stealer and tis gold which makes the true man killd 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 knocks enter a lady lady whos there that knocks cloten a gentleman lady no more cloten yes and a gentlewomans son lady thats more than some whose tailors are as dear as yours can justly boast of whats your lordships pleasure cloten your ladys person is she ready lady ay to keep her chamber cloten there is gold for you sell me your good report lady how my good name or to report of you what i shall think is good the princess enter imogen cloten good morrow fairest sister your sweet hand exit lady imogen 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 cloten still i swear i love you imogen if you but said so twere as deep with me if you swear still your recompense is still that i regard it not cloten this is no answer imogen 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 cloten to leave you in your madness twere my sin i will not imogen fools are not mad folks cloten do you call me fool imogen as i am mad i do if youll be patient ill no more be mad that cures us both i am much sorry sir you put me to forget a ladys manners by being so verbal and learn now for all that i which know my heart do here pronounce by th 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 maket my boast cloten you sin against obedience which you owe your father for the contract you pretend with that base wretch one bred of alms and fosterd with cold dishes with scraps o th court it is no contract none and though it be allowed in meaner parties yet who than he more mean to knit their souls on whom there is no more dependency but brats and beggary in self figurd knot yet you are curbd from that enlargement by the consequence o th crown and must not foil the precious note of it with a base slave a hilding for a livery a squires cloth a pantler not so eminent imogen 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 styld the under hangman of his kingdom and hated for being preferrd so well cloten the south fog rot him imogen he never can meet more mischance than come to be but namd of thee his meanst garment that ever hath but clippd his body is dearer in my respect than all the hairs above thee were they all made such men how now pisanio enter pisanio cloten his garments now the devil imogen to dorothy my woman hie thee presently cloten his garment imogen i am sprited with a fool frighted and angred worse go bid my woman search for a jewel that too casually hath left mine arm it was thy masters shrew me if i would lose it for a revenue of any kings in europe i do think i sawt this morning confident i am last night twas on mine arm i kissd it i hope it be not gone to tell my lord that i kiss aught but he pisanio twill not be lost imogen i hope so go and search exit pisanio cloten you have abusd me his meanest garment imogen ay i said so sir if you will make t an action call witness to t cloten i will inform your father imogen your mother too shes my good lady and will conceive i hope but the worst of me so i leave you sir to th worst of discontent exit cloten ill be revengd his meanst garment well exit scene iv rome philarios house enter posthumus and philario posthumus fear it not sir i would i were so sure to win the king as i am bold her honour will remain hers philario what means do you make to him posthumus not any but abide the change of time quake in the present winters state and wish that warmer days would come in these feard hopes i barely gratify your love they failing i must die much your debtor philario your very goodness and your company oerpays all i can do by this your king hath heard of great augustus caius lucius will dos commission throughly and i think hell grant the tribute send th arrearages or look upon our romans whose remembrance is yet fresh in their grief posthumus 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 orderd than when julius caesar smild at their lack of skill but found their courage worthy his frowning at their discipline now mingled with their courages will make known to their approvers they are people such that mend upon the world enter iachimo philario see iachimo posthumus the swiftest harts have posted you by land and winds of all the comers kissd your sails to make your vessel nimble philario welcome sir posthumus i hope the briefness of your answer made the speediness of your return iachimo your lady is one of the fairest that i have lookd upon posthumus and therewithal the best or let her beauty look through a casement to allure false hearts and be false with them iachimo here are letters for you posthumus their tenour good i trust iachimo tis very like philario was caius lucius in the britain court when you were there iachimo he was expected then but not approachd posthumus all is well yet sparkles this stone as it was wont or ist not too dull for your good wearing iachimo if i have lost it i should have lost the worth of it in gold ill make a journey twice as far t enjoy a second night of such sweet shortness which was mine in britain for the ring is won posthumus the stones too hard to come by iachimo not a whit your lady being so easy posthumus make not sir your loss your sport i hope you know that we must not continue friends iachimo good sir we must if you keep covenant had i not brought the knowledge of your mistress home i grant we were to question farther 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 posthumus if you can maket 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 iachimo 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 youll give me leave to spare when you shall find you need it not posthumus proceed iachimo first her bedchamber where i confess i slept not but profess had that was well worth watching it was hangd with tapestry of silk and silver the story proud cleopatra when she met her roman and cydnus swelld 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 wonderd could be so rarely and exactly wrought since the true life ont was posthumus this is true and this you might have heard of here by me or by some other iachimo more particulars must justify my knowledge posthumus so they must or do your honour injury iachimo the chimney is south the chamber and the chimneypiece 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 posthumus this is a thing which you might from relation likewise reap being as it is much spoke of iachimo the roof o th 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 posthumus 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 iachimo then if you can shows the bracelet be pale i beg but leave to air this jewel see and now tis up again it must be married to that your diamond ill keep them posthumus jove once more let me behold it is it that which i left with her iachimo sir i thank her that she strippd it from her arm i see her yet her pretty action did outsell her gift and yet enrichd it too she gave it me and said she prizd it once posthumus may be she pluckd it of to send it me iachimo she writes so to you doth she posthumus o no no no tis true here take this too gives the ring it is a basilisk unto mine eye kills me to look ont let there be no honour where there is beauty truth where semblance love where theres 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 philario have patience sir and take your ring again tis not yet won it may be probable she lost it or who knows if one her women being corrupted hath stoln it from her posthumus very true and so i hope he came byt back my ring render to me some corporal sign about her more evident than this for this was stoln iachimo by jupiter i had it from her arm posthumus 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 inducd to steal it and by a stranger no he hath enjoyd 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 philario sir be patient this is not strong enough to be believd of one persuaded well of posthumus never talk ont she hath been colted by him iachimo 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 kissd it and it gave me present hunger to feed again though full you do remember this stain upon her posthumus ay and it doth confirm another stain as big as hell can hold were there no more but it iachimo will you hear more posthumus spare your arithmetic never count the turns once and a million iachimo ill be sworn posthumus no swearing if you will swear you have not donet you lie and i will kill thee if thou dost deny thoust made me cuckold iachimo ill deny nothing posthumus o that i had her here to tear her limb meal i will go there and dot i th court before her father ill do something exit philario quite besides the government of patience you have won lets follow him and pervert the present wrath he hath against himself iachimo with all my heart exeunt scene v rome another room in philarios house enter posthumus posthumus is there no way for men to be but women must be half workers we are all bastards and that most venerable man which i did call my father was i know not where when i was stampd some coiner with his tools made me a counterfeit yet my mother seemd the dian of that time so doth my wife the nonpareil of this o vengeance vengeance me of my lawful pleasure she restraind and prayd me oft forbearance did it with a pudency so rosy the sweet view ont might well have warmd old saturn that i thought her as chaste as unsunnd snow o all the devils this yellow iachimo in an hour wast not or less at first perchance he spoke not but like a full acornd boar a german one cried o and mounted found no opposition but what he lookd for should oppose and she should from encounter guard could i find out the womans part in me for theres no motion that tends to vice in man but i affirm it is the womans part be it lying note it the womans 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 ill 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 exit act iii scene i britain a hall in cymbelines palace enter in state cymbeline queen cloten and lords at one door and at another caius lucius and attendants cymbeline now say what would augustus caesar with us lucius when julius caesar whose remembrance yet lives in mens eyes and will to ears and tongues be theme and hearing ever was in this britain and conquerd it cassibelan thine uncle famous in caesars 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 untenderd queen and to kill the marvel shall be so ever cloten there be many caesars ere such another julius britain is a world by itself and we will nothing pay for wearing our own noses queen 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 neptunes park ribbd and pald in with rocks unscalable and roaring waters with sands that will not bear your enemies boats but suck them up to th top mast a kind of conquest caesar made here but made not here his brag of came and saw and overcame with shame the first that ever touchd him he was carried from off our coast twice beaten and his shipping poor ignorant baubles on our terrible seas like egg shells movd upon their surges crackd as easily gainst our rocks for joy whereof the famd cassibelan who was once at point o giglot fortune to master caesars sword made luds town with rejoicing fires bright and britons strut with courage cloten come theres 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 caesars other of them may have crookd noses but to owe such straight arms none cymbeline son let your mother end cloten 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 caesar 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 cymbeline you must know till the injurious romans did extort this tribute from us we were free caesars ambition which swelld so much that it did almost stretch the sides o th world against all colour here did put the yoke upons which to shake of becomes a warlike people whom we reckon ourselves to be cloten we do cymbeline say then to caesar our ancestor was that mulmutius which ordaind our laws whose use the sword of caesar 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 calld himself a king lucius i am sorry cymbeline that i am to pronounce augustus caesar caesar that hath moe kings his servants than thyself domestic officers thine enemy receive it from me then war and confusion in caesars name pronounce i gainst thee look for fury not to be resisted thus defied i thank thee for myself cymbeline thou art welcome caius thy caesar knighted me my youth i spent much under him of him i gatherd 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 caesar shall not find them lucius let proof speak cloten 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 theres an end lucius so sir cymbeline i know your masters pleasure and he mine all the remain is welcome exeunt scene ii britain another room in cymbelines palace enter pisanio reading of a letter pisanio how of adultery wherefore write you not what monsters her accuse leonatus o master what a strange infection is falln into thy ear what false italian as poisonous tongud as handed hath prevaild on thy too ready hearing disloyal no shes punishd 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 reads dot the letter that i have sent her by her own command shall give thee opportunity o damnd paper black as the ink thats on thee senseless bauble art thou a fedary for this act and lookst so virgin like without lo here she comes enter imogen i am ignorant in what i am commanded imogen how now pisanio pisanio madam here is a letter from my lord imogen who thy lord that is my lord leonatus o learnd indeed were that astronomer that knew the stars as i his characters hed lay the future open you good gods let what is here containd relish of love of my lords health of his content yet not that we two are asunder let that grieve him some griefs are medcinable that is one of them for it doth physic love of his content all but in that good wax thy leave blest 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 cupids tables good news gods reads justice and your fathers wrath should he take me in his dominion could not be so cruel to me as you o the dearest of creatures would 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 leonatus posthumus o for a horse with wings hearst 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 longst like me to see thy lord who longst o let me bate but not like me yet longst but in a fainter kind o not like me for mines beyond beyond say and speak thick loves counsellor should fill the bores of hearing to th smothering of the sense how far it is to this same blessed milford and by th 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 hence going and our return to excuse but first how get hence why should excuse be born or ere begot well talk of that hereafter prithee speak how many score of miles may we well ride twixt hour and hour pisanio one score twixt sun and sun madam s enough for you and too much too imogen why one that rode tos execution man could never go so slow i have heard of riding wagers where horses have been nimbler than the sands that run i th clocks behalf but this is foolry go bid my woman feign a sickness say shell home to her father and provide me presently a riding suit no costlier than would fit a franklins huswife pisanio madam youre best consider imogen 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 theres no more to say accessible is none but milford way exeunt scene iii wales a mountainous country with a cave enter from the cave belarius guiderius and arviragus belarius a goodly day not to keep house with such whose roofs as low as ours stoop boys this gate instructs you how t adore the heavens and bows you to a mornings holy office the gates of monarchs are archd 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 th rock yet use thee not so hardly as prouder livers do guiderius hail heaven arviragus hail heaven belarius now for our mountain sport up to yond hill your legs are young ill 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 allowd 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 wingd 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 him fine yet keeps his book uncrossd no life to ours guiderius out of your proof you speak we poor unfledgd have never wingd from view o th nest nor know not what airs 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 abed a prison for a debtor that not dares to stride a limit arviragus 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 warlike as the wolf for what we eat our valour is to chase what flies our cage we make a choir as doth the prisond bird and sing our bondage freely belarius how you speak did you but know the citys usuries and felt them knowingly the art o th court as hard to leave as keep whose top to climb is certain falling or so slippry that the fears as bad as falling the toil o th war a pain that only seems to seek out danger i thname of fame and honour which dies i thsearch and hath as oft a slandrous epitaph as record of fair act nay many times doth ill deserve by doing well whats worse must curtsy at the censure o boys this story the world may read in me my bodys markd with roman swords and my report was once first with the best of note cymbeline lovd 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 guiderius uncertain favour belarius my fault being nothing as i have told you oft but that two villains whose false oaths prevaild before my perfect honour swore to cymbeline i was confederate with the romans so followd my banishment and this twenty years this rock and these demesnes have been my world where i have livd at honest freedom paid more pious debts to heaven than in all the fore end of my time but up to th mountains this is not hunters language he that strikes the venison first shall be the lord o th feast to him the other two shall minister and we will fear no poison which attends in place of greater state ill meet you in the valleys exeunt guiderius and arviragus how hard it is to hide the sparks of nature these boys know little they are sons to th king nor cymbeline dreams that they are alive they think they are mine and though traind up thus meanly i th 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 calld guiderius jove when on my three foot stool i sit and tell the warlike feats i have done his spirits fly out into my story say thus mine enemy fell and thus i set my foot ons 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 rousd 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 refts 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 calld they take for natural father the game is up exit scene iv wales near milford haven enter pisanio and imogen imogen thou toldst me when we came from horse the place was near at hand neer longd 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 th inward of thee one but painted thus would be interpreted a thing perplexd beyond self explication put thyself into a haviour of less fear ere wildness vanquish my staider senses whats the matter why tenderst thou that paper to me with a look untender ift be summer news smile tot before if winterly thou needst but keep that countnance still my husbands hand that drug damnd italy hath out craftied him and hes at some hard point speak man thy tongue may take off some extremity which to read would be even mortal to me pisanio please you read and you shall find me wretched man a thing the most disdaind of fortune imogen reads thy mistress pisanio hath playd 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 pander to her dishonour and equally to me disloyal pisanio 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 imogen 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 thats false tos bed is it pisanio alas good lady imogen i false thy conscience witness iachimo thou didst accuse him of incontinency thou then lookdst like a villain now methinks thy favours good enough some jay of italy whose mother was her painting hath betrayd him poor i am stale a garment out of fashion and for i am richer than to hang by th walls i must be rippd to pieces with me o mens vows are womens traitors all good seeming by thy revolt o husband shall be thought put on for villainy not born wheret grows but worn a bait for ladies pisanio good madam hear me imogen true honest men being heard like false aeneas were in his time thought false and sinons 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 perjurd from thy great fail come fellow be thou honest do thou thy masters 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 seemst a coward pisanio hence vile instrument thou shalt not damn my hand imogen why i must die and if i do not by thy hand thou art no servant of thy masters against self slaughter there is a prohibition so divine that cravens my weak hand come heres my heart somethings aforet soft soft well no defence obedient as the scabbard what is here the scriptures of the loyal leonatus all turnd 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 betrayd do feel the treason sharply yet the traitor stands in worse case of woe and thou posthumus 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 disedgd by her that now thou tirest on how thy memory will then be pangd by me prithee dispatch the lamp entreats the butcher wheres thy knife thou art too slow to do thy masters bidding when i desire it too pisanio o gracious lady since i receivd command to do this busines i have not slept one wink imogen dot and to bed then pisanio ill wake mine eyeballs first imogen wherefore then didst undertake it why hast thou abusd so many miles with a pretence this place mine action and thine own our horses labour the time inviting thee the perturbd court for my being absent whereunto i never purpose return why hast thou gone so far to be unbent when thou hast taen thy stand th elected deer before thee pisanio but to win time to lose so bad employment in the which i have considerd of a course good lady hear me with patience imogen 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 pisanio then madam i thought you would not back again imogen most like bringing me here to kill me pisanio 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 abusd some villain ay and singular in his art hath done you both this cursed injury imogen some roman courtezan pisanio no on my life ill give but notice you are dead and send him some bloody sign of it for tis commanded i should do so you shall be missd at court and that will well confirm it imogen 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 pisanio if youll back to th court imogen no court no father nor no more ado with that harsh noble simple nothing that cloten whose love suit hath been to me as fearful as a siege pisanio if not at court then not in britain must you bide imogen where then hath britain all the sun that shines day night are they not but in britain i th worlds volume our britain seems as of it but not int in a great pool a swans nest prithee think theres livers out of britain pisanio i am most glad you think of other place th 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 happily 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 imogen o for such means though peril to my modesty not death ont i would adventure pisanio well then heres 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 answerd 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 imogen nay be brief i see into thy end and am almost a man already pisanio first make yourself but like one fore thinking 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 youre happy which will make him know if that his head have ear in music doubtless with joy he will embrace you for hes honourable and doubling that most holy your means abroad you have me rich and i will never fail beginning nor supplyment imogen thou art all the comfort the gods will diet me with prithee away theres more to be considerd but well even all that good time will give us this attempt i am soldier to and will abide it with a princes courage away i prithee pisanio well madam we must take a short farewell lest being missd i be suspected of your carriage from the court my noble mistress here is a box i had it from the queen whats int is precious if you are sick at sea or stomach qualmd 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 imogen amen i thank thee exeunt severally scene v britain cymbelines palace enter cymbeline queen cloten lucius and lords cymbeline thus far and so farewell lucius thanks royal sir my emperor hath wrote i must from hence and am right sorry that i must report ye my masters enemy cymbeline our subjects sir will not endure his yoke and for ourself to show less sovereignty than they must needs appear unkinglike lucius so sir i desire of you a conduct overland to milford haven madam all joy befall your grace and you cymbeline my lords you are appointed for that office the due of honour in no point omit so farewell noble lucius lucius your hand my lord cloten receive it friendly but from this time forth i wear it as your enemy lucius sir the event is yet to name the winner fare you well cymbeline leave not the worthy lucius good my lords till he have crossd the severn happiness exeunt lucius and lords queen he goes hence frowning but it honours us that we have given him cause cloten tis all the better your valiant britons have their wishes in it cymbeline lucius hath wrote already to the emperor how it goes here it fits us therefore ripely our chariots and our horsemen be in readiness the powrs that he already hath in gallia will soon be drawn to head from whence he moves his war for britain queen tis not sleepy business but must be lookd to speedily and strongly cymbeline our expectation that it would be thus hath made us forward but my gentle queen where is our daughter she hath not appeard before the roman nor to us hath tenderd 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 exit a messenger queen royal sir since the exile of posthumus most retird hath her life been the cure whereof my lord tis time must do beseech your majesty forbear sharp speeches to her shes a lady so tender of rebukes that words are strokes and strokes death to her re enter messenger cymbeline where is she sir how can her contempt be answerd messenger please you sir her chambers are all lockd and theres no answer that will be given to th loud of noise we make queen my lord when last i went to visit her she prayd me to excuse her keeping close whereto constraind by her infirmity she should that duty leave unpaid to you which daily she was bound to proffer this she wishd me to make known but our great court made me to blame in memory cymbeline her doors lockd not seen of late grant heavens that which i fear prove false exit queen son i say follow the king cloten that man of hers pisanio her old servant i have not seen these two days queen go look after exit cloten pisanio thou that standst 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 seizd her or wingd with fervour of her love shes flown to her desird 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 re enter cloten how now my son cloten tis certain she is fled go in and cheer the king he rages none dare come about him queen all the better may this night forestall him of the coming day exit cloten i love and hate her for shes 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 whats else rare is chokd and in that point i will conclude to hate her nay indeed to be revengd upon her for when fools shall enter pisanio who is here what are you packing sirrah come hither ah you precious pander villain where is thy lady in a word or else thou art straightway with the fiends pisanio o good my lord cloten where is thy lady or by jupiter i will not ask again close villain ill 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 pisanio alas my lord how can she be with him when was she missd he is in rome cloten where is she sir come nearer no farther halting satisfy me home what is become of her pisanio o my all worthy lord cloten 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 pisanio then sir this paper is the history of my knowledge touching her flight presenting a letter cloten lets seet i will pursue her even to augustus throne pisanio aside or this or perish shes far enough and what he learns by this may prove his travel not her danger cloten humh pisanio aside ill write to my lord shes dead o imogen safe mayst thou wander safe return again cloten sirrah is this letter true pisanio sir as i think cloten it is posthumus hand i knowt 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 villainy soeer 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 pisanio well my good lord cloten 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 pisanio sir i will cloten give me thy hand heres my purse hast any of thy late masters garments in thy possession pisanio i have my lord at my lodging the same suit he wore when he took leave of my lady and mistress cloten the first service thou dost me fetch that suit hither let it be thy first service go pisanio i shall my lord exit cloten meet thee at milford haven i forgot to ask him one thing ill remembert 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 praisd to the court ill knock her back foot her home again she hath despisd me rejoicingly and ill be merry in my revenge re enter pisanio with the clothes be those the garments pisanio ay my noble lord cloten how long ist since she went to milford haven pisanio she can scarce be there yet cloten 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 exit pisanio thou bidst 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 pursuest flow flow you heavenly blessings on her this fools speed be crossd with slowness labour be his meed exit scene vi wales before the cave of belarius enter imogen alone in boys clothes imogen i see a mans life is a tedious one i have tird 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 showd thee thou wast within a ken o jove i think foundations fly the wretched such i mean where they should be relievd 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 th false ones now i think on thee my hungers gone but even before i was at point to sink for food but what is this here is a path tot tis some savage hold i were best not call i dare not call yet famine ere clean it oerthrow nature makes it valiant plenty and peace breeds cowards hardness ever of hardiness is mother ho whos here if anything thats civil speak if savage take or lend ho no answer then ill enter best draw my sword and if mine enemy but fear the sword like me hell scarcely look ont such a foe good heavens exit into the cave enter belarius guiderius and arviragus belarius you polydore have provd 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 whats homely savoury weariness can snore upon the flint when resty sloth finds the down pillow hard now peace be here poor house that keepst thyself guiderius i am thoroughly weary arviragus i am weak with toil yet strong in appetite guiderius there is cold meat i th cave well browse on that whilst what we have killd be cookd belarius looking into the cave stay come not in but that it eats our victuals i should think here were a fairy guiderius whats the matter sir belarius by jupiter an angel or if not an earthly paragon behold divineness no elder than a boy re enter imogen imogen good masters harm me not before i enterd here i calld and thought to have beggd or bought what i have took good troth i have stoln nought nor would not though i had found gold strewd i th floor heres money for my meat i would have left it on the board so soon as i had made my meal and parted with prayrs for the provider guiderius money youth arviragus all gold and silver rather turn to dirt as tis no better reckond but of those who worship dirty gods imogen i see youre angry know if you kill me for my fault i should have died had i not made it belarius whither bound imogen to milford haven belarius whats your name imogen fidele sir i have a kinsman who is bound for italy he embarkd at milford to whom being going almost spent with hunger i am falln in this offence belarius prithee fair youth think us no churls nor measure our good minds by this rude place we live in well encounterd tis almost night you shall have better cheer ere you depart and thanks to stay and eat it boys bid him welcome guiderius were you a woman youth i should woo hard but be your groom in honesty i bid for you as id buy arviragus ill maket my comfort he is a man ill love him as my brother and such a welcome as id give to him after long absence such is yours most welcome be sprightly for you fall mongst friends imogen mongst friends if brothers aside would it had been so that they had been my fathers sons then had my prize been less and so more equal ballasting to thee posthumus belarius he wrings at some distress guiderius would i could freet arviragus or i whateer it be what pain it cost what danger gods belarius whispering hark boys imogen aside great men that had a court no bigger than this cave that did attend themselves and had the virtue which their own conscience seald them laying by that nothing gift of differing multitudes could not out peer these twain pardon me gods id change my sex to be companion with them since leonatus false belarius it shall be so boys well go dress our hunt fair youth come in discourse is heavy fasting when we have suppd well mannerly demand thee of thy story so far as thou wilt speak it guiderius pray draw near arviragus the night to th owl and morn to th lark less welcome imogen thanks sir arviragus i pray draw near exeunt scene vii rome a public place enter two roman senators and tribunes first senator this is the tenour of the emperors 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 falln off britons that we do incite the gentry to this business he creates lucius proconsul and to you the tribunes for this immediate levy he commands his absolute commission long live caesar tribune is lucius general of the forces second senator ay tribune remaining now in gallia first senator 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 tribune we will discharge our duty exeunt act iv scene i wales near the cave of belarius enter cloten alone cloten i am near to th place where they should meet if pisanio have mappd 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 womans 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 her 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 exit scene ii wales before the cave of belarius enter from the cave belarius guiderius arviragus and imogen belarius to imogen you are not well remain here in the cave well come to you after hunting arviragus to imogen brother stay here are we not brothers imogen so man and man should be but clay and clay differs in dignity whose dust is both alike i am very sick guiderius go you to hunting ill abide with him imogen 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 ill rob none but myself and let me die stealing so poorly guiderius i love thee i have spoke it how much the quantity the weight as much as i do love my father belarius what how how arviragus if it be sin to say so sir i yoke me in my good brothers fault i know not why i love this youth and i have heard you say loves reasons without reason the bier at door and a demand who ist shall die id say my father not this youth belarius aside 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 im not their father yet who this should be doth miracle itself lovd before me tis the ninth hour o th morn arviragus brother farewell imogen i wish ye sport arviragus your health to belarius so please you sir imogen aside these are kind creatures gods what lies i have heard our courtiers say alls savage but at court experience o thou disprovst report th imperious seas breed monsters for the dish poor tributary rivers as sweet fish i am sick still heart sick pisanio ill now taste of thy drug swallows some guiderius i could not stir him he said he was gentle but unfortunate dishonestly afflicted but yet honest arviragus thus did he answer me yet said hereafter i might know more belarius to th field to th field well leave you for this time go in and rest arviragus well not be long away belarius pray be not sick for you must be our huswife imogen well or ill i am bound to you belarius and shalt be ever exit imogen into the cave this youth howeer distressd appears he hath had good ancestors arviragus how angel like he sings guiderius but his neat cookery he cut our roots in characters and saucd our broths as juno had been sick and he her dieter arviragus 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 guiderius i do note that grief and patience rooted in him both mingle their spurs together arviragus grow patience and let the stinking elder grief untwine his perishing root with the increasing vine belarius it is great morning come away whos there enter cloten cloten i cannot find those runagates that villain hath mockd me i am faint belarius those runagates means he not us i partly know him tis cloten the son o th queen i fear some ambush i saw him not these many years and yet i know tis he we are held as outlaws hence guiderius he is but one you and my brother search what companies are near pray you away let me alone with him exeunt belarius and arviragus cloten soft what are you that fly me thus some villain mountaineers i have heard of such what slave art thou guiderius a thing more slavish did i neer than answering a slave without a knock cloten thou art a robber a law breaker a villain yield thee thief guiderius 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 cloten thou villain base knowst me not by my clothes guiderius no nor thy tailor rascal who is thy grandfather he made those clothes which as it seems make thee cloten thou precious varlet my tailor made them not guiderius hence then and thank the man that gave them thee thou art some fool i am loath to beat thee cloten thou injurious thief hear but my name and tremble guiderius whats thy name cloten cloten thou villain guiderius cloten thou double villain be thy name i cannot tremble at it were it toad or adder spider twould move me sooner cloten to thy further fear nay to thy mere confusion thou shalt know i am son to th queen guiderius im sorry fort not seeming so worthy as thy birth cloten art not afeard guiderius those that i reverence those i fear the wise at fools i laugh not fear them cloten die the death when i have slain thee with my proper hand ill follow those that even now fled hence and on the gates of luds town set your heads yield rustic mountaineer exeunt fighting re enter belarius and arviragus belarius no companys abroad arviragus none in the world you did mistake him sure belarius i cannot tell long is it since i saw him but time hath nothing blurrd 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 arviragus in this place we left them i wish my brother make good time with him you say he is so fell belarius being scarce made up i mean to man he had not apprehension or roaring terrors for defect of judgment is oft the cease of fear re enter guiderius with clotens head but see thy brother guiderius this cloten was a fool an empty purse there was no money int not hercules could have knockd out his brains for he had none yet i not doing this the fool had borne my head as i do his belarius what hast thou done guiderius i am perfect what cut off one clotens head son to the queen after his own report who calld me traitor mountaineer and swore with his own single hand hed take us in displace our heads where thank the gods they grow and set them on luds town belarius we are all undone guiderius 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 belarius no single soul can we set eye on but in an 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 ravd 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 hed fetch us in yet ist 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 arviragus let ordinance come as the gods foresay it howsoeer my brother hath done well belarius i had no mind to hunt this day the boy fideles sickness did make my way long forth guiderius with his own sword which he did wave against my throat i have taen his head from him ill throwt into the creek behind our rock and let it to the sea and tell the fishes hes the queens son cloten thats all i reck exit belarius i feartwill be revengd would polydore thou hadst not donet though valour becomes thee well enough arviragus would i had donet so the revenge alone pursud me polydore i love thee brotherly but envy much thou hast robbd me of this deed i would revenges that possible strength might meet would seek us through and put us to our answer belarius well tis done well hunt no more to day nor seek for danger where theres no profit i prithee to our rock you and fidele play the cooks ill stay till hasty polydore return and bring him to dinner presently arviragus poor sick fidele ill willingly to him to gain his colour id let a parish of such clotens blood and praise myself for charity exit belarius o thou goddess thou divine nature thou thyself thou blazonst 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 enchafd as the rudst wind that by the top doth take the mountain pine and make him stoop to th vale tis wonder that an invisible instinct should frame them to royalty unlearnd honour untaught civility not seen from other valour that wildly grows in them but yields a crop as if it had been sowd yet still its strange what clotens being here to us portends or what his death will bring us re enter guiderius guiderius wheres my brother i have sent clotens clotpoll down the stream in embassy to his mother his bodys hostage for his return solemn music belarius my ingenious instrument hark polydore it sounds but what occasion hath cadwal now to give it motion hark guiderius is he at home belarius he went hence even now guiderius what does he mean since death of my dearst 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 re enter arviragus with imogen as dead bearing her in his arms belarius look here he comes and brings the dire occasion in his arms of what we blame him for arviragus the bird is dead that we have made so much on i had rather have skippd from sixteen years of age to sixty to have turnd my leaping time into a crutch than have seen this guiderius o sweetest fairest lily my brother wears thee not the one half so well as when thou grewst thyself belarius o melancholy who ever yet could sound thy bottom find the ooze to show what coast thy sluggish crare mightst 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 arviragus stark as you see thus smiling as some fly had tickled slumber not as deaths dart being laughd at his right cheek reposing on a cushion guiderius where arviragus o th floor his arms thus leagud i thought he slept and put my clouted brogues from off my feet whose rudeness answerd my steps too loud guiderius why he but sleeps if he be gone hell make his grave a bed with female fairies will his tomb be haunted and worms will not come to thee arviragus with fairest flowers whilst summer lasts and i live here fidele ill sweeten thy sad grave thou shalt not lack the flower thats like thy face pale primrose nor the azurd hare bell like thy veins no nor the leaf of eglantine whom not to slander out sweetned 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 furrd moss besides when flowrs are none to winter ground thy corse guiderius 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 th grave arviragus say where shalls lay him guiderius by good euriphile our mother arviragus bet so and let us polydore though now our voices have got the mannish crack sing him to th ground as once to our mother use like note and words save that euriphile must be fidele guiderius cadwal i cannot sing ill weep and word it with thee for notes of sorrow out of tune are worse than priests and fanes that lie arviragus well speak it then belarius great griefs i see medcine the less for cloten is quite forgot he was a queens 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 guiderius pray you fetch him hither thersites body is as good as ajax when neither are alive arviragus if youll go fetch him well say our song the whilst brother begin exit belarius guiderius nay cadwal we must lay his head to th east my father hath a reason fort arviragus tis true guiderius come on then and remove him arviragus so begin song guiderius fear no more the heat o th sun nor the furious winters rages thou thy worldly task hast done home art gone and taen thy wages golden lads and girls all must as chimney sweepers come to dust arviragus fear no more the frown o th great thou art past the tyrants 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 guiderius fear no more the lightning flash arviragus nor th all dreaded thunder stone guiderius fear not slander censure rash arviragus thou hast finishd joy and moan both all lovers young all lovers must consign to thee and come to dust guiderius no exorciser harm thee arviragus nor no witchcraft charm thee guiderius ghost unlaid forbear thee arviragus nothing ill come near thee both quiet consummation have and renowned be thy grave re enter belarius with the body of cloten guiderius we have done our obsequies come lay him down belarius heres a few flowers but bout midnight more the herbs that have on them cold dew o th night are strewings fitst for graves upon their faces you were as flowrs now witherd 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 exeunt all but imogen imogen awaking 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 ill lie down and sleep but soft no bedfellow o gods and goddesses seeing the body these flowrs are like the pleasures of the world this bloody man the care ont 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 wrens eye feard gods a part of it the dreams here still even when i wake it is without me as within me not imagind felt a headless man the garments of posthumus i know the shape ofs 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 conspird with that irregulous devil cloten hath here cut off my lord to write and read be henceforth treacherous damnd pisanio hath with his forged letters damnd pisanio from this most bravest vessel of the world struck the main top o posthumus alas where is thy head wheres that ay me wheres that pisanio might have killd 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 murdrous to th senses that confirms it home this is pisanios deed and cloten 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 falls fainting on the body enter lucius captains and a soothsayer captain to them the legions garrisond in gallia after your will have crossd the sea attending you here at milford haven with your ships they are in readiness lucius but what from rome captain the senate hath stirrd up the confiners and gentlemen of italy most willing spirits that promise noble service and they come under the conduct of bold iachimo siennas brother lucius when expect you them captain with the next benefit o th wind lucius this forwardness makes our hopes fair command our present numbers be musterd bid the captains look tot now sir what have you dreamd of late of this wars purpose soothsayer last night the very gods showd me a vision i fast and prayd for their intelligence thus i saw joves bird the roman eagle wingd from the spongy south to this part of the west there vanishd in the sunbeams which portends unless my sins abuse my divination success to th roman host lucius 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 lets see the boys face captain hes alive my lord lucius hell 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 makst thy bloody pillow or who was he that otherwise than noble nature did hath alterd that good picture whats thy interest in this sad wreck how camet who ist what art thou imogen 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 is 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 lucius lack good youth thou movst no less with thy complaining than thy master in bleeding say his name good friend imogen richard du champ aside if i do lie and do no harm by it though the gods hear i hope theyll pardon it say you sir lucius thy name imogen fidele sir lucius 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 masterd but be sure no less belovd the roman emperors letters sent by a consul to me should not sooner than thine own worth prefer thee go with me imogen ill follow sir but first ant please the gods ill hide my master from the flies as deep as these poor pickaxes can dig and when with wild wood leaves and weeds i ha strewd his grave and on it said a century of prayers such as i can twice oer ill weep and sigh and leaving so his service follow you so please you entertain me lucius 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 preferrd by thee to us and he shall be interrd as soldiers can be cheerful wipe thine eyes some falls are means the happier to arise exeunt scene iii britain cymbelines palace enter cymbeline lords pisanio and attendants cymbeline again and bring me word how tis with her exit an attendant a fever with the absence of her son a madness of which her lifes 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 well enforce it from thee by a sharp torture pisanio 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 lord good my liege the day that she was missing he was here i dare be bound hes 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 cymbeline the time is troublesome to pisanio well slip you for a season but our jealousy does yet depend lord 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 cymbeline now for the counsel of my son and queen i am amazd with matter lord good my liege your preparation can affront no less than what you hear of come more for more youre ready the want is but to put those powrs in motion that long to move cymbeline i thank you lets 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 exeunt all but pisanio pisanio 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 what is betid to cloten but remain perplexd 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 th king or ill fall in them all other doubts by time let them be cleard fortune brings in some boats that are not steerd exit scene iv wales before the cave of belarius enter belarius guiderius and arviragus guiderius the noise is round about us belarius let us from it arviragus what pleasure sir find we in life to lock it from action and adventure guiderius 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 belarius sons well higher to the mountains there secure us to the kings party theres no going newness of clotens death we being not known not musterd among the bands may drive us to a render where we have livd and so extort froms that which we have done whose answer would be death drawn on with torture guiderius this is sir a doubt in such a time nothing becoming you nor satisfying us arviragus it is not likely that when they hear the roman horses neigh behold their quarterd fires have both their eyes and ears so cloyd importantly as now that they will waste their time upon our note to know from whence we are belarius 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 deservd 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 promisd but to be still hot summers tanlings and the shrinking slaves of winter guiderius than be so better to cease to be pray sir to th army i and my brother are not known yourself so out of thought and thereto so oergrown cannot be questioned arviragus by this sun that shines ill thither what thing ist that i never did see man die scarce ever lookd on blood but that of coward hares hot goats and venison never bestrid a horse save one that had a rider like myself who neer wore rowel nor iron on his heel i am ashamd to look upon the holy sun to have the benefit of his blest beams remaining so long a poor unknown guiderius by heavens ill go if you will bless me sir and give me leave ill take the better care but if you will not the hazard therefore due fall on me by the hands of romans arviragus so say i amen belarius no reason i since of your lives you set so slight a valuation should reserve my crackd 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 ill lie lead lead aside the time seems long their blood thinks scorn till it fly out and show them princes born exeunt act v scene i britain the roman camp enter posthumus alone with a bloody handkerchief posthumus yea bloody cloth ill keep thee for i wishd thou shouldst be colourd 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 taen vengeance on my faults i never had livd to put on this so had you saved the noble imogen to repent and struck me wretch more worth your vengeance but alack you snatch some hence for little faults thats 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 blest to obey i am brought hither among th italian gentry and to fight against my ladys kingdom tis enough that britain i have killd thy mistress peace ill give no wound to thee therefore good heavens hear patiently my purpose ill disrobe me of these italian weeds and suit myself as does a britain peasant so ill fight against the part i come with so ill 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 ill dedicate let me make men know more valour in me than my habits show gods put the strength o th leonati in me to shame the guise o th world i will begin the fashion less without and more within exit scene ii britain a field of battle between the british and roman camps enter lucius iachimo and the roman army at one door and the british army at another leonatus posthumus following like a poor soldier they march over and go out alarums then enter again in skirmish iachimo and posthumus he vanquisheth and disarmeth iachimo and then leaves him iachimo the heaviness and guilt within my bosom takes off my manhood i have belied a lady the princess of this country and the air ont revengingly enfeebles me or could this carl a very drudge of natures have subdud 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 exit the battle continues the britons fly cymbeline is taken then enter to his rescue belarius guiderius and arviragus belarius stand stand we have th advantage of the ground the lane is guarded nothing routs us but the villainy of our fears guiderius and arviragus stand stand and fight re enter posthumus and seconds the britons they rescue cymbeline and exeunt then re enter lucius and iachimo with imogen lucius away boy from the troops and save thyself for friends kill friends and the disorders such as war were hoodwinkd iachimo tis their fresh supplies lucius it is a day turnd strangely or betimes lets reinforce or fly exeunt scene iii another part of the field enter posthumus and a britain lord lord camst thou from where they made the stand posthumus i did though you it seems come from the fliers lord i did posthumus 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 an flying through a strait lane the enemy full hearted lolling the tongue with slaughtring having work more plentiful than tools to dot struck down some mortally some slightly touchd some falling merely through fear that the strait pass was dammd with dead men hurt behind and cowards living to die with lengthned shame lord where was this lane posthumus close by the battle ditchd and walld with turf which gave advantage to an ancient soldier an honest one i warrant who deservd so long a breeding as his white beard came to in doing this fors 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 casd or shame made good the passage cried to those that fled our britains 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 turnd a distaff to a lance gilded pale looks part shame part spirit renewd that some turnd coward but by example o a sin in war damnd in the first beginners gan to look the way that they did and to grin like lions upon the pikes o th hunters then began a stop i th chaser a retire anon a rout confusion thick forthwith they fly chickens the way which they stoopd eagles slaves the strides they victors made and now our cowards like fragments in hard voyages became the life o th need having found the back door open of the unguarded hearts heavens how they wound some slain before some dying some their friends oerborne i th former wave ten chasd by one are now each one the slaughterman of twenty those that would die or ere resist are grown the mortal bugs o th field lord this was strange chance a narrow lane an old man and two boys posthumus nay do not wonder at it you are made rather to wonder at the things you hear than to work any will you rhyme upont and vent it for a mockry here is one two boys an old man twice a boy a lane preservd the britons was the romans bane lord nay be not angry sir posthumus lack to what end who dares not stand his foe ill be his friend for if hell do as he is made to do i know hell quickly fly my friendship too you have put me into rhyme lord farewell youre angry exit posthumus still going this is a lord o noble misery to be i th field and ask what news of me to day how many would have given their honours to have savd their carcasses took heel to dot and yet died too i in mine own woe charmd 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 moe ministers than we that draw his knives i th war well i will find him for being now a favourer to the briton no more a briton i have resumd 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 th roman great the answer be britons must take for me my ransoms death on either side i come to spend my breath which neither here ill keep nor bear again but end it by some means for imogen enter two british captains and soldiers first captain great jupiter be praisd lucius is taken tis thought the old man and his sons were angels second captain there was a fourth man in a silly habit that gave th affront with them first captain so tis reported but none of em can be found stand whos there posthumus a roman who had not now been drooping here if seconds had answerd him second captain lay hands on him a dog a leg of rome shall not return to tell what crows have peckd them here he brags his service as if he were of note bring him to th king enter cymbeline belarius guiderius arviragus pisanio and roman captives the captains present posthumus to cymbeline who delivers him over to a gaoler exeunt omnes scene iv britain a prison enter posthumus and two gaolers first gaoler you shall not now be stoln you have locks upon you so graze as you find pasture second gaoler ay or a stomach exeunt gaolers posthumus most welcome bondage for thou art a way i think to liberty yet am i better than one thats sick o th gout since he had rather groan so in perpetuity than be curd by th sure physician death who is the key t unbar these locks my conscience thou art fetterd more than my shanks and wrists you good gods give me the penitent instrument to pick that bolt then free for ever ist 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 desird more than constraind 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 thats not my desire for imogens dear life take mine and though tis not so dear yet tis a life you coind it tween man and man they weigh not every stamp though light take pieces for the figures sake you rather mine being yours and so great powrs if you will take this audit take this life and cancel these cold bonds o imogen ill speak to thee in silence sleeps solemn music enter as in an apparition sicilius leonatus father to posthumus an old man attired like a warrior leading in his hand an ancient matron his wife and mother to posthumus with music before them then after other music follows the two young leonati brothers to posthumus with wounds as they died in the wars they circle posthumus round as he lies sleeping sicilius 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 stayd attending natures law whose father then as men report thou orphans father art thou shouldst have been and shielded him from this earth vexing smart mother lucina lent not me her aid but took me in my throes that from me was posthumus rippd came crying mongst his foes a thing of pity sicilius great nature like his ancestry moulded the stuff so fair that he deservd the praise o th world as great sicilius heir first brother 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 mother with marriage wherefore was he mockd to be exild and thrown from leonati seat and cast from her his dearest one sweet imogen sicilius 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 th others villainy second brother for this from stiller seats we came our parents and us twain that striking in our countrys cause fell bravely and were slain our fealty and tenantius right with honour to maintain first brother like hardiment posthumus hath to cymbeline performd then jupiter thou king of gods why hast thou thus adjournd the graces for his merits due being all to dolours turnd sicilius thy crystal window ope look out no longer exercise upon a valiant race thy harsh and potent injuries mother since jupiter our son is good take off his miseries sicilius peep through thy marble mansion help or we poor ghosts will cry to th shining synod of the rest against thy deity brothers help jupiter or we appeal and from thy justice fly jupiter descends in thunder and lightning sitting upon an eagle he throws a thunderbolt the ghosts fall on their knees jupiter 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 flowrs 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 delayd delighted be content your low laid son our godhead will uplift his comforts thrive his trials well are spent our jovial star reignd 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 farther with your din express impatience lest you stir up mine mount eagle to my palace crystalline ascends sicilius he came in thunder his celestial breath was sulpherous to smell the holy eagle stoopd as to foot us his ascension is more sweet than our blest fields his royal bird prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak as when his god is pleasd all thanks jupiter sicilius the marble pavement closes he is enterd his radiant roof away and to be blest let us with care perform his great behest ghosts vanish posthumus waking sleep thou has 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 steepd 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 reads when as a lions whelp shall to himself unknown without seeking find and be embracd by a piece of tender air and when from a stately cedar shall be loppd 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 ill keep if but for sympathy re enter gaoler gaoler come sir are you ready for death posthumus over roasted rather ready long ago gaoler hanging is the word sir if you be ready for that you are well cookd posthumus so if i prove a good repast to the spectators the dish pays the shot gaoler 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 o 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 whats past is and to come the discharge your neck sir is pen book and counters so the acquittance follows posthumus i am merrier to die than thou art to live gaoler 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 posthumus yes indeed do i fellow gaoler your death has eyes ins head then i have not seen him so picturd you must either be directed by some that take upon them to know or to 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 journeys end i think youll never return to tell one posthumus 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 gaoler 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 hangings the way of winking enter a messenger messenger knock off his manacles bring your prisoner to the king posthumus thou bringst good news i am calld to be made free gaoler ill be hangd then posthumus thou shalt be then freer than a gaoler no bolts for the dead exeunt posthumus and messenger gaoler 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 int exit scene v britain cymbelines tent enter cymbeline belarius guiderius arviragus pisanio lords officers and attendants cymbeline 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 shamd gilded arms whose naked breast steppd before targes of proof cannot be found he shall be happy that can find him if our grace can make him so belarius i never saw such noble fury in so poor a thing such precious deeds in one that promisd nought but beggary and poor looks cymbeline no tidings of him pisanio he hath been searchd among the dead and living but no trace of him cymbeline to my grief i am the heir of his reward to belarius guiderius and arviragus 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 belarius sir in cambria are we born and gentlemen further to boast were neither true nor modest unless i add we are honest cymbeline bow your knees arise my knights o th battle i create you companions to our person and will fit you with dignities becoming your estates enter cornelius and ladies theres business in these faces why so sadly greet you our victory you look like romans and not o th court of britain cornelius hail great king to sour your happiness i must report the queen is dead cymbeline who worse than a physician would this report become but i consider by medcinelife may be prolongd yet death will seize the doctor too how ended she cornelius with horror madly dying like her life which being cruel to the world concluded most cruel to herself what she confessd i will report so please you these her women can trip me if i err who with wet cheeks were present when she finishd cymbeline prithee say cornelius first she confessd she never lovd you only affected greatness got by you not you married your royalty was wife to your place abhorrd your person cymbeline she alone knew this and but she spoke it dying i would not believe her lips in opening it proceed cornelius 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 taen off by poison cymbeline o most delicate fiend who ist can read a woman is there more cornelius 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 lingring by inches waste you in which time she purposd by watching weeping tendance kissing to oercome you with her show and in time when she had fitted you with her craft to work her son into th adoption of the crown but failing of her end by his strange absence grew shameless desperate opend in despite of heaven and men her purposes repented the evils she hatchd were not effected so despairing died cymbeline heard you all this her women lady we did so please your highness cymbeline 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 enter lucius iachimo the soothsayer and other roman prisoners guarded posthumus behind and imogen thou comst not caius now for tribute that the britons have razd out though with the loss of many a bold one whose kinsmen have made suit that their good souls may be appeasd with slaughter of you their captives which ourself have granted so think of your estate lucius 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 threatend our prisoners with the sword but since the gods will have it thus that nothing but our lives may be calld ransom let it come sufficeth a roman with a romans heart can suffer augustus lives to think ont and so much for my peculiar care this one thing only i will entreat my boy a briton born let him be ransomd 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 ill make bold your highness cannot deny he hath done no briton harm though he have servd a roman save him sir and spare no blood beside cymbeline i have surely seen him his favour is familiar to me boy thou hast lookd thyself into my grace and art mine own i know not why wherefore to say live boy neer thank thy master live and ask of cymbeline what boon thou wilt fitting my bounty and thy state ill give it yea though thou do demand a prisoner the noblest taen imogen i humbly thank your highness lucius i do not bid thee beg my life good lad and yet i know thou wilt imogen no no alack theres other work in hand i see a thing bitter to me as death your life good master must shuffle for itself lucius 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 perplexd cymbeline what wouldst thou boy i love thee more and more think more and more whats best to ask knowst him thou lookst on speak wilt have him live is he thy kin thy friend imogen he is a roman no more kin to me than i to your highness who being born your vassal am something nearer cymbeline wherefore eyst him so imogen ill tell you sir in private if you please to give me hearing cymbeline ay with all my heart and lend my best attention whats thy name imogen fidele sir cymbeline thourt my good youth my page ill be thy master walk with me speak freely cymbeline and imogen converse apart belarius is not this boy revivd from death arviragus one sand another not more resembles that sweet rosy lad who died and was fidele what think you guiderius the same dead thing alive belarius peace peace see further he eyes us not forbear creatures may be alike weret he i am sure he would have spoke to us guiderius but we saw him dead belarius be silent lets see further pisanio aside it is my mistress since she is living let the time run on to good or bad cymbeline and imogen advance cymbeline come stand thou by our side make thy demand aloud to iachimo 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 imogen my boon is that this gentleman may render of whom he had this ring posthumus aside whats that to him cymbeline that diamond upon your finger say how came it yours iachimo thoult torture me to leave unspoken that which to be spoke would torture thee cymbeline how me iachimo i am glad to be constraind to utter that which torments me to conceal by villainy i got this ring twas leonatus jewel whom thou didst banish and which more may grieve thee as it doth me a nobler sir neer livd twixt sky and ground wilt thou hear more my lord cymbeline all that belongs to this iachimo that paragon thy daughter for whom my heart drops blood and my false spirits quail to remember give me leave i faint cymbeline 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 iachimo upon a time unhappy was the clock that struck the hour was in rome accursd the mansion where twas at a feast o would our viands had been poisond or at least those which i heavd 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 rarst of good ones sitting sadly hearing us praise our loves of italy for beauty that made barren the swelld 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 cymbeline i stand on fire come to the matter iachimo 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 praisd therein he was as calm as virtue he began his mistress picture which by his tongue being made and then a mind put int either our brags were crackd of kitchen trulls or his description provd us unspeaking sots cymbeline nay nay to th purpose iachimo your daughters 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 wagerd with him pieces of gold gainst this which then he wore upon his honourd finger to attain in suit the place ofs 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 phoebus wheel and might so safely had it been all the worth ofs 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 villainous being thus quenchd 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 prevaild that i returnd 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 o cunning how i got it nay some marks of secret on her person that he could not but think her bond of chastity quite crackd i having taen the forfeit whereupon methinks i see him now posthumus coming forward ay so thou dost italian fiend ay me most credulous fool egregious murderer thief anything thats 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 th abhorred things o th earth amend by being worse than they i am posthumus that killd thy daughter villain like i lie that causd a lesser villain than myself a sacrilegious thief to dot the temple of virtue was she yea and she herself spit and throw stones cast mire upon me set the dogs o th street to bay me every villain be calld posthumus leonatus and be villainy less than twas o imogen my queen my life my wife o imogen imogen imogen imogen peace my lord hear hear posthumus shalls have a play of this thou scornful page there lies thy part strikes her she falls pisanio o gentlemen help mine and your mistress o my lord posthumus you neer killd imogen till now help help mine honourd lady cymbeline does the world go round posthumus how comes these staggers on me pisanio wake my mistress cymbeline if this be so the gods do mean to strike me to death with mortal joy pisanio how fares my mistress imogen o get thee from my sight thou gavst me poison dangerous fellow hence breathe not where princes are cymbeline the tune of imogen pisanio 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 cymbeline new matter still imogen it poisond me cornelius o gods i left out one thing which the queen confessd which must approve thee honest if pisanio have said she given his mistress that confection which i gave him for cordial she is servd as i would serve a rat cymbeline whats this cornelius cornelius the queen sir very oft importund 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 taen would cease the present powr of life but in short time all offices of nature should again do their due functions have you taen of it imogen most like i did for i was dead belarius my boys there was our error guiderius this is sure fidele imogen why did you throw your wedded lady from you think that you are upon a rock and now throw me again embracing him posthumus hang there like fruit my soul till the tree die cymbeline how now my flesh my child what makst thou me a dullard in this act wilt thou not speak to me imogen kneeling your blessing sir belarius to guiderius and arviragus though you did love this youth i blame ye not you had a motive fort cymbeline my tears that fall prove holy water on thee imogen thy mothers dead imogen i am sorry fort my lord cymbeline 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 pisanio my lord now fear is from me ill speak troth lord cloten upon my ladys missing came to me with his sword drawn foamd at the mouth and swore if i discoverd not which way she was gone it was my instant death by accident i had a feigned letter of my masters then in my pocket which directed him to seek her on the mountains near to milford where in a frenzy in my masters garments which he enforcd from me away he posts with unchaste purpose and with oath to violate my ladys honour what became of him i further know not guiderius let me end the story i slew him there cymbeline marry the gods forfend i would not thy good deeds should from my lips pluck a hard sentence prithee valiant youth denyt again guiderius i have spoke it and i did it cymbeline he was a prince guiderius 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 offs head and am right glad he is not standing here to tell this tale of mine cymbeline i am sorry for thee by thine own tongue thou art condemnd and must endure our law thourt dead imogen that headless man i thought had been my lord cymbeline bind the offender and take him from our presence belarius 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 to the guard let his arms alone they were not born for bondage cymbeline why old soldier wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for by tasting of our wrath how of descent as good as we arviragus in that he spake too far cymbeline and thou shalt die fort belarius we will die all three but i will prove that two ons 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 arviragus your dangers ours guiderius and our good his belarius have at it then by leave thou hadst great king a subject who was calld belarius cymbeline what of him he is a banishd traitor belarius he it is that hath assumd this age indeed a banishd man i know not how a traitor cymbeline take him hence the whole world shall not save him belarius not too hot first pay me for the nursing of thy sons and let it be confiscate all so soon as i have receivd it cymbeline nursing of my sons belarius i am too blunt and saucy heres 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 cymbeline how my issue belarius so sure as you your fathers i old morgan am that belarius whom you sometime banishd your pleasure was my mere offence my punishment itself and all my treason that i sufferd was all the harm i did these gentle princes for such and so they are these twenty years have i traind up those arts they have as 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 movd her tot having receivd 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 shapd unto my end of stealing them but gracious sir here are your sons again and i must lose two of the sweetst 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 cymbeline thou weepst and speakst the service that you three have done is more unlike than this thou tellst i lost my children if these be they i know not how to wish a pair of worthier sons belarius be pleasd 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 lappd in a most curious mantle wrought by th hand of his queen mother which for more probation i can with ease produce cymbeline guiderius had upon his neck a mole a sanguine star it was a mark of wonder belarius this is he who hath upon him still that natural stamp it was wise natures end in the donation to be his evidence now cymbeline o what am i a mother to the birth of three neer mother rejoicd 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 imogen no my lord i have got two worlds byt o my gentle brothers have we thus met o never say hereafter but i am truest speaker you calld me brother when i was but your sister i you brothers when we were so indeed cymbeline did you eer meet arviragus ay my good lord guiderius and at first meeting lovd continud so until we thought he died cornelius by the queens dram she swallowd cymbeline 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 livd you and when came you to serve our roman captive how parted with your brothers how first met them why fled 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 dependences from chance to chance but nor the time nor place will serve our long interrogatories 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 lets quit this ground and smoke the temple with our sacrifices to belarius thou art my brother so well hold thee ever imogen you are my father too and did relieve me to see this gracious season cymbeline all oerjoyd save these in bonds let them be joyful too for they shall taste our comfort imogen my good master i will yet do you service lucius happy be you cymbeline the forlorn soldier that so nobly fought he would have well becomd this place and gracd the thankings of a king posthumus i am sir the soldier that did company these three in poor beseeming twas a fitment for the purpose i then followd that i was he speak iachimo i had you down and might have made you finish iachimo kneeling 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 posthumus kneel not to me the powr that i have on you is to spare you the malice towards you to forgive you live and deal with others better cymbeline nobly doomd well learn our freeness of a son in law pardons the word to all arviragus you holp us sir as you did mean indeed to be our brother joyd are we that you are posthumus your servant princes good my lord of rome call forth your soothsayer as i slept methought great jupiter upon his eagle backd appeard to me with other spritely shows of mine own kindred when i wakd 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 lucius philarmonus soothsayer here my good lord lucius read and declare the meaning soothsayer reads when as a lions whelp shall to himself unknown without seeking find and be embracd by a piece of tender air and when from a stately cedar shall be loppd 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 lions whelp the fit and apt construction of thy name being leo natus doth import so much to cymbeline 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 clippd about with this most tender air cymbeline this hath some seeming soothsayer the lofty cedar royal cymbeline personates thee and thy loppd branches point thy two sons forth who by belarius stoln for many years thought dead are now revivd to the majestic cedar joind whose issue promises britain peace and plenty cymbeline well my peace we will begin and caius lucius although the victor we submit to caesar 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 soothsayer the fingers of the powrs above do tune the harmony of this peace the vision which i made known to lucius ere the stroke of yet this scarce cold battle at this instant is full accomplishd for the roman eagle from south to west on wing soaring aloft lessend herself and in the beams o th sun so vanishd which foreshowd our princely eagle thimperial caesar caesar should again unite his favour with the radiant cymbeline which shines here in the west cymbeline laud we the gods and let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils from our blessd altars publish we this peace to all our subjects set we forward let a roman and a british ensign wave friendly together so through luds town march and in the temple of great jupiter our peace well ratify seal it with feasts set on there never was a war did cease ere bloody hands were washd with such a peace exeunt the end the tragedy of hamlet prince of denmark by william shakespeare contents act i scene i elsinore a platform before the castle scene ii elsinore a room of state in the castle scene iii a room in poloniuss house scene iv the platform scene v a more remote part of the castle act ii scene i a room in poloniuss house scene ii a room in the castle act iii scene i a room in the castle scene ii a hall in the castle scene iii a room in the castle scene iv another room in the castle act iv scene i a room in the castle scene ii another room in the castle scene iii another room in the castle scene iv a plain in denmark scene v elsinore a room in the castle scene vi another room in the castle scene vii another room in the castle act v scene i a churchyard scene ii a hall in the castle dramatis personae hamlet prince of denmark claudius king of denmark hamlets uncle the ghost of the late king hamlets father gertrude the queen hamlets mother now wife of claudius polonius lord chamberlain laertes son to polonius ophelia daughter to polonius horatio friend to hamlet fortinbras prince of norway voltemand courtier cornelius courtier rosencrantz courtier guildenstern courtier marcellus officer barnardo officer francisco a soldier osric courtier reynaldo servant to polonius players a gentleman courtier a priest two clowns grave diggers a captain english ambassadors lords ladies officers soldiers sailors messengers and attendants scene elsinore act i scene i elsinore a platform before the castle enter francisco and barnardo two sentinels barnardo whos there francisco nay answer me stand and unfold yourself barnardo long live the king francisco barnardo barnardo he francisco you come most carefully upon your hour barnardo tis now struck twelve get thee to bed francisco francisco for this relief much thanks tis bitter cold and i am sick at heart barnardo have you had quiet guard francisco not a mouse stirring barnardo well good night if you do meet horatio and marcellus the rivals of my watch bid them make haste enter horatio and marcellus francisco i think i hear them stand ho who is there horatio friends to this ground marcellus and liegemen to the dane francisco give you good night marcellus o farewell honest soldier who hath relievd you francisco barnardo has my place give you good night exit marcellus holla barnardo barnardo say what is horatio there horatio a piece of him barnardo welcome horatio welcome good marcellus marcellus what has this thing appeard again tonight barnardo i have seen nothing marcellus 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 horatio tush tush twill not appear barnardo sit down awhile and let us once again assail your ears that are so fortified against our story what we two nights have seen horatio well sit we down and let us hear barnardo speak of this barnardo last night of all when yond same star thats westward from the pole had made his course tillume that part of heaven where now it burns marcellus and myself the bell then beating one marcellus peace break thee off look where it comes again enter ghost barnardo in the same figure like the king thats dead marcellus thou art a scholar speak to it horatio barnardo looks it not like the king mark it horatio horatio most like it harrows me with fear and wonder barnardo it would be spoke to marcellus question it horatio horatio what art thou that usurpst this time of night together with that fair and warlike form in which the majesty of buried denmark did sometimes march by heaven i charge thee speak marcellus it is offended barnardo see it stalks away horatio stay speak speak i charge thee speak exit ghost marcellus tis gone and will not answer barnardo how now horatio you tremble and look pale is not this something more than fantasy what think you ont horatio before my god i might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of mine own eyes marcellus is it not like the king horatio as thou art to thyself such was the very armour he had on when he thambitious norway combated so frownd he once when in an angry parle he smote the sledded polacks on the ice tis strange marcellus thus twice before and jump at this dead hour with martial stalk hath he gone by our watch horatio 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 marcellus 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 ist that can inform me horatio that can i at least the whisper goes so our last king whose image even but now appeard to us was as you know by fortinbras of norway thereto prickd on by a most emulate pride dard to the combat in which our valiant hamlet for so this side of our known world esteemd him did slay this fortinbras who by a seald compact well ratified by law and heraldry did forfeit with his life all those his lands which he stood seizd of to the conqueror against the which a moiety competent was gaged by our king which had returnd to the inheritance of fortinbras had he been vanquisher as by the same covnant and carriage of the article designd his fell to hamlet now sir young fortinbras of unimproved mettle hot and full hath in the skirts of norway here and there sharkd up a list of lawless resolutes for food and diet to some enterprise that hath a stomach int which is no other as it doth well appear unto our state but to recover of us by strong hand and terms compulsatory 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 rummage in the land barnardo i think it be no other but een 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 horatio a mote it is to trouble the minds 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 neptunes 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 re enter ghost but soft behold lo where it comes again ill 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 countrys 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 the cock crows stop it marcellus marcellus shall i strike at it with my partisan horatio do if it will not stand barnardo tis here horatio tis here exit ghost marcellus 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 barnardo it was about to speak when the cock crew horatio 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 thextravagant and erring spirit hies to his confine and of the truth herein this present object made probation marcellus it faded on the crowing of the cock some say that ever gainst that season comes wherein our saviours birth is celebrated the bird of dawning singeth all night long and then they say no spirit dare stir abroad the nights are wholesome then no planets strike no fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm so hallowd and so gracious is the time horatio so have i heard and do in part believe it but look the morn in russet mantle clad walks oer the dew of yon high eastward hill break we our watch up and by my advice let us impart what we have seen tonight 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 marcellus lets dot i pray and i this morning know where we shall find him most conveniently exeunt scene ii elsinore a room of state in the castle enter claudius king of denmark gertrude the queen hamlet polonius laertes voltemand cornelius lords and attendant king though yet of hamlet our dear brothers 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 thimperial jointress to this warlike 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 barrd 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 brothers death our state to be disjoint and out of frame colleagued with this dream of his advantage he hath not faild to pester us with message importing the surrender of those lands lost by his father with all bonds 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 nephews 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 voltemand 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 dilated articles allow farewell and let your haste commend your duty cornelius and voltemand in that and all things will we show our duty king we doubt it nothing heartily farewell exeunt voltemand and cornelius and now laertes whats the news with you you told us of some suit what ist 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 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 king have you your fathers leave what says polonius polonius he hath my lord wrung from me my slow leave by laboursome petition and at last upon his will i seald my hard consent i do beseech you give him leave to go king 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 hamlet aside a little more than kin and less than kind king how is it that the clouds still hang on you hamlet not so my lord i am too much i the sun queen 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 knowst tis common all that lives must die passing through nature to eternity hamlet ay madam it is common queen if it be why seems it so particular with thee hamlet 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 forcd breath no nor the fruitful river in the eye nor the dejected haviour of the visage together with all forms moods 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 king 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 persevere 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 unschoold 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 today 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 queen let not thy mother lose her prayers hamlet i pray thee stay with us go not to wittenberg hamlet i shall in all my best obey you madam king why tis a loving and a fair reply be as ourself in denmark madam come this gentle and unforcd accord of hamlet sits smiling to my heart in grace whereof no jocund health that denmark drinks today but the great cannon to the clouds shall tell and the kings rouse the heaven shall bruit again re speaking earthly thunder come away exeunt all but hamlet hamlet o that this too too solid flesh would melt thaw and resolve itself into a dew or that the everlasting had not fixd 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 ont oh 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 ont frailty thy name is woman a little month or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor fathers body like niobe all tears why she even she o god a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mournd longer married with mine uncle my fathers 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 enter horatio marcellus and barnardo horatio hail to your lordship hamlet i am glad to see you well horatio or i do forget myself horatio the same my lord and your poor servant ever hamlet sir my good friend ill change that name with you and what make you from wittenberg horatio marcellus marcellus my good lord hamlet i am very glad to see you good even sir but what in faith make you from wittenberg horatio a truant disposition good my lord hamlet i would not hear your enemy say so nor shall you do my 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 well teach you to drink deep ere you depart horatio my lord i came to see your fathers funeral hamlet i prithee do not mock me fellow student i think it was to see my mothers wedding horatio indeed my lord it followd hard upon hamlet thrift thrift horatio the funeral bakd meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables would i had met my dearest foe in heaven or ever i had seen that day horatio my father methinks i see my father horatio where my lord hamlet in my minds eye horatio horatio i saw him once he was a goodly king hamlet he was a man take him for all in all i shall not look upon his like again horatio my lord i think i saw him yesternight hamlet saw who horatio my lord the king your father hamlet the king my father horatio season your admiration for a while with an attent ear till i may deliver upon the witness of these gentlemen this marvel to you hamlet for gods love let me hear horatio two nights together had these gentlemen marcellus and barnardo on their watch in the dead waste and middle of the night been thus encounterd a figure like your father armed at point exactly cap a pie appears before them and with solemn march goes slow and stately by them thrice he walkd by their oppressd and fear surprised eyes within his truncheons length whilst they distilld 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 deliverd 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 hamlet but where was this marcellus my lord upon the platform where we watch hamlet did you not speak to it horatio my lord i did but answer made it none yet once methought it lifted up it 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 vanishd from our sight hamlet tis very strange horatio as i do live my honourd lord tis true and we did think it writ down in our duty to let you know of it hamlet indeed indeed sirs but this troubles me hold you the watch tonight mar and barnardo we do my lord hamlet armd say you both armd my lord hamlet from top to toe both my lord from head to foot hamlet then saw you not his face horatio o yes my lord he wore his beaver up hamlet what lookd he frowningly horatio a countenance more in sorrow than in anger hamlet pale or red horatio nay very pale hamlet and fixd his eyes upon you horatio most constantly hamlet i would i had been there horatio it would have much amazd you hamlet very like very like stayd it long horatio while one with moderate haste might tell a hundred marcellus and barnardo longer longer horatio not when i sawt hamlet his beard was grizzled no horatio it was as i have seen it in his life a sable silverd hamlet i will watch tonight perchance twill walk again horatio i warrant you it will hamlet if it assume my noble fathers person ill speak to it though hell itself should gape and bid me hold my peace i pray you all if you have hitherto conceald this sight let it be tenable in your silence still and whatsoever else shall hap tonight give it an understanding but no tongue i will requite your loves so fare ye well upon the platform twixt eleven and twelve ill visit you all our duty to your honour hamlet your loves as mine to you farewell exeunt horatio marcellus and barnardo my fathers 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 oerwhelm them to mens eyes exit scene iii a room in poloniuss house enter laertes and ophelia laertes my necessaries are embarkd farewell and sister as the winds give benefit and convoy is assistant do not sleep but let me hear from you ophelia do you doubt that laertes 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 ophelia no more but so laertes 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 weighd his will is not his own for he himself is subject to his birth he may not as unvalud persons do carve for himself for on his choice depends the sanctity and health of this whole state and therefore must his choice be circumscribd 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 unmasterd 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 itself scopes not calumnious strokes the canker galls the infants of the spring too oft before their buttons be disclosd 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 ophelia i shall theffect 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 whilst like a puffd and reckless libertine himself the primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede laertes o fear me not i stay too long but here my father comes enter polonius a double blessing is a double grace occasion smiles upon a second leave polonius yet here laertes aboard aboard for shame the wind sits in the shoulder of your sail and you are stayd for there my blessing with you laying his hand on laertess head and these few precepts in thy memory look thou character give thy thoughts no tongue nor any unproportiond thought his act be thou familiar but by no means vulgar those friends thou hast and their adoption tried grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel but do not dull thy palm with entertainment of each new hatchd unfledgd comrade beware of entrance to a quarrel but being in beart that thopposed may beware of thee give every man thine ear but few thy voice take each mans censure but reserve thy judgment costly thy habit as thy purse can buy but not expressd in fancy rich not gaudy for the apparel oft proclaims the man and they in france of the best rank and station are of a 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 laertes most humbly do i take my leave my lord polonius the time invites you go your servants tend laertes farewell ophelia and remember well what i have said to you ophelia tis in my memory lockd and you yourself shall keep the key of it laertes farewell exit polonius what ist ophelia he hath said to you ophelia so please you something touching the lord hamlet polonius 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 ophelia he hath my lord of late made many tenders of his affection to me polonius affection pooh you speak like a green girl unsifted in such perilous circumstance do you believe his tenders as you call them ophelia i do not know my lord what i should think polonius marry ill teach you think yourself a baby that you have taen these tenders for true pay which are not sterling tender yourself more dearly or not to crack the wind of the poor phrase roaming it thus youll tender me a fool ophelia my lord he hath importund me with love in honourable fashion polonius ay fashion you may call it go to go to ophelia and hath given countenance to his speech my lord with almost all the holy vows of heaven polonius 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 something 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 leisure as to give words or talk with the lord hamlet look tot i charge you come your ways ophelia i shall obey my lord exeunt scene iv the platform enter hamlet horatio and marcellus hamlet the air bites shrewdly it is very cold horatio it is a nipping and an eager air hamlet what hour now horatio i think it lacks of twelve marcellus no it is struck horatio indeed i heard it not it then draws near the season wherein the spirit held his wont to walk a flourish of trumpets and ordnance shot off within what does this mean my lord hamlet the king doth wake tonight and takes his rouse keeps wassail and the swaggering upspring reels and as he drains his draughts of rhenish down the kettle drum and trumpet thus bray out the triumph of his pledge horatio is it a custom hamlet ay marry ist and to my mind though i am native here and to the manner born it is a custom more honourd in the breach than the observance this heavy headed revel east and west makes us traducd and taxd of other nations they clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase soil our addition and indeed it takes from our achievements though performd 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 their oergrowth of some complexion oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason or by some habit that too much oerleavens the form of plausive manners that these men carrying i say the stamp of one defect being natures livery or fortunes star his 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 evil doth all the noble substance often doubt to his own scandal horatio look my lord it comes enter ghost hamlet angels and ministers of grace defend us be thou a spirit of health or goblin damnd bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell be thy intents wicked or charitable thou comst in such a questionable shape that i will speak to thee ill call thee hamlet king father royal dane o answer me let me not burst in ignorance but tell why thy canonizd bones hearsed in death have burst their cerements why the sepulchre wherein we saw thee quietly inurnd hath opd his ponderous and marble jaws to cast thee up again what may this mean that thou dead corse again in complete steel revisitst 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 ghost beckons hamlet horatio it beckons you to go away with it as if it some impartment did desire to you alone marcellus look with what courteous action it waves you to a more removed ground but do not go with it horatio no by no means hamlet it will not speak then will i follow it horatio do not my lord hamlet why what should be the fear i do not set my life at a pins fee and for my soul what can it do to that being a thing immortal as itself it waves me forth again ill follow it horatio what if it tempt you toward the flood my lord or to the dreadful summit of the cliff that beetles oer 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 fadoms to the sea and hears it roar beneath hamlet it waves me still go on ill follow thee marcellus you shall not go my lord hamlet hold off your hands horatio be ruld you shall not go hamlet my fate cries out and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the nemean lions nerve ghost beckons still am i calld unhand me gentlemen breaking free from them by heaven ill make a ghost of him that lets me i say away go on ill follow thee exeunt ghost and hamlet horatio he waxes desperate with imagination marcellus lets follow tis not fit thus to obey him horatio have after to what issue will this come marcellus something is rotten in the state of denmark horatio heaven will direct it marcellus nay lets follow him exeunt scene v a more remote part of the castle enter ghost and hamlet hamlet whither wilt thou lead me speak ill go no further ghost mark me hamlet i will ghost my hour is almost come when i to sulphrous and tormenting flames must render up myself hamlet alas poor ghost ghost pity me not but lend thy serious hearing to what i shall unfold hamlet speak i am bound to hear ghost so art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear hamlet what ghost i am thy fathers spirit doomd for a certain term to walk the night and for the day confind to fast in fires till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purgd 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 on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine 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 hamlet o god ghost revenge his foul and most unnatural murder hamlet murder ghost murder most foul as in the best it is but this most foul strange and unnatural hamlet haste me to knowt that i with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge ghost 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 my orchard a serpent stung me so the whole ear of denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abusd but know thou noble youth the serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears his crown hamlet o my prophetic soul mine uncle ghost 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 movd though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven so lust though to a radiant angel linkd 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 my orchard my custom always of the afternoon upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of cursed hebenon in a vial and in the porches of my 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 barkd about most lazar like with vile and loathsome crust all my smooth body thus was i sleeping by a brothers hand of life of crown of queen at once dispatchd cut off even in the blossoms of my sin unhousled disappointed unaneld 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 pursust 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 adieu hamlet remember me exit hamlet o all you host of heaven o earth what else and shall i couple hell o fie 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 ill 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 unmixd 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 am sure it may be so in denmark writing so uncle there you are now to my word it is adieu adieu remember me i have swornt horatio and marcellus within my lord my lord marcellus within lord hamlet horatio within heaven secure him hamlet so be it marcellus within illo ho ho my lord hamlet hillo ho ho boy come bird come enter horatio and marcellus marcellus how ist my noble lord horatio what news my lord hamlet o wonderful horatio good my lord tell it hamlet no youll reveal it horatio not i my lord by heaven marcellus nor i my lord hamlet how say you then would heart of man once think it but youll be secret horatio and marcellus ay by heaven my lord hamlet theres neer a villain dwelling in all denmark but hes an arrant knave horatio there needs no ghost my lord come from the grave to tell us this hamlet 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 desires shall point you for every man hath business and desire such as it is and for my own poor part look you ill go pray horatio these are but wild and whirling words my lord hamlet im sorry they offend you heartily yes faith heartily horatio theres no offence my lord hamlet 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 oermastert as you may and now good friends as you are friends scholars and soldiers give me one poor request horatio what ist my lord we will hamlet never make known what you have seen tonight horatio and marcellus my lord we will not hamlet nay but sweart horatio in faith my lord not i marcellus nor i my lord in faith hamlet upon my sword marcellus we have sworn my lord already hamlet indeed upon my sword indeed ghost cries under the stage swear hamlet ha ha boy sayst thou so art thou there truepenny come on you hear this fellow in the cellarage consent to swear horatio propose the oath my lord hamlet never to speak of this that you have seen swear by my sword ghost beneath swear hamlet hic et ubique then well 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 ghost beneath swear hamlet well said old mole canst work i thearth so fast a worthy pioner once more remove good friends horatio o day and night but this is wondrous strange hamlet 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 soeer 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 encumberd thus or this head shake or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase as well we know or we could and if we would or if we list to speak or there be and 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 ghost beneath swear hamlet 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 texpress 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 lets go together exeunt act ii scene i a room in poloniuss house enter polonius and reynaldo polonius give him this money and these notes reynaldo reynaldo i will my lord polonius you shall do marvellous wisely good reynaldo before you visit him to make inquiry of his behaviour reynaldo my lord i did intend it polonius marry well said very well said look you sir enquire 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 reynaldo ay very well my lord polonius and in part him but you may say not well but ift be he i mean hes 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 reynaldo as gaming my lord polonius ay or drinking fencing swearing quarrelling drabbing you may go so far reynaldo my lord that would dishonour him polonius faith no as you may season it in the charge you must not put another scandal on him that he is open to incontinency thats 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 reynaldo but my good lord polonius wherefore should you do this reynaldo ay my lord i would know that polonius marry sir heres 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 soild i th 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 assurd 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 reynaldo very good my lord polonius 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 reynaldo at closes in the consequence at friend or so and gentleman polonius at closes in the consequence ay marry he closes with you thus i know the gentleman i saw him yesterday or tother day or then or then with such and such and as you say there was he gaming there oertook ins 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 reynaldo my lord i have polonius god b wi you fare you well reynaldo good my lord polonius observe his inclination in yourself reynaldo i shall my lord polonius and let him ply his music reynaldo well my lord polonius farewell exit reynaldo enter ophelia how now ophelia whats the matter ophelia alas my lord i have been so affrighted polonius with what in the name of god ophelia my lord as i was sewing in my chamber lord hamlet with his doublet all unbracd no hat upon his head his stockings fould ungartred and down gyved to his ankle 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 polonius mad for thy love ophelia my lord i do not know but truly i do fear it polonius what said he ophelia 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 oer his brow he falls to such perusal of my face as he would draw it long stayd he so at last a little shaking of mine arm and thrice his head thus waving up and down he raisd a sigh so piteous and profound as 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 turnd he seemd 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 polonius 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 ophelia no my good lord but as you did command i did repel his letters and denied his access to me polonius that hath made him mad i am sorry that with better heed and judgment i had not quoted him i feard he did but trifle and meant to wreck thee but beshrew my jealousy it seems 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 exeunt scene ii a room in the castle enter king queen rosencrantz guildenstern and attendants king 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 hamlets transformation so i call it since nor thexterior nor the inward man resembles that it was what it should be more than his fathers death that thus hath put him so much from thunderstanding of himself i cannot dream of i entreat you both that being of so young days brought up with him and since so neighbourd 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 whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus that opend lies within our remedy queen good gentlemen he hath much talkd 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 kings remembrance rosencrantz both your majesties might by the sovereign power you have of us put your dread pleasures more into command than to entreaty guildenstern we both obey and here give up ourselves in the full bent to lay our service freely at your feet to be commanded king thanks rosencrantz and gentle guildenstern queen 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 guildenstern heavens make our presence and our practices pleasant and helpful to him queen ay amen exeunt rosencrantz guildenstern and some attendants enter polonius polonius thambassadors from norway my good lord are joyfully returnd king thou still hast been the father of good news polonius 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 usd to do that i have found the very cause of hamlets lunacy king o speak of that that do i long to hear polonius give first admittance to thambassadors my news shall be the fruit to that great feast king thyself do grace to them and bring them in exit polonius he tells me my sweet queen that he hath found the head and source of all your sons distemper queen i doubt it is no other but the main his fathers death and our oerhasty marriage king well we shall sift him enter polonius with voltemand and cornelius welcome my good friends say voltemand what from our brother norway voltemand most fair return of greetings and desires upon our first he sent out to suppress his nephews levies which to him appeard to be a preparation gainst the polack but better lookd into he truly found it was against your highness whereat grievd 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 thassay 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 gives a paper 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 king it likes us well and at our more considerd time well read answer and think upon this business meantime we thank you for your well took labour go to your rest at night well feast together most welcome home exeunt voltemand and cornelius polonius 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 ist but to be nothing else but mad but let that go queen more matter with less art polonius 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 whilst she is mine who in her duty and obedience mark hath given me this now gather and surmise reads to the celestial and my souls idol the most beautified ophelia thats an ill phrase a vile phrase beautified is a vile phrase but you shall hear reads these in her excellent white bosom these etc queen came this from hamlet to her polonius good madam stay awhile i will be faithful reads 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 showd me and more above hath his solicitings as they fell out by time by means and place all given to mine ear king but how hath she receivd his love polonius what do you think of me king as of a man faithful and honourable polonius i would fain prove so but what might you think when i had seen this hot love on the wing as i perceivd 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 playd the desk or table book or given my heart a winking mute and dumb or lookd 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 king do you think tis this queen it may be very likely polonius hath there been such a time id fain know that that i have positively said tis so when it provd otherwise king not that i know polonius take this from this if this be otherwise points to his head and shoulder if circumstances lead me i will find where truth is hid though it were hid indeed within the centre king how may we try it further polonius you know sometimes he walks four hours together here in the lobby queen so he does indeed polonius at such a time ill 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 falln thereon let me be no assistant for a state but keep a farm and carters king we will try it enter hamlet reading queen but look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading polonius away i do beseech you both away ill board him presently o give me leave exeunt king queen and attendants how does my good lord hamlet hamlet well god a mercy polonius do you know me my lord hamlet excellent well youre a fishmonger polonius not i my lord hamlet then i would you were so honest a man polonius honest my lord hamlet ay sir to be honest as this world goes is to be one man picked out of ten thousand polonius thats very true my lord hamlet for if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog being a good kissing carrion have you a daughter polonius i have my lord hamlet let her not walk i th sun conception is a blessing but not as your daughter may conceive friend look tot polonius how say you by that aside 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 ill speak to him again what do you read my lord hamlet words words words polonius what is the matter my lord hamlet between who polonius i mean the matter that you read my lord hamlet slanders sir for the satirical slave 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 polonius aside though this be madness yet there is a method int will you walk out of the air my lord hamlet into my grave polonius indeed that is out o the air aside 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 hamlet you cannot sir take from me anything that i will more willingly part withal except my life except my life except my life polonius fare you well my lord hamlet these tedious old fools enter rosencrantz and guildenstern polonius you go to seek the lord hamlet there he is rosencrantz to polonius god save you sir exit polonius guildenstern my honoured lord rosencrantz my most dear lord hamlet my excellent good friends how dost thou guildenstern ah rosencrantz good lads how do ye both rosencrantz as the indifferent children of the earth guildenstern happy in that we are not over happy on fortunes cap we are not the very button hamlet nor the soles of her shoe rosencrantz neither my lord hamlet then you live about her waist or in the middle of her favours guildenstern faith her privates we hamlet in the secret parts of fortune o most true she is a strumpet whats the news rosencrantz none my lord but that the worlds grown honest hamlet 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 guildenstern prison my lord hamlet denmarks a prison rosencrantz then is the world one hamlet a goodly one in which there are many confines wards and dungeons denmark being one o th worst rosencrantz we think not so my lord hamlet 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 rosencrantz why then your ambition makes it one tis too narrow for your mind hamlet 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 guildenstern which dreams indeed are ambition for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream hamlet a dream itself is but a shadow rosencrantz truly and i hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadows shadow hamlet then are our beggars bodies and our monarchs and outstretchd heroes the beggars shadows shall we to th court for by my fay i cannot reason rosencrantz and guildenstern well wait upon you hamlet 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 rosencrantz to visit you my lord no other occasion hamlet 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 deal justly with me come come nay speak guildenstern what should we say my lord hamlet 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 rosencrantz to what end my lord hamlet 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 rosencrantz to guildenstern what say you hamlet aside nay then i have an eye of you if you love me hold not off guildenstern my lord we were sent for hamlet 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 oerhanging firmament this majestical roof fretted with golden fire why it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours what a piece of work is man how noble in reason how infinite in faculties in form and 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 rosencrantz my lord there was no such stuff in my thoughts hamlet why did you laugh then when i said man delights not me rosencrantz 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 hamlet 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 a th sere and the lady shall say her mind freely or the blank verse shall halt fort what players are they rosencrantz even those you were wont to take such delight in the tragedians of the city hamlet how chances it they travel their residence both in reputation and profit was better both ways rosencrantz i think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation hamlet do they hold the same estimation they did when i was in the city are they so followed rosencrantz no indeed they are not hamlet how comes it do they grow rusty rosencrantz nay their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace but there is sir an ayry of children little eyases that cry out on the top of question and are most tyrannically clapped fort 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 hamlet 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 rosencrantz 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 hamlet ist possible guildenstern o there has been much throwing about of brains hamlet do the boys carry it away rosencrantz ay that they do my lord hercules and his load too hamlet it is not very strange for my uncle is king of denmark and those that would make mouths at him while my father lived give twenty forty fifty a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little sblood there is something in this more than natural if philosophy could find it out flourish of trumpets within guildenstern there are the players hamlet gentlemen you are welcome to elsinore your hands come 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 guildenstern in what my dear lord hamlet i am but mad north north west when the wind is southerly i know a hawk from a handsaw enter polonius polonius well be with you gentlemen hamlet 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 rosencrantz happily hes the second time come to them for they say an old man is twice a child hamlet i will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players mark it you say right sir for a monday morning twas so indeed polonius my lord i have news to tell you hamlet my lord i have news to tell you when roscius was an actor in rome polonius the actors are come hither my lord hamlet buzz buzz polonius upon my honour hamlet then came each actor on his ass polonius 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 hamlet o jephthah judge of israel what a treasure hadst thou polonius what treasure had he my lord hamlet why one fair daughter and no more the which he loved passing well polonius aside still on my daughter hamlet am i not i th right old jephthah polonius if you call me jephthah my lord i have a daughter that i love passing well hamlet nay that follows not polonius what follows then my lord hamlet 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 abridgement comes enter four or five players you are welcome masters welcome all i am glad to see thee well welcome good friends o my old friend thy face is valancd since i saw thee last comst thou to beard me in denmark what my young lady and mistress byr lady your ladyship is nearer to 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 well een tot like french falconers fly at anything we see well have a speech straight come give us a taste of your quality come a passionate speech first player what speech my lord hamlet 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 indite 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 aeneas tale to dido and thereabout of it especially where he speaks of priams slaughter if it live in your memory begin at this line let me see let me see the rugged pyrrhus like th hyrcanian beast it is not so it begins with pyrrhus the rugged pyrrhus he whose sable arms black as his purpose did the night resemble when he lay couched in the ominous horse hath now this dread and black complexion smeard with heraldry more dismal head to foot now is he total gules horridly trickd with blood of fathers mothers daughters sons bakd and impasted with the parching streets that lend a tyrannous and a damned light to their vile murders roasted in wrath and fire and thus oersized with coagulate gore with eyes like carbuncles the hellish pyrrhus old grandsire priam seeks so proceed you polonius fore god my lord well spoken with good accent and good discretion first player anon he finds him striking too short at greeks his antique sword rebellious to his arm lies where it falls repugnant to command unequal matchd pyrrhus at priam drives in rage strikes wide but with the whiff and wind of his fell sword thunnerved 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 reverend priam seemd i thair 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 marss armour forgd 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 polonius this is too long hamlet it shall to the barbers with your beard prythee say on hes for a jig or a tale of bawdry or he sleeps say on come to hecuba first player but who o who had seen the mobled queen hamlet the mobled queen polonius thats good mobled queen is good first player run barefoot up and down threatning the flames with bisson rheum a clout upon that head where late the diadem stood and for a robe about her lank and all oerteemed loins a blanket in thalarm of fear caught up who this had seen with tongue in venom steepd gainst fortunes state would treason have pronouncd but if the gods themselves did see her then when she saw pyrrhus make malicious sport in mincing with his sword her husbands 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 polonius look where he has not turnd his colour and has tears ins eyes pray you no more hamlet tis well ill have thee speak out the rest of this 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 polonius my lord i will use them according to their desert hamlet gods bodikin man 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 polonius come sirs hamlet follow him friends well hear a play tomorrow exeunt polonius with all the players but the first dost thou hear me old friend can you play the murder of gonzago first player ay my lord hamlet well hat tomorrow night you could for a need study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which i would set down and insert int could you not first player ay my lord hamlet very well follow that lord and look you mock him not exit first player to rosencrantz and guildenstern my good friends ill leave you till night you are welcome to elsinore rosencrantz good my lord exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern hamlet ay so god b 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 wand tears in his eyes distraction ins aspect a broken voice and his whole function suiting with forms to his conceit and all for nothing for hecuba whats 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 damnd 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 th 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 liverd and lack gall to make oppression bitter or ere this i should have fatted all the region kites with this slaves offal bloody bawdy villain remorseless treacherous lecherous kindless villain oh vengeance why what an ass am i this is most brave that i the son of a dear father murderd 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 upont 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 proclaimd their malefactions for murder though it have no tongue will speak with most miraculous organ ill have these players play something like the murder of my father before mine uncle ill observe his looks ill 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 tassume 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 ill have grounds more relative than this the plays the thing wherein ill catch the conscience of the king exit act iii scene i a room in the castle enter king queen polonius ophelia rosencrantz and guildenstern 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 rosencrantz he does confess he feels himself distracted but from what cause he will by no means speak guildenstern 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 queen did he receive you well rosencrantz most like a gentleman guildenstern but with much forcing of his disposition rosencrantz niggard of question but of our demands most free in his reply queen did you assay him to any pastime rosencrantz madam it so fell out that certain players we oer 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 polonius tis most true and he beseechd me to entreat your majesties to hear and see the matter king with all my heart and it doth much content me to hear him so inclind good gentlemen give him a further edge and drive his purpose on to these delights rosencrantz we shall my lord exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern king 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 behavd ift be thaffliction of his love or no that thus he suffers for queen i shall obey you and for your part ophelia i do wish that your good beauties be the happy cause of hamlets wildness so shall i hope your virtues will bring him to his wonted way again to both your honours ophelia madam i wish it may exit queen polonius ophelia walk you here gracious so please you we will bestow ourselves to ophelia read on this book that show of such an exercise may colour your loneliness we are oft to blame in this tis too much provd that with devotions visage and pious action we do sugar oer the devil himself king aside o tis too true how smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience the harlots 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 polonius i hear him coming lets withdraw my lord exeunt king and polonius enter hamlet hamlet 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 wishd to die to sleep to sleep perchance to dream ay theres the rub for in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause theres the respect that makes calamity of so long life for who would bear the whips and scorns of time the oppressors wrong the proud mans contumely the pangs of disprizd love the laws 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 these fardels bear to grunt and sweat under a weary life but that the dread of something after death the undiscoverd 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 oer 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 rememberd ophelia good my lord how does your honour for this many a day hamlet i humbly thank you well well well ophelia my lord i have remembrances of yours that i have longed long to re deliver i pray you now receive them hamlet no not i i never gave you aught ophelia my honourd lord you know right well you did and with them words of so sweet breath composd 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 hamlet ha ha are you honest ophelia my lord hamlet are you fair ophelia what means your lordship hamlet that if you be honest and fair your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty ophelia could beauty my lord have better commerce than with honesty hamlet 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 you once ophelia indeed my lord you made me believe so hamlet you should not have believed me for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it i loved you not ophelia i was the more deceived hamlet 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 earth and heaven we are arrant knaves all believe none of us go thy ways to a nunnery wheres your father ophelia at home my lord hamlet let the doors be shut upon him that he may play the fool nowhere but ins own house farewell ophelia o help him you sweet heavens hamlet if thou dost marry ill 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 ophelia o heavenly powers restore him hamlet 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 gods creatures and make your wantonness your ignorance go to ill no more ont 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 exit ophelia o what a noble mind is here oerthrown the courtiers soldiers scholars eye tongue sword thexpectancy and rose of the fair state the glass of fashion and the mould of form thobservd of all observers quite quite down and i of ladies most deject and wretched that suckd the honey of his music vows now see that noble and most sovereign reason like sweet bells jangled out of tune and harsh that unmatchd form and feature of blown youth blasted with ecstasy o woe is me thave seen what i have seen see what i see enter king and polonius king love his affections do not that way tend nor what he spake though it lackd form a little was not like madness theres something in his soul oer 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 ont polonius 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 grief let her be round with him and ill be placd 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 king it shall be so madness in great ones must not unwatchd go exeunt scene ii a hall in the castle enter hamlet and certain players hamlet 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 periwig pated fellow tear a passion to tatters to very rags 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 oerdoing termagant it out herods herod pray you avoid it first player i warrant your honour hamlet 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 oerstep 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 the which one must in your allowance oerweigh 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 natures journeymen had made men and not made them well they imitated humanity so abominably first player i hope we have reformd that indifferently with us sir hamlet 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 meantime some necessary question of the play be then to be considered thats villanous and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it go make you ready exeunt players enter polonius rosencrantz and guildenstern how now my lord will the king hear this piece of work polonius and the queen too and that presently hamlet bid the players make haste exit polonius will you two help to hasten them rosencrantz and guildenstern we will my lord exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern hamlet what ho horatio enter horatio horatio here sweet lord at your service hamlet horatio thou art een as just a man as eer my conversation copd withal horatio o my dear lord hamlet 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 flatterd 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 seald thee for herself for thou hast been as one in suffering all that suffers nothing a man that fortunes buffets and rewards hast taen with equal thanks and blesd are those whose blood and judgment are so well co mingled that they are not a pipe for fortunes finger to sound what stop she please give me that man that is not passions slave and i will wear him in my hearts core ay in my heart of heart as i do thee something too much of this there is a play tonight before the king one scene of it comes near the circumstance which i have told thee of my fathers death i prythee when thou seest that act a foot 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 vulcans 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 horatio well my lord if he steal aught the whilst this play is playing and scape detecting i will pay the theft hamlet they are coming to the play i must be idle get you a place danish march a flourish enter king queen polonius ophelia rosencrantz guildenstern and others king how fares our cousin hamlet hamlet excellent i faith of the chameleons dish i eat the air promise crammed you cannot feed capons so king i have nothing with this answer hamlet these words are not mine hamlet no nor mine now to polonius my lord you playd once i thuniversity you say polonius that did i my lord and was accounted a good actor hamlet what did you enact polonius i did enact julius caesar i was killd i th capitol brutus killed me hamlet it was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there be the players ready rosencrantz ay my lord they stay upon your patience queen come hither my dear hamlet sit by me hamlet no good mother heres metal more attractive polonius to the king o ho do you mark that hamlet lady shall i lie in your lap lying down at ophelias feet ophelia no my lord hamlet i mean my head upon your lap ophelia ay my lord hamlet do you think i meant country matters ophelia i think nothing my lord hamlet thats a fair thought to lie between maids legs ophelia what is my lord hamlet nothing ophelia you are merry my lord hamlet who i ophelia ay my lord hamlet 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 withins two hours ophelia nay tis twice two months my lord hamlet so long nay then let the devil wear black for ill have a suit of sables o heavens die two months ago and not forgotten yet then theres hope a great mans memory may outlive his life half a year but byr 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 trumpets sound the dumb show enters enter a king and a queen very lovingly the queen embracing him and he her she kneels and makes show of protestation unto him he takes her up and declines his head upon her neck lays him down upon a bank of flowers she seeing him asleep leaves him anon comes in a fellow takes off his crown kisses it pours poison in the kings ears and exits the queen returns finds the king dead and makes passionate action the poisoner with some three or four mutes comes in again seeming to lament with her the dead body is carried away the poisoner woos the queen with gifts she seems loth and unwilling awhile but in the end accepts his love exeunt ophelia what means this my lord hamlet marry this is miching mallicho it means mischief ophelia belike this show imports the argument of the play enter prologue hamlet we shall know by this fellow the players cannot keep counsel theyll tell all ophelia will they tell us what this show meant hamlet ay or any show that youll show him be not you ashamed to show hell not shame to tell you what it means ophelia you are naught you are naught ill mark the play prologue for us and for our tragedy here stooping to your clemency we beg your hearing patiently hamlet is this a prologue or the posy of a ring ophelia tis brief my lord hamlet as womans love enter a king and a queen player king full thirty times hath phoebus cart gone round neptunes salt wash and tellus orbed ground and thirty dozen moons with borrowd sheen about the world have times twelve thirties been since love our hearts and hymen did our hands unite commutual in most sacred bands player queen so many journeys may the sun and moon make us again count oer 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 womens 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 sizd my fear is so where love is great the littlest doubts are fear where little fears grow great great love grows there player king faith i must leave thee love and shortly too my operant powers their functions leave to do and thou shalt live in this fair world behind honourd belovd and haply one as kind for husband shalt thou player queen 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 killd the first hamlet aside wormwood wormwood player queen 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 player king 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 loves should with our fortunes change for tis a question left us yet to prove whether love lead fortune or else fortune love the great man down you mark his favourite flies the poor advancd 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 player queen 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 anchors 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 hamlet to ophelia if she should break it now player king tis deeply sworn sweet leave me here awhile my spirits grow dull and fain i would beguile the tedious day with sleep sleeps player queen sleep rock thy brain and never come mischance between us twain exit hamlet madam how like you this play queen the lady protests too much methinks hamlet o but shell keep her word king have you heard the argument is there no offence int hamlet no no they do but jest poison in jest no offence i th world king what do you call the play hamlet the mousetrap marry how tropically this play is the image of a murder done in vienna gonzago is the dukes name his wife baptista you shall see anon tis a knavish piece of work but what o that your majesty and we that have free souls it touches us not let the galld jade wince our withers are unwrung enter lucianus this is one lucianus nephew to the king ophelia you are a good chorus my lord hamlet i could interpret between you and your love if i could see the puppets dallying ophelia you are keen my lord you are keen hamlet it would cost you a groaning to take off my edge ophelia still better and worse hamlet so you mistake your husbands begin murderer pox leave thy damnable faces and begin come the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge lucianus thoughts black hands apt drugs fit and time agreeing confederate season else no creature seeing thou mixture rank of midnight weeds collected with hecates ban thrice blasted thrice infected thy natural magic and dire property on wholesome life usurp immediately pours the poison into the sleepers ears hamlet he poisons him i thgarden fors estate his names gonzago the story is extant and written in very choice italian you shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of gonzagos wife ophelia the king rises hamlet what frighted with false fire queen how fares my lord polonius give oer the play king give me some light away all lights lights lights exeunt all but hamlet and horatio hamlet why let the strucken 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 horatio half a share hamlet 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 horatio you might have rhymed hamlet o good horatio ill take the ghosts word for a thousand pound didst perceive horatio very well my lord hamlet upon the talk of the poisoning horatio i did very well note him hamlet ah ha come some music come the recorders for if the king like not the comedy why then belike he likes it not perdie come some music enter rosencrantz and guildenstern guildenstern good my lord vouchsafe me a word with you hamlet sir a whole history guildenstern the king sir hamlet ay sir what of him guildenstern is in his retirement marvellous distempered hamlet with drink sir guildenstern no my lord rather with choler hamlet your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to the doctor for me to put him to his purgation would perhaps plunge him into far more choler guildenstern good my lord put your discourse into some frame and start not so wildly from my affair hamlet i am tame sir pronounce guildenstern the queen your mother in most great affliction of spirit hath sent me to you hamlet you are welcome guildenstern 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 mothers commandment if not your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business hamlet sir i cannot guildenstern what my lord hamlet make you a wholesome answer my wits 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 rosencrantz then thus she says your behaviour hath struck her into amazement and admiration hamlet o wonderful son that can so stonish a mother but is there no sequel at the heels of this mothers admiration rosencrantz she desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed hamlet we shall obey were she ten times our mother have you any further trade with us rosencrantz my lord you once did love me hamlet and so i do still by these pickers and stealers rosencrantz 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 hamlet sir i lack advancement rosencrantz how can that be when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in denmark hamlet ay sir but while the grass grows the proverb is something musty re enter the players with recorders 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 guildenstern o my lord if my duty be too bold my love is too unmannerly hamlet i do not well understand that will you play upon this pipe guildenstern my lord i cannot hamlet i pray you guildenstern believe me i cannot hamlet i do beseech you guildenstern i know no touch of it my lord hamlet 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 guildenstern but these cannot i command to any utterance of harmony i have not the skill hamlet 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 enter polonius god bless you sir polonius my lord the queen would speak with you and presently hamlet do you see yonder cloud thats almost in shape of a camel polonius by the mass and tis like a camel indeed hamlet methinks it is like a weasel polonius it is backed like a weasel hamlet or like a whale polonius very like a whale hamlet then will i come to my mother by and by they fool me to the top of my bent i will come by and by polonius i will say so exit hamlet by and by is easily said leave me friends exeunt all but hamlet 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 somever she be shent to give them seals never my soul consent exit scene iii a room in the castle enter king rosencrantz and guildenstern king i like him not nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range therefore prepare you i your commission will forthwith dispatch and he to england shall along with you the terms of our estate may not endure hazard so near us as doth hourly grow out of his lunacies guildenstern 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 rosencrantz 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 whats near it with it it is a massy wheel fixd on the summit of the highest mount to whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things are mortisd and adjoind which when it falls each small annexment petty consequence attends the boistrous ruin never alone did the king sigh but with a general groan king arm you i pray you to this speedy voyage for we will fetters put upon this fear which now goes too free footed rosencrantz and guildenstern we will haste us exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern enter polonius polonius my lord hes going to his mothers closet behind the arras ill convey myself to hear the process ill warrant shell 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 oerhear the speech of vantage fare you well my liege ill call upon you ere you go to bed and tell you what i know king thanks dear my lord exit polonius o my offence is rank it smells to heaven it hath the primal eldest curse upont a brothers 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 brothers 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 whats in prayer but this twofold force to be forestalled ere we come to fall or pardond being down then ill 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 possessd of those effects for which i did the murder my crown mine own ambition and my queen may one be pardond and retain thoffence in the corrupted currents of this world offences gilded hand may shove by justice and oft tis seen the wicked prize 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 compelld 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 cannot repent o wretched state o bosom black as death o limed soul that struggling to be free art more engagd 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 retires and kneels enter hamlet hamlet now might i do it pat now he is praying and now ill dot and so he goes to heaven and so am i revengd that would be scannd a villain kills my father and for that i his sole son do this same villain send to heaven o 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 revengd to take him in the purging of his soul when he is fit and seasond for his passage no up sword and know thou a more horrid hent when he is drunk asleep or in his rage or in thincestuous pleasure of his bed at gaming swearing or about some act that has no relish of salvation int then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven and that his soul may be as damnd and black as hell whereto it goes my mother stays this physic but prolongs thy sickly days exit the king rises and advances king my words fly up my thoughts remain below words without thoughts never to heaven go exit scene iv another room in the castle enter queen and polonius polonius 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 screend and stood between much heat and him ill silence me een here pray you be round with him hamlet within mother mother mother queen ill warrant you fear me not withdraw i hear him coming polonius goes behind the arras enter hamlet hamlet now mother whats the matter queen hamlet thou hast thy father much offended hamlet mother you have my father much offended queen come come you answer with an idle tongue hamlet go go you question with a wicked tongue queen why how now hamlet hamlet whats the matter now queen have you forgot me hamlet no by the rood not so you are the queen your husbands brothers wife and would it were not so you are my mother queen nay then ill set those to you that can speak hamlet 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 queen what wilt thou do thou wilt not murder me help help ho polonius behind what ho help help help hamlet how now a rat draws dead for a ducat dead makes a pass through the arras polonius behind o i am slain falls and dies queen o me what hast thou done hamlet nay i know not is it the king draws forth polonius queen o what a rash and bloody deed is this hamlet a bloody deed almost as bad good mother as kill a king and marry with his brother queen as kill a king hamlet ay lady twas my word to polonius thou wretched rash intruding fool farewell i took thee for thy better take thy fortune thou findst 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 brazd it so that it is proof and bulwark against sense queen what have i done that thou darst wag thy tongue in noise so rude against me hamlet 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 heavens face doth glow yea this solidity and compound mass with tristful visage as against the doom is thought sick at the act queen ay me what act that roars so loud and thunders in the index hamlet look here upon this picture and on this the counterfeit presentment of two brothers see what a grace was seated on this brow hyperions 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 mildewd 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 its 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 apoplexd for madness would not err nor sense to ecstacy was neer so thralld but it reservd some quantity of choice to serve in such a difference what devil wast that thus hath cozend 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 matrons 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 frost itself as actively doth burn and reason panders will queen o hamlet speak no more thou turnst mine eyes into my very soul and there i see such black and grained spots as will not leave their tinct hamlet nay but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed stewd in corruption honeying and making love over the nasty sty queen o speak to me no more these words like daggers enter in mine ears no more sweet hamlet hamlet a murderer and a villain a slave that is not twentieth part the tithe of your precedent lord a vice of kings a cutpurse of the empire and the rule that from a shelf the precious diadem stole and put it in his pocket queen no more hamlet a king of shreds and patches enter ghost save me and hover oer me with your wings you heavenly guards what would your gracious figure queen alas hes mad hamlet do you not come your tardy son to chide that lapsd in time and passion lets go by the important acting of your dread command o say ghost 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 hamlet how is it with you lady queen alas how ist 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 hairs like life in excrements start up and stand an end o gentle son upon the heat and flame of thy distemper sprinkle cool patience whereon do you look hamlet on him on him look you how pale he glares his form and cause conjoind 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 queen to whom do you speak this hamlet do you see nothing there queen nothing at all yet all that is i see hamlet nor did you nothing hear queen no nothing but ourselves hamlet why look you there look how it steals away my father in his habit as he livd look where he goes even now out at the portal exit ghost queen this is the very coinage of your brain this bodiless creation ecstasy is very cunning in hamlet ecstasy my pulse as yours doth temperately keep time and makes as healthful music it is not madness that i have utterd 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 whilst rank corruption mining all within infects unseen confess yourself to heaven repent whats 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 queen o hamlet thou hast cleft my heart in twain hamlet o throw away the worser part of it and live the purer with the other half good night but go not to mine uncles bed assume a virtue if you have it not that monster custom who all sense doth eat of habits evil 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 tonight 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 either curb the devil or throw him out with wondrous potency once more good night and when you are desirous to be blesd ill blessing beg of you for this same lord pointing to polonius i do repent but heaven hath pleasd 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 queen what shall i do hamlet 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 damnd 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 thats 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 houses top let the birds fly and like the famous ape to try conclusions in the basket creep and break your own neck down queen be thou assurd if words be made of breath and breath of life i have no life to breathe what thou hast said to me hamlet i must to england you know that queen alack i had forgot tis so concluded on hamlet theres letters seald and my two schoolfellows whom i will trust as i will adders fangd 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 petard and t 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 ill 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 peating knave come sir to draw toward an end with you good night mother exit hamlet dragging out polonius act iv scene i a room in the castle enter king queen rosencrantz and guildenstern king theres matter in these sighs these profound heaves you must translate tis fit we understand them where is your son queen bestow this place on us a little while to rosencrantz and guildenstern who go out ah my good lord what have i seen tonight king what gertrude how does hamlet queen 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 this brainish apprehension kills the unseen good old man king 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 everyone alas how shall this bloody deed be answerd it will be laid to us whose providence should have kept short restraind 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 queen to draw apart the body he hath killd oer whom his very madness like some ore among a mineral of metals base shows itself pure he weeps for what is done king 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 re enter rosencrantz and guildenstern friends both go join you with some further aid hamlet in madness hath polonius slain and from his mothers closet hath he draggd him go seek him out speak fair and bring the body into the chapel i pray you haste in this exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern come gertrude well call up our wisest friends and let them know both what we mean to do and whats untimely done so haply slander whose whisper oer the worlds diameter as level as the cannon to his blank transports his poisond shot may miss our name and hit the woundless air o come away my soul is full of discord and dismay exeunt scene ii another room in the castle enter hamlet hamlet safely stowed rosencrantz and guildenstern within hamlet lord hamlet hamlet what noise who calls on hamlet o here they come enter rosencrantz and guildenstern rosencrantz what have you done my lord with the dead body hamlet compounded it with dust whereto tis kin rosencrantz tell us where tis that we may take it thence and bear it to the chapel hamlet do not believe it rosencrantz believe what hamlet 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 rosencrantz take you me for a sponge my lord hamlet ay sir that soaks up the kings 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 rosencrantz i understand you not my lord hamlet i am glad of it a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear rosencrantz my lord you must tell us where the body is and go with us to the king hamlet the body is with the king but the king is not with the body the king is a thing guildenstern a thing my lord hamlet of nothing bring me to him hide fox and all after exeunt scene iii another room in the castle enter king attended king 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 hes lovd of the distracted multitude who like not in their judgment but their eyes and where tis so thoffenders scourge is weighd 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 relievd or not at all enter rosencrantz how now what hath befalln rosencrantz where the dead body is bestowd my lord we cannot get from him king but where is he rosencrantz without my lord guarded to know your pleasure king bring him before us rosencrantz ho guildenstern bring in my lord enter hamlet and guildenstern king now hamlet wheres polonius hamlet at supper king at supper where hamlet not where he eats but where he is eaten a certain convocation of politic worms are een 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 thats the end king alas alas hamlet a man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm king what dost thou mean by this hamlet nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar king where is polonius hamlet in heaven send thither to see if your messenger find him not there seek him i thother 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 king to some attendants go seek him there hamlet he will stay till you come exeunt attendants king 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 thassociates tend and everything is bent for england hamlet for england king ay hamlet hamlet good king so is it if thou knewst our purposes hamlet i see a cherub that sees them but come for england farewell dear mother king thy loving father hamlet hamlet my mother father and mother is man and wife man and wife is one flesh and so my mother come for england exit king follow him at foot tempt him with speed aboard delay it not ill have him hence tonight away for everything is seald and done that else leans on thaffair pray you make haste exeunt rosencrantz and guildenstern and england if my love thou holdst 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 howeer my haps my joys were neer begun exit scene iv a plain in denmark enter fortinbras and forces marching fortinbras go captain from me greet the danish king tell him that by his license fortinbras craves the conveyance of a promisd 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 captain i will dot my lord fortinbras go softly on exeunt all but the captain enter hamlet rosencrantz guildenstern etc hamlet good sir whose powers are these captain they are of norway sir hamlet how purposd sir i pray you captain against some part of poland hamlet who commands them sir captain the nephew to old norway fortinbras hamlet goes it against the main of poland sir or for some frontier captain 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 hamlet why then the polack never will defend it captain yes it is already garrisond hamlet two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats will not debate the question of this straw this is thimposthume of much wealth and peace that inward breaks and shows no cause without why the man dies i humbly thank you sir captain god b wi you sir exit rosencrantz willt please you go my lord hamlet ill be with you straight go a little before exeunt all but hamlet 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 godlike reason to fust in us unusd now whether it be bestial oblivion or some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on thevent a thought which quarterd hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward i do not know why yet i live to say this things to do sith i have cause and will and strength and means to dot 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 puffd makes mouths at the invisible event exposing what is mortal and unsure to all that fortune death and danger dare even for an eggshell rightly to be great is not to stir without great argument but greatly to find quarrel in a straw when honours at the stake how stand i then that have a father killd a mother staind 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 slain o from this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth exit scene v elsinore a room in the castle enter queen horatio and a gentleman queen i will not speak with her gentleman she is importunate indeed distract her mood will needs be pitied queen what would she have gentleman she speaks much of her father says she hears theres tricks i th 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 queen let her come in exit gentleman to my sick soul as sins 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 enter ophelia ophelia where is the beauteous majesty of denmark queen how now ophelia ophelia sings how should i your true love know from another one by his cockle bat and staff and his sandal shoon queen alas sweet lady what imports this song ophelia say you nay pray you mark sings he is dead and gone lady he is dead and gone at his head a grass green turf at his heels a stone queen nay but ophelia ophelia pray you mark sings white his shroud as the mountain snow enter king queen alas look here my lord ophelia sings larded all with sweet flowers which bewept to the grave did go with true love showers king how do you pretty lady ophelia well god dild you they say the owl was a bakers daughter lord we know what we are but know not what we may be god be at your table king conceit upon her father ophelia pray you lets have no words of this but when they ask you what it means say you this sings tomorrow is saint valentines day all in the morning betime and i a maid at your window to be your valentine then up he rose and donnd his clothes and duppd the chamber door let in the maid that out a maid never departed more king pretty ophelia ophelia indeed la without an oath ill make an end ont sings by gis and by saint charity alack and fie for shame young men will dot if they come tot by cock they are to blame quoth she before you tumbled me you promisd me to wed so would i ha done by yonder sun an thou hadst not come to my bed king how long hath she been thus ophelia i hope all will be well we must be patient but i cannot choose but weep to think they would lay him i th 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 exit king follow her close give her good watch i pray you exit horatio o this is the poison of deep grief it springs all from her fathers death o gertrude gertrude when sorrows come they come not single spies but in battalions first her father slain next your son gone and he most violent author of his own just remove the people muddied thick and 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 fathers death wherein necessity of matter beggard 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 a noise within queen alack what noise is this king where are my switzers let them guard the door enter a gentleman what is the matter gentleman 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 oerbears your offices 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 queen how cheerfully on the false trail they cry o this is counter you false danish dogs a noise within king the doors are broke enter laertes armed danes following laertes where is this king sirs stand you all without danes no lets come in laertes i pray you give me leave danes we will we will they retire without the door laertes i thank you keep the door o thou vile king give me my father queen calmly good laertes laertes that drop of blood thats calm proclaims me bastard cries cuckold to my father brands the harlot even here between the chaste unsmirched brow of my true mother king what is the cause laertes that thy rebellion looks so giant like let him go gertrude do not fear our person theres 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 incensd let him go gertrude speak man laertes where is my father king dead queen but not by him king let him demand his fill laertes how came he dead ill 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 ill be revengd most throughly for my father king who shall stay you laertes my will not all the world and for my means ill husband them so well they shall go far with little king good laertes if you desire to know the certainty of your dear fathers death ist writ in your revenge that sweepstake you will draw both friend and foe winner and loser laertes none but his enemies king will you know them then laertes to his good friends thus wide ill ope my arms and like the kind life rendering pelican repast them with my blood king why now you speak like a good child and a true gentleman that i am guiltless of your fathers death and am most sensibly in grief for it it shall as level to your judgment pear as day does to your eye danes within let her come in laertes how now what noise is that re enter ophelia fantastically dressed with straws and flowers 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 ist possible a young maids wits should be as mortal as an old mans life nature is fine in love and where tis fine it sends some precious instance of itself after the thing it loves ophelia sings they bore him barefacd on the bier hey no nonny nonny hey nonny and on his grave raind many a tear fare you well my dove laertes hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge it could not move thus ophelia you must sing down a down and you call him a down a o how the wheel becomes it it is the false steward that stole his masters daughter laertes this nothings more than matter ophelia theres rosemary thats for remembrance pray love remember and there is pansies thats for thoughts laertes a document in madness thoughts and remembrance fitted ophelia theres fennel for you and columbines theres rue for you and heres some for me we may call it herb of grace o sundays o you must wear your rue with a difference theres a daisy i would give you some violets but they witherd all when my father died they say he made a good end sings for bonny sweet robin is all my joy laertes thought and affliction passion hell itself she turns to favour and to prettiness ophelia sings 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 flaxen 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 b wi ye exit laertes do you see this o god king laertes i must commune 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 touchd 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 laertes let this be so his means of death his obscure burial no trophy sword nor hatchment oer his bones no noble rite nor formal ostentation cry to be heard as twere from heaven to earth that i must callt in question king so you shall and where thoffence is let the great axe fall i pray you go with me exeunt scene vi another room in the castle enter horatio and a servant horatio what are they that would speak with me servant sailors sir they say they have letters for you horatio let them come in exit servant i do not know from what part of the world i should be greeted if not from lord hamlet enter sailors first sailor god bless you sir horatio let him bless thee too first sailor he shall sir andt please him theres a letter for you sir it comes from thambassador that was bound for england if your name be horatio as i am let to know it is horatio reads 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 warlike appointment gave us chase finding ourselves too slow of sail we put on a compelled valour and 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 hamlet come i will give you way for these your letters and dot the speedier that you may direct me to him from whom you brought them exeunt scene vii another room in the castle enter king and laertes king 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 pursud my life laertes 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 stirrd up king o for two special reasons which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewd 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 shes 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 timberd for so loud a wind would have reverted to my bow again and not where i had aimd them laertes 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 king 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 lovd your father and we love ourself and that i hope will teach you to imagine enter a messenger how now what news messenger letters my lord from hamlet this to your majesty this to the queen king from hamlet who brought them messenger sailors my lord they say i saw them not they were given me by claudio he receivd them of him that brought them king laertes you shall hear them leave us exit messenger reads high and mighty you shall know i am set naked on your kingdom tomorrow 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 hamlet what should this mean are all the rest come back or is it some abuse and no such thing laertes know you the hand king tis hamlets character naked and in a postscript here he says alone can you advise me laertes i am 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 diest thou king if it be so laertes as how should it be so how otherwise will you be ruld by me laertes ay my lord so you will not oerrule me to a peace king to thine own peace if he be now returnd as checking at his voyage and that he means no more to undertake it i will work him to exploit now ripe in my device under the which he shall not choose but fall and for his death no wind shall breathe but even his mother shall uncharge the practice and call it accident laertes my lord i will be ruld the rather if you could devise it so that i might be the organ king it falls right you have been talkd of since your travel much and that in hamlets 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 laertes what part is that my lord king 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 ive seen myself and servd against the french and they can well on horseback but this gallant had witchcraft int he grew unto his seat and to such wondrous doing brought his horse as had he been incorpsd and demi naturd with the brave beast so far he toppd my thought that i in forgery of shapes and tricks come short of what he did laertes a norman wast king a norman laertes upon my life lamond king the very same laertes i know him well he is the brooch indeed and gem of all the nation king 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 opposd 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 oer to play with him now out of this laertes what out of this my lord king laertes was your father dear to you or are you like the painting of a sorrow a face without a heart laertes why ask you this king 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 pleurisy 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 thulcer hamlet comes back what would you undertake to show yourself your fathers son in deed more than in words laertes to cut his throat i th church king no place indeed should murder sanctuarize revenge should have no bounds but good laertes will you do this keep close within your chamber hamlet returnd shall know you are come home well 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 remiss 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 laertes i will dot and for that purpose ill 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 this is but scratchd withal ill touch my point with this contagion that if i gall him slightly it may be death king lets 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 assayd therefore this project should have a back or second that might hold if this did blast in proof soft let me see well make a solemn wager on your cunnings i hat when in your motion you are hot and dry as make your bouts more violent to that end and that he calls for drink ill have prepard him a chalice for the nonce whereon but sipping if he by chance escape your venomd stuck our purpose may hold there enter queen how now sweet queen queen one woe doth tread upon anothers heel so fast they follow your sisters drownd laertes laertes drownd o where queen there is a willow grows aslant a brook that shows his hoary leaves in the glassy stream there with fantastic garlands did she make of crow flowers nettles daisies and long purples that liberal shepherds give a grosser name but our cold maids do dead mens fingers call them there on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds clambring 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 chaunted snatches of old tunes as one incapable of her own distress or like a creature native and indued unto that element but long it could not be till that her garments heavy with their drink pulld the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death laertes alas then she is drownd queen drownd drownd laertes too much of water hast thou poor ophelia 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 exit king lets follow gertrude how much i had to do to calm his rage now fear i this will give it start again therefore lets follow exeunt act v scene i a churchyard enter two clowns with spades etc first clown is she to be buried in christian burial when she wilfully seeks her own salvation second clown i tell thee she is and therefore make her grave straight the crowner hath sat on her and finds it christian burial first clown how can that be unless she drowned herself in her own defence second clown why tis found so first clown 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 second clown nay but hear you goodman delver first clown 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 second clown but is this law first clown ay marry ist crowners quest law second clown will you ha the truth ont if this had not been a gentlewoman she should have been buried out o christian burial first clown why there thou sayst 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 adams profession second clown was he a gentleman first clown he was the first that ever bore arms second clown why he had none first clown what art a heathen how dost thou understand the scripture the scripture says adam diggd could he dig without arms ill put another question to thee if thou answerest me not to the purpose confess thyself second clown go to first clown what is he that builds stronger than either the mason the shipwright or the carpenter second clown the gallows maker for that frame outlives a thousand tenants first clown 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 tot again come second clown who builds stronger than a mason a shipwright or a carpenter first clown ay tell me that and unyoke second clown marry now i can tell first clown tot second clown mass i cannot tell enter hamlet and horatio at a distance first clown 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 he makes last till doomsday go get thee to yaughan fetch me a stoup of liquor exit second 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 hamlet has this fellow no feeling of his business that he sings at grave making horatio custom hath made it in him a property of easiness hamlet tis een so the hand of little employment hath the daintier sense first clown sings but age with his stealing steps hath clawd me in his clutch and hath shippd me into the land as if i had never been such throws up a skull hamlet that skull had a tongue in it and could sing once how the knave jowls it to th ground as if twere cains jawbone that did the first murder this might be the pate of a politician which this ass now oer offices one that would circumvent god might it not horatio it might my lord hamlet 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 ones horse when he meant to beg it might it not horatio ay my lord hamlet why een so and now my lady worms chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sextons spade heres fine revolution an we had the trick to seet did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with em mine ache to think ont first clown sings a pickaxe 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 throws up another skull hamlet theres another why may not that be the skull of a lawyer where be his quiddits 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 ins 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 conveyances of his lands will scarcely lie in this box and must the inheritor himself have no more ha horatio not a jot more my lord hamlet is not parchment made of sheep skins horatio ay my lord and of calf skins too hamlet they are sheep and calves which seek out assurance in that i will speak to this fellow whose graves this sir first clown mine sir sings o a pit of clay for to be made for such a guest is meet hamlet i think it be thine indeed for thou liest int first clown you lie out ont sir and therefore tis not yours for my part i do not lie int yet it is mine hamlet thou dost lie int to be int and say it is thine tis for the dead not for the quick therefore thou liest first clown tis a quick lie sir t will away again from me to you hamlet what man dost thou dig it for first clown for no man sir hamlet what woman then first clown for none neither hamlet who is to be buried int first clown one that was a woman sir but rest her soul shes dead hamlet 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 first clown of all the days i th year i came tot that day that our last king hamlet oercame fortinbras hamlet how long is that since first clown 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 hamlet ay marry why was he sent into england first clown why because he was mad he shall recover his wits there or if he do not its no great matter there hamlet why first clown twill not be seen in him there there the men are as mad as he hamlet how came he mad first clown very strangely they say hamlet how strangely first clown faith een with losing his wits hamlet upon what ground first clown why here in denmark i have been sexton here man and boy thirty years hamlet how long will a man lie i thearth ere he rot first clown faith if he be not rotten before he die as we have many pocky corses nowadays that will scarce hold the laying in he will last you some eight year or nine year a tanner will last you nine year hamlet why he more than another first clown why sir his hide is so tannd with his trade that he will keep out water a great while and your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body heres a skull now this skull hath lain in the earth three and twenty years hamlet whose was it first clown a whoreson mad fellows it was whose do you think it was hamlet nay i know not first clown a pestilence on him for a mad rogue a pourd a flagon of rhenish on my head once this same skull sir was yoricks skull the kings jester hamlet this first clown een that hamlet let me see takes the skull 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 kissd 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 chop fallen now get you to my ladys chamber and tell her let her paint an inch thick to this favour she must come make her laugh at that prythee horatio tell me one thing horatio whats that my lord hamlet dost thou think alexander looked o this fashion i thearth horatio een so hamlet and smelt so pah throws down the skull horatio een so my lord hamlet 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 horatio twere to consider too curiously to consider so hamlet 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 caesar dead and turnd 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 texpel the winters flaw but soft but soft aside here comes the king enter priests etc in procession the corpse of ophelia laertes and mourners following king queen their trains etc 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 it own life twas of some estate couch we awhile and mark retiring with horatio laertes what ceremony else hamlet that is laertes a very noble youth mark laertes what ceremony else priest her obsequies have been as far enlargd as we have warranties her death was doubtful and but that great command oersways the order she should in ground unsanctified have lodgd till the last trumpet for charitable prayers shards flints and pebbles should be thrown on her yet here she is allowed her virgin rites her maiden strewments and the bringing home of bell and burial laertes must there no more be done priest no more be done we should profane the service of the dead to sing sage requiem and such rest to her as to peace parted souls laertes lay her i thearth and from her fair and unpolluted flesh may violets spring i tell thee churlish priest a ministring angel shall my sister be when thou liest howling hamlet what the fair ophelia queen scattering flowers sweets to the sweet farewell i hopd thou shouldst have been my hamlets wife i thought thy bride bed to have deckd sweet maid and not have strewd thy grave laertes o treble woe fall ten times treble on that cursed head whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense deprivd thee of hold off the earth a while till i have caught her once more in mine arms leaps into the grave now pile your dust upon the quick and dead till of this flat a mountain you have made to oertop old pelion or the skyish head of blue olympus hamlet advancing what is he whose grief bears such an emphasis whose phrase of sorrow conjures the wandring stars and makes them stand like wonder wounded hearers this is i hamlet the dane leaps into the grave laertes grappling with him the devil take thy soul hamlet thou prayst not well i prythee take thy fingers from my throat for though i am not splenative and rash yet have i in me something dangerous which let thy wiseness fear away thy hand king pluck them asunder queen hamlet hamlet all gentlemen horatio good my lord be quiet the attendants part them and they come out of the grave hamlet why i will fight with him upon this theme until my eyelids will no longer wag queen o my son what theme hamlet i lovd ophelia forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum what wilt thou do for her king o he is mad laertes queen for love of god forbear him hamlet swounds show me what thoult do woult weep woult fight woult fast woult tear thyself woult drink up eisel eat a crocodile ill dot 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 thoult mouth ill rant as well as thou queen this is mere madness and thus awhile the fit will work on him anon as patient as the female dove when that her golden couplets are disclosd his silence will sit drooping hamlet hear you sir what is the reason that you use me thus i lovd you ever but it is no matter let hercules himself do what he may the cat will mew and dog will have his day exit king i pray thee good horatio wait upon him exit horatio to laertes strengthen your patience in our last nights speech well 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 exeunt scene ii a hall in the castle enter hamlet and horatio hamlet so much for this sir now let me see the other you do remember all the circumstance horatio remember it my lord hamlet sir in my heart there was a kind of fighting that would not let me sleep methought i lay worse than the mutinies in the bilboes rashly and praisd be rashness for it let us know our indiscretion sometime serves us well when our deep plots do pall and that should teach us theres a divinity that shapes our ends rough hew them how we will horatio that is most certain hamlet up from my cabin my sea gown scarfd about me in the dark gropd i to find out them had my desire fingerd 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 oh royal knavery an exact command larded with many several sorts of reasons importing denmarks health and englands 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 horatio ist possible hamlet heres the commission read it at more leisure but wilt thou hear me how i did proceed horatio i beseech you hamlet being thus benetted round with villanies or i could make a prologue to my brains they had begun the play i sat me down devisd a new commission wrote it fair i once did hold it as our statists do a baseness to write fair and labourd much how to forget that learning but sir now it did me yeomans service wilt thou know the effect of what i wrote horatio ay good my lord hamlet an earnest conjuration from the king as england was his faithful tributary as love between them like the palm might flourish as peace should still her wheaten garland wear and stand a comma tween their amities and many such like ases of great charge that on the view and know of these contents without debatement further more or less he should the bearers put to sudden death not shriving time allowd horatio how was this seald hamlet why even in that was heaven ordinant i had my fathers signet in my purse which was the model of that danish seal folded the writ up in the form of the other subscribd it gavet thimpression placd it safely the changeling never known now the next day was our sea fight and what to this was sequent thou knowst already horatio so guildenstern and rosencrantz go tot hamlet 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 horatio why what a king is this hamlet does it not thinkst thee stand me now upon he that hath killd my king and whord my mother poppd in between thelection and my hopes thrown out his angle for my proper life and with such cozenage ist not perfect conscience to quit him with this arm and ist not to be damnd to let this canker of our nature come in further evil horatio it must be shortly known to him from england what is the issue of the business there hamlet it will be short the interim is mine and a mans lifes 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 ill court his favours but sure the bravery of his grief did put me into a towring passion horatio peace who comes here enter osric osric your lordship is right welcome back to denmark hamlet i humbly thank you sir dost know this waterfly horatio no my good lord hamlet 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 kings mess tis a chough but as i say spacious in the possession of dirt osric sweet lord if your lordship were at leisure i should impart a thing to you from his majesty hamlet i will receive it with all diligence of spirit put your bonnet to his right use tis for the head osric i thank your lordship tis very hot hamlet no believe me tis very cold the wind is northerly osric it is indifferent cold my lord indeed hamlet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion osric 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 hamlet i beseech you remember hamlet moves him to put on his hat osric nay in good faith 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 hamlet sir his definement suffers no perdition in you though i know to divide him inventorially would dizzy tharithmetic 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 osric your lordship speaks most infallibly of him hamlet the concernancy sir why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath osric sir horatio ist not possible to understand in another tongue you will dot sir really hamlet what imports the nomination of this gentleman osric of laertes horatio his purse is empty already alls golden words are spent hamlet of him sir osric i know you are not ignorant hamlet i would you did sir yet in faith if you did it would not much approve me well sir osric you are not ignorant of what excellence laertes is hamlet i dare not confess that lest i should compare with him in excellence but to know a man well were to know himself osric i mean sir for his weapon but in the imputation laid on him by them in his meed hes unfellowed hamlet whats his weapon osric rapier and dagger hamlet thats two of his weapons but well osric the king sir hath wagerd 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 hamlet what call you the carriages horatio i knew you must be edified by the margin ere you had done osric the carriages sir are the hangers hamlet 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 thats the french bet against the danish why is this all imponed as you call it osric the king sir hath laid that in a dozen passes between you 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 hamlet how if i answer no osric i mean my lord the opposition of your person in trial hamlet sir i will walk here in the hall if it please his majesty it is 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 if i can if not i will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits osric shall i re deliver you een so hamlet to this effect sir after what flourish your nature will osric i commend my duty to your lordship hamlet yours yours exit osric he does well to commend it himself there are no tongues else fors turn horatio this lapwing runs away with the shell on his head hamlet he did comply with his dug before he suckd 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 yeasty collection which carries them through and through the most fanned and winnowed opinions and do but blow them to their trial the bubbles are out enter a lord lord 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 hamlet i am constant to my purposes they follow the kings pleasure if his fitness speaks mine is ready now or whensoever provided i be so able as now lord the king and queen and all are coming down hamlet in happy time lord the queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to laertes before you fall to play hamlet she well instructs me exit lord horatio you will lose this wager my lord hamlet 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 alls here about my heart but it is no matter horatio nay good my lord hamlet it is but foolery but it is such a kind of gain giving as would perhaps trouble a woman horatio if your mind dislike anything obey it i will forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit hamlet not a whit we defy augury theres 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 ist to leave betimes enter king queen laertes lords osric and attendants with foils etc king come hamlet come and take this hand from me the king puts laertess hand into hamlets hamlet give me your pardon sir i have done you wrong but pardont as you are a gentleman this presence knows and you must needs have heard how i am punishd with sore distraction what i have done that might your nature honour and exception roughly awake i here proclaim was madness wast hamlet wrongd laertes never hamlet if hamlet from himself be taen away and when hes not himself does wrong laertes then hamlet does it not hamlet denies it who does it then his madness ift be so hamlet is of the faction that is wrongd his madness is poor hamlets enemy sir in this audience let my disclaiming from a purposd evil free me so far in your most generous thoughts that i have shot my arrow oer the house and hurt my brother laertes 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 ungord but till that time i do receive your offerd love like love and will not wrong it hamlet i embrace it freely and will this brothers wager frankly play give us the foils come on laertes come one for me hamlet ill be your foil laertes in mine ignorance your skill shall like a star i th darkest night stick fiery off indeed laertes you mock me sir hamlet no by this hand king give them the foils young osric cousin hamlet you know the wager hamlet very well my lord your grace has laid the odds o the weaker side king i do not fear it i have seen you both but since he is betterd we have therefore odds laertes this is too heavy let me see another hamlet this likes me well these foils have all a length they prepare to play osric ay my good lord king 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 hamlets better breath and in the cup an union shall he throw richer than that which four successive kings in denmarks 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 hamlet come on sir laertes come my lord they play hamlet one laertes no hamlet judgment osric a hit a very palpable hit laertes well again king stay give me drink hamlet this pearl is thine heres to thy health trumpets sound and cannon shot off within give him the cup hamlet ill play this bout first set it by awhile they play come another hit what say you laertes a touch a touch i do confess king our son shall win queen hes fat and scant of breath here hamlet take my napkin rub thy brows the queen carouses to thy fortune hamlet hamlet good madam king gertrude do not drink queen i will my lord i pray you pardon me king aside it is the poisond cup it is too late hamlet i dare not drink yet madam by and by queen come let me wipe thy face laertes my lord ill hit him now king i do not thinkt laertes aside and yet tis almost gainst my conscience hamlet come for the third laertes you do but dally i pray you pass with your best violence i am afeard you make a wanton of me laertes say you so come on they play osric nothing neither way laertes have at you now laertes wounds hamlet then in scuffling they change rapiers and hamlet wounds laertes king part them they are incensd hamlet nay come again the queen falls osric look to the queen there ho horatio they bleed on both sides how is it my lord osric how ist laertes laertes why as a woodcock to my own springe osric i am justly killd with mine own treachery hamlet how does the queen king she swoons to see them bleed queen no no the drink the drink o my dear hamlet the drink the drink i am poisond dies hamlet o villany ho let the door be lockd treachery seek it out laertes falls laertes 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 envenomd the foul practice hath turnd itself on me lo here i lie never to rise again thy mothers poisond i can no more the king the kings to blame hamlet the point envenomd too then venom to thy work stabs the king osric and lords treason treason king o yet defend me friends i am but hurt hamlet here thou incestuous murderous damned dane drink off this potion is thy union here follow my mother king dies laertes he is justly servd it is a poison temperd by himself exchange forgiveness with me noble hamlet mine and my fathers death come not upon thee nor thine on me dies hamlet 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 livst report me and my cause aright to the unsatisfied horatio never believe it i am more an antique roman than a dane heres yet some liquor left hamlet as thart a man give me the cup let go by heaven ill havet o good 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 march afar off and shot within what warlike noise is this osric young fortinbras with conquest come from poland to the ambassadors of england gives this warlike volley hamlet o i die horatio the potent poison quite oer crows my spirit i cannot live to hear the news from england but i do prophesy thelection lights on fortinbras he has my dying voice so tell him with the occurrents more and less which have solicited the rest is silence dies horatio now cracks a noble heart good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest why does the drum come hither march within enter fortinbras the english ambassadors and others fortinbras where is this sight horatio what is it you would see if aught of woe or wonder cease your search fortinbras 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 first ambassador 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 fulfilld that rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead where should we have our thanks horatio not from his mouth had it thability 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 arrivd give order that these bodies high on a stage be placed to the view and let me speak to th 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 forcd cause and in this upshot purposes mistook falln on the inventors heads all this can i truly deliver fortinbras 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 horatio 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 performd even while mens minds are wild lest more mischance on plots and errors happen fortinbras let four captains bear hamlet like a soldier to the stage for he was likely had he been put on to have provd 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 a dead march exeunt bearing off the bodies after which a peal of ordnance is shot off the first part of king henry the fourth by william shakespeare dramatis personae king henry the fourth henry prince of wales son to the king prince john of lancaster son to the king earl of westmoreland sir walter blunt thomas percy earl of worcester henry percy earl of northumberland henry percy surnamed hotspur his son edmund mortimer earl of march scroop archbishop of york sir michael his friend archibald earl of douglas owen glendower sir richard vernon sir john falstaff poins gadshill peto bardolph lady percy wife to hotspur lady mortimer daughter to glendower mrs quickly hostess in eastcheap lords officers sheriff vintner chamberlain drawers carriers travellers and attendants scene england and wales act i scene i london a room in the palace enter the king henry westmoreland sir walter blunt and others king 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 commenced in strands afar remote no more the thirsty entrance of this soil shall daub her lips with her own childrens 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 opposed 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 engaged to fight forthwith a power of english shall we levy to chase these pagans in those holy fields over whose acres walkd those blessed feet which fourteen hundred years ago were naild for our advantage on the bitter cross but this our purpose now is 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 westmoreland 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 th irregular and wild glendower was by the rude hands of that welshman taken 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 king it seems then that the tidings of this broil brake off our business for the holy land westmoreland this matchd with other did 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 king here is a dear and true industrious friend sir walter blunt new lighted from his horse staind 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 balkd in their own blood did sir walter see on holmedons 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 westmoreland faith tis a conquest for a prince to boast of king yea there thou makest me sad and makest me sin in envy that my lord northumberland should be the father to so blest a son a son who is the theme of honours tongue amongst a grove the very straightest plant who is sweet fortunes 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 proved that some night tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle clothes our children where they lay and calld 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 percys pride the prisoners which he in this adventure hath surprised to his own use he keeps and sends me word i shall have none but mordake earl of fife westmoreland this is his uncles 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 king but i have sent for him to answer this and for this cause awhile 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 westmoreland i will my liege exeunt scene ii the same an apartment of prince henrys enter prince henry and falstaff falstaff now hal what time of day is it lad prince 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 the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame coloured taffeta i see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of the day falstaff indeed you come near me now hal for we that take purses go by the moon and the seven stars and not by phoebus he that wandering knight so fair and i prythee sweet wag when thou art king as god save thy grace majesty i should say for grace thou wilt have none prince what none falstaff no by my troth not so much as will serve to be prologue to an egg and butter prince well how then come roundly roundly falstaff marry then sweet wag when thou art king let not us that are squires of the nights body be called thieves of the days beauty let us be dianas 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 prince thou sayst well and it holds well too for the fortune of us that are the moons 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 snatchd on monday night and most dissolutely spent on tuesday morning got with swearing lay by and spent with crying bring in now ill 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 falstaff by the lord thou sayst true lad and is not my hostess of the tavern a most sweet wench prince as the honey of hybla my old lad of the castle and is not a buff jerkin a most sweet robe of durance falstaff how now how now mad wag what in thy quips and thy quiddities what a plague have i to do with a buff jerkin prince why what a pox have i to do with my hostess of the tavern falstaff well thou hast calld her to a reckoning many a time and oft prince did i ever call for thee to pay thy part falstaff no ill give thee thy due thou hast paid all there prince yea and elsewhere so far as my coin would stretch and where it would not i have used my credit falstaff yea and so used it that were it not here apparent that thou art heir apparent but i prythee sweet wag shall there be gallows standing in england when thou art king and resolution thus fobbd as it is with the rusty curb of old father antic the law do not thou when thou art king hang a thief prince no thou shalt falstaff shall i o rare by the lord ill be a brave judge prince thou judgest false already i mean thou shalt have the hanging of the thieves and so become a rare hangman falstaff well hal well and in some sort it jumps with my humour as well as waiting in the court i can tell you prince for obtaining of suits falstaff yea for obtaining of suits whereof the hangman hath no lean wardrobe sblood i am as melancholy as a gib cat or a luggd bear prince or an old lion or a lovers lute falstaff yea or the drone of a lincolnshire bagpipe prince what sayst thou to a hare or the melancholy of moor ditch falstaff thou hast the most unsavoury similes and art indeed the most comparative rascalliest sweet young prince but hal i prythee 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 markd him not and yet he talkd very wisely but i regarded him not and yet he talkd wisely and in the street too prince thou didst well for wisdom cries out in the streets and no man regards it falstaff 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 ill be damnd for never a kings son in christendom prince where shall we take a purse to morrow jack falstaff zounds where thou wilt lad ill make one an i do not call me villain and baffle me prince i see a good amendment of life in thee from praying to purse taking falstaff why hal tis my vocation hal tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation enter poins 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 prince good morrow ned poins 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 capons leg prince 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 poins then art thou damnd for keeping thy word with the devil prince else he had been damnd for cozening the devil poins but my lads my lads to morrow morning by four oclock early at gads hill there are pilgrims gong to canterbury with rich offerings and traders riding to london with fat purses i have visards 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 hangd falstaff hear ye yedward if i tarry at home and go not ill hang you for going poins you will chops falstaff hal wilt thou make one prince who i rob i a thief not i by my faith falstaff theres neither honesty manhood nor good fellowship in thee nor thou camest not of the blood royal if thou darest not stand for ten shillings prince well then once in my days ill be a madcap falstaff why thats well said prince well come what will ill tarry at home falstaff by the lord ill be a traitor then when thou art king prince i care not poins sir john i prythee leave the prince and me alone i will lay him down such reasons for this adventure that he shall go falstaff 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 prince farewell thou latter spring farewell all hallown summer exit falstaff poins 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 off from my shoulders prince but how shall we part with them in setting forth poins 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 well set upon them prince ay but tis like that they will know us by our horses by our habits and by every other appointment to be ourselves poins tut our horses they shall not see ill tie them in the wood our visards we will change after we leave them and sirrah i have cases of buckram for the nonce to immask our noted outward garments prince but i doubt they will be too hard for us poins well for two of them i know them to be as true bred cowards as ever turnd back and for the third if he fight longer than he sees reason ill 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 prince well ill go with thee provide us all things necessary and meet me to night in eastcheap there ill sup farewell poins farewell my lord exit prince i know you all and will awhile uphold the unyokd 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 wonderd 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 wishd 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 mens hopes and like bright metal on a sullen ground my reformation glittering oer my fault shall show more goodly and attract more eyes than that which hath no foil to set it off ill so offend to make offence a skill redeeming time when men think least i will exit scene iii the same a room in the palace enter king henry northumberland worcester hotspur sir walter blunt and others king 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 feard than my condition which hath been smooth as oil soft as young down and therefore lost that title of respect which the proud soul neer pays but to the proud worcester our house my sovereign liege little deserves the scourge of greatness to be used on it and that same greatness too which our own hands have holp to make so portly northumberland my good lord king 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 exit worcester to northumberland you were about to speak northumberland 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 deliverd to your majesty either envy therefore or misprision is guilty of this fault and not my son hotspur 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 trimly dressd fresh as a bridegroom and his chin new reapd showd 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 tookt away again who therewith angry when it next came there took it in snuff and still he smiled and talkd and as the soldiers bore dead bodies by he calld them untaught knaves unmannerly to bring a slovenly unhandsome corse betwixt the wind and his nobility with many holiday and lady terms he questiond me amongst the rest demanded my prisoners in your majestys behalf i then all smarting with my wounds being cold out of my grief and my impatience to be so pesterd with a popinjay answerd neglectingly i know not what he should or he should not fort 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 sovereignst thing on earth was parmaceti for an inward bruise and that it was great pity so it was this villainous salt petre should be diggd out of the bowels of the harmless earth which many a good tall fellow had destroyd so cowardly and but for these vile guns he would himself have been a soldier this bald unjointed chat of his my lord i answered indirectly as i said and i beseech you let not his report come current for an accusation betwixt my love and your high majesty blunt the circumstance considerd 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 king 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 betrayd the lives of those that he did lead to fight against that great magician damnd 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 hotspur 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 severns 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 breathed and three times did they drink upon agreement of swift severns 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 not him be slanderd with revolt king 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 not ashamed 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 youll hear of it exeunt king henry blunt and train hotspur 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 else my heart although it be with hazard of my head northumberland what drunk with choler stay and pause awhile here comes your uncle re enter worcester hotspur speak of mortimer zounds i will speak of him and let my soul want mercy if i do not join with him yea on his part ill 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 cankerd bolingbroke north to worcester brother the king hath made your nephew mad worcester who struck this heat up after i was gone hotspur he will forsooth have all my prisoners and when i urged the ransom once again of my wifes brother then his cheek lookd pale and on my face he turnd an eye of death trembling even at the name of mortimer worcester i cannot blame him was not he proclaimd by richard that dead is the next of blood northumberland 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 deposed and shortly murdered worcester and for whose death we in the worlds wide mouth live scandalized and foully spoken of hotspur but soft i pray you did king richard then proclaim my brother edmund mortimer heir to the crown northumberland he did myself did hear it hotspur nay then i cannot blame his cousin king that wishd 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 murderous 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 foold discarded and shook off by him for whom these shames ye underwent no yet time serves wherein you may redeem your banishd honours and restore yourselves into the good thoughts of the world again revenge the jeering and disdaind 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 worcester peace cousin say no more and now i will unclasp a secret book and to your quick conceiving discontent ill read you matter deep and dangerous as full of peril and adventurous spirit as to oer walk a current roaring loud on the unsteadfast footing of a spear hotspur if we 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 northumberland imagination of some great exploit drives him beyond the bounds of patience hotspur by heaven methinks it were an easy leap to pluck bright honour from the pale faced 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 faced fellowship worcester he apprehends a world of figures here but not the form of what he should attend good cousin give me audience for a while hotspur i cry you mercy worcester those same noble scots that are your prisoners hotspur ill keep them all by god he shall not have a scot of them no if a scot would save his soul he shall not ill keep them by this hand worcester you start away and lend no ear unto my purposes those prisoners you shall keep hotspur nay i will thats 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 ill holla mortimer nay ill have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but mortimer and give it him to keep his anger still in motion worcester hear you cousin a word hotspur 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 id have him poisond with a pot of ale worcester farewell kinsman i will talk to you when you are better temperd to attend northumberland why what a wasp stung and impatient fool art thou to break into this womans mood tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own hotspur why look you i am whippd and scourged with rods nettled and stung with pismires when i hear of this vile politician bolingbroke in richards time what do you call the place a plague upont it is in gioucestershire twas where the madcap duke his uncle kept his uncle york where i first bowd my knee unto this king of smiles this bolingbroke when you and he came back from ravenspurg northumberland at berkeley castle hotspur 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 worcester nay if you have not tot again well stay your leisure hotspur i have done ifaith worcester 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 assured will easily be granted to northumberland you my lord your son in scotland being thus employd shall secretly into the bosom creep of that same noble prelate well beloved th archbishop hotspur of york ist not worcester true who bears hard his brothers 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 hotspur i smellt upon my life it will do well northumberland before the games a foot thou still lettst slip hotspur why it cannot choose but be a noble plot and then the power of scotland and of york to join with mortimer ha worcester and so they shall hotspur in faith it is exceedingly well aimd worcester 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 hotspur he does he does well be revenged on him worcester cousin farewell no further go in this than i by letters shall direct your course when time is ripe which will be suddenly ill 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 northumberland farewell good brother we shall thrive i trust hotspur uncle adieu o let the hours be short till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport exeunt act ii scene i rochester an inn yard enter a carrier with a lantern in his hand first carrier heigh ho ant be not four by the day ill be hangd charles wain is over the new chimney and yet our horse not packd what ostler ostler within anon anon first carrier i prythee tom beat cuts saddle put a few flocks in the point the poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess enter another carrier second carrier 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 first carrier poor fellow never joyed since the price of oats rose it was the death of him second carrier i think this be the most villainous house in all london road for fleas i am stung like a tench first carrier like a tench by the mass there is neer a king in christendom could be better bit than i have been since the first cock what ostler come away and be hangd come away second carrier i have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger to be delivered as far as charing cross first carrier odsbody 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 of thee i am a very villain come and be hangd hast no faith in thee enter gadshill gadshill good morrow carriers whats oclock first carrier i think it be two oclock gadshill i prythee lend me thy lantern to see my gelding in the stable first carrier nay soft i pray ye i know a trick worth two of that ifaith gadshill i prythee lend me thine second carrier ay when canst tell lend me thy lantern quoth a marry ill see thee hangd first gadshill sirrah carrier what time do you mean to come to london second carrier time enough to go to bed with a candle i warrant thee come neighbour muggs well call up the gentlemen they will along with company for they have great charge exeunt carriers gadshill what ho chamberlain chamberlain within at hand quoth pick purse gadshill thats 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 layst the plot how enter chamberlain chamberlain good morrow master gadshill it holds current that i told you yesternight theres 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 gadshill sirrah if they meet not with saint nicholas clerks ill give thee this neck chamberlain no ill none of it i prythee keep that for the hangman for i know thou worshippest saint nicholas as truly as a man of falsehood may gadshill what talkest thou to me of the hangman if i hang ill make a fat pair of gallows for if i hang old sir john hangs with me and thou knowst he is no starveling tut there are other trojans that thou dreamest not of the which for sport sake are content to do the profession some grace that would if matters should be lookd 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 zwounds 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 chamberlain what the commonwealth their boots will she hold out water in foul way gadshill she will she will justice hath liquord her we steal as in a castle cock sure we have the receipt of fernseed we walk invisible chamberlain nay by my faith i think you are more beholding to the night than to fern seed for your walking invisible gadshill give me thy hand thou shalt have a share in our purchase as i am a true man chamberlain nay rather let me have it as you are a false thief gadshill go to homo is a common name to all men bid the ostler bring my gelding out of the stable farewell you muddy knave exeunt scene ii the road by gads hill enter prince henry and poins bardolph and peto at some distance poins come shelter shelter i have removd falstaffs horse and he frets like a gummd velvet prince stand close they retire enter falstaff falstaff poins poins and be hangd poins prince coming forward peace ye fat kidneyd rascal what a brawling dost thou keep falstaff wheres poins hal prince he is walkd up to the top of the hill ill go seek him retires falstaff i am accursed to rob in that thiefs company the rascal hath removed my horse and tied him i know not where if i travel but four foot by the squire further a foot 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 year and yet i am bewitchd with the rogues company if the rascal have not given me medicines to make me love him ill be hangd it could not be else i have drunk medicines poins hal a plague upon you both bardolph peto ill starve ere ill rob a foot further an twere not as good a deed as drink to turn true man and to leave these rogues i am the veriest varlet that ever chewed with a tooth eight yards of uneven ground is threescore and ten miles a foot with me and the stony hearted villains know it well enough a plague upont when thieves cannot be true one to another they whistle whew a plague upon you all give me my horse you rogues give me my horse and be hangd prince coming forward peace lie down lay thine ear close to the ground and list if thou canst hear the tread of travellers falstaff have you any levers to lift me up again being down sblood ill not bear mine own flesh so far a foot again for all the coin in thy fathers exchequer what a plague mean ye to colt me thus prince thou liest thou art not colted thou art uncolted falstaff i prythee good prince hal help me to my horse good kings son prince out ye rogue shall i be your ostler falstaff go hang thyself in thine own heir apparent garters if i be taen ill 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 a foot too i hate it enter gadshill gadshill stand falstaff so i do against my will poins o tis our setter i know his voice comes forward with bardolph and peto bardolph what news gadshill case ye case ye on with your visards theres money of the kings coming down the hill tis going to the kings exchequer falstaff you lie ye rogue tis going to the kings tavern gadshill theres enough to make us all falstaff to be hangd prince 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 peto how many be there of them gadshill some eight or ten falstaff zwounds will they not rob us prince what a coward sir john paunch falstaff indeed i am not john of gaunt your grandfather but yet no coward hal prince well we leave that to the proof poins sirrah jack thy horse stands behind the hedge when thou needst him there thou shalt find him farewell and stand fast falstaff now cannot i strike him if i should be hangd prince aside to pointz ned where are our disguises poins aside to prince henry here hard by stand close exeunt prince and poins falstaff now my masters happy man be his dole say i every man to his business enter travellers first traveller come neighbour the boy shall lead our horses down the hill well walk a foot awhile and ease our legs falstaff gadshill etc stand second traveller jesu bless us falstaff strike down with them cut the villains throats ah whoreson caterpillars bacon fed knaves they hate us youth down with them fleece them first traveller o were undone both we and ours for ever falstaff 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 well jure ye ifaith exeunt fals gads etc driving the travellers out re enter prince henry and poins in buckram suits prince 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 poins stand close i hear them coming they retire re enter falstaff gadshill bardolph and peto falstaff come my masters let us share and then to horse before day an the prince and poins be not two arrant cowards theres no equity stirring theres no more valour in that poins than in a wild duck as they are sharing the prince and poins set upon them prince your money poins villains falstaff after a blow or two and the others run away leaving the booty behind them prince got with much ease now merrily to horse the thieves are scatterd and possessd with fear so strongly that they dare not meet each other each takes his fellow for an officer away good ned fat falstaff sweats to death and lards the lean earth as he walks along weret not for laughing i should pity him poins how the rogue roard exeunt scene iii warkworth a room in the castle enter hotspur reading a letter hotspur 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 thats 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 zwounds an i were now by this rascal i could brain him with his ladys 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 skimmd milk with so honourable an action hang him let him tell the king we are prepared i will set forward to night enter lady percy how now kate i must leave you within these two hours lady percy o my good lord why are you thus alone for what offence have i this fortnight been a banishd woman from my harrys bed tell me sweet lord what ist 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 sittst 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 watchd and heard thee murmur tales of iron wars speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed cry courage to the field and thou hast talkd of sallies and retires of trenches tents of palisadoes frontiers parapets of basilisks of cannon culverin of prisoners ransomed 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 bestirrd 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 appeard 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 hotspur what ho enter a servant is gilliams with the packet gone servant he is my lord an hour ago hotspur hath butler brought those horses from the sheriff servant one horse my lord he brought even now hotspur what horse a roan a crop ear is it not servant it is my lord hotspur that roan shall be my throne well i will back him straight o esperance bid butler lead him forth into the park exit servant lady percy but hear you my lord hotspur what sayst thou my lady lady percy what is it carries you away hotspur why my horse my love my horse lady percy out you mad headed ape a weasel hath not such a deal of spleen as you are tossd with in faith ill 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 hotspur so far a foot i shall be weary love lady percy come come you paraquito answer me directly to this question that i ask in faith ill break thy little finger harry an if thou wilt not tell me true hotspur 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 crackd crowns and pass them current too gods me my horse what sayst thou kate what wouldst thou have with me lady percy 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 hotspur 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 percys 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 lady percy how so far hotspur 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 lady percy it must of force exeunt scene iv eastcheap a room in the boars head tavern enter prince henry prince ned prythee come out of that fat room and lend me thy hand to laugh a little enter poins poins where hast been hal prince with three or four loggerheads amongst three or fourscore 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 christian 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 dying 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 clappd even now into my hand by an under skinker 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 prythee 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 ill show thee a precedent exit poins poins within francis prince thou art perfect poins within francis enter francis francis anon anon sir look down into the pomegranate ralph prince come hither francis francis my lord prince how long hast thou to serve francis francis forsooth five years and as much as to poins within francis francis anon anon sir prince five year byr 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 francis o lord sir ill be sworn upon all the books in england i could find in my heart poins within francis francis anon anon sir prince how old art thou francis francis let me see about michaelmas next i shall be poins within francis francis anon sir pray you stay a little my lord prince nay but hark you francis for the sugar thou gavest me twas a pennyworth wast not francis o lord sir i would it had been two prince i will give thee for it a thousand pound ask me when thou wilt and thou shalt have it poins within francis francis anon anon prince anon francis no francis but to morrow francis or francis a thursday or indeed francis when thou wilt but francis francis my lord prince wilt thou rob this leathern jerkin crystal button nott pated agate ring puke stocking caddis garter smooth tongue spanish pouch francis o lord sir who do you mean prince 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 francis what sir poins within francis prince away you rogue dost thou not hear them call here they both call him francis stands amazed not knowing which way to go enter vintner vintner what standst thou still and hearst such a calling look to the guests within exit francis my lord old sir john with half a dozen more are at the door shall i let them in prince let them alone awhile and then open the door exit vintner poins re enter poins poins anon anon sir prince sirrah falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the door shall we be merry poins as merry as crickets my lad but hark ye what cunning match have you made with this jest of the drawer come whats the issue prince i am now of all humours that have showed themselves humours since the old days of goodman adam to the pupil age of this present twelve oclock at midnight whats oclock francis francis within anon anon sir prince 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 percys 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 killd to day give my roan horse a drench says he and answers some fourteen an hour after a trifle a trifle i prythee call in falstaff ill play percy and that damnd brawn shall play dame mortimer his wife rivo says the drunkard call in ribs call in tallow enter falstaff gadshill bardolph and peto followed by francis with wine poins welcome jack where hast thou been falstaff 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 ill 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 drinks prince didst thou never see titan kiss a dish of butter pitiful hearted butter that melted at the sweet tale of the sun if thou didst then behold that compound falstaff you rogue heres lime in this sack too there is nothing but roguery to be found in villainous 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 unhangd 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 any thing a plague of all cowards i say still prince how now wool sack what mutter you falstaff a kings 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 ill never wear hair on my face more you prince of wales prince why you whoreson round man whats the matter falstaff are not you a coward answer me to that and poins there poins zwounds ye fat paunch an ye call me coward by the lord ill stab thee falstaff i call thee coward ill see thee damnd 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 prince o villain thy lips are scarce wiped since thou drunkst last falstaff all is one for that a plague of all cowards still say i drinks prince whats the matter falstaff whats the matter there be four of us here have taen a thousand pound this day morning prince where is it jack where is it falstaff where is it taken from us it is a hundred upon poor four of us prince what a hundred man falstaff i am a rogue if i were not at half sword with a dozen of them two hours together i have scaped by miracle i am eight times thrust through the doublet four through the hose my buckler cut through and through my sword hackd 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 prince speak sirs how was it gadshill we four set upon some dozen falstaff sixteen at least my lord gadshill and bound them peto no no they were not bound falstaff you rogue they were bound every man of them or i am a jew else an ebrew jew gadshill as we were sharing some six or seven fresh men sea upon us falstaff and unbound the rest and then come in the other prince what fought you with them all falstaff all i know not what you 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 prince pray god you have not murdered some of them falstaff nay thats past praying for i have pepperd 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 prince what four thou saidst but two even now falstaff four hal i told thee four poins ay ay he said four falstaff 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 prince seven why there were but four even now falstaff in buckram poins ay four in buckram suits falstaff seven by these hilts or i am a villain else prince aside to poins prythee let him alone we shall have more anon falstaff dost thou hear me hal prince ay and mark thee too jack falstaff do so for it is worth the listening to these nine in buckram that i told thee of prince so two more already falstaff their points being broken poins down fell their hose falstaff 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 prince o monstrous eleven buckram men grown out of two falstaff 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 prince these lies are like the father that begets them gross as a mountain open palpable why thou nott pated fool thou whoreson obscene greasy tallow keech falstaff what art thou mad art thou mad is not the truth the truth prince 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 poins come your reason jack your reason falstaff what upon compulsion no were i 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 plentiful as blackberries i would give no man a reason upon compulsion i prince ill be no longer guilty of this sin this sanguine coward this bed presser this horse back breaker this huge hill of flesh falstaff away you starveling you eel skin you dried neats tongue you stock fish o for breath to utter what is like thee you tailors yard you sheath you bow case you vile standing tuck prince well breathe awhile and then to it again and when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons hear me speak but this poins mark jack prince we two saw you four set on four 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 outfaced you from your prize and have it yea and can show it you here in the house and falstaff you carried yourself away as nimbly with as quick dexterity and roared for mercy and still ran and roard 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 poins come lets hear jack what trick hast thou now falstaff by the lord i knew ye as well as he that made ye why hear ye 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 now 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 to hostess within 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 prince content and the argument shall be thy running away falstaff ah no more of that hal an thou lovest me enter the hostess hostess o jesu my lord the prince prince how now my lady the hostess what sayst thou to me hostess marry my lord there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with you he says he comes from your father prince give him as much as will make him a royal man and send him back again to my mother falstaff what manner of man is he hostess an old man falstaff what doth gravity out of his bed at midnight shall i give him his answer prince prythee do jack falstaff faith and ill send him packing exit prince now sirs byr 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 bardolph faith i ran when i saw others run prince tell me now in earnest how came falstaffs sword so hackd peto why he hackd 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 bardolph 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 blushd to hear his monstrous devices prince o villain thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen years ago and wert taken with the manner and ever since thou hast blushd extempore thou hadst fire and sword on thy side and yet thou rannst away what instinct hadst thou for it bardolph my lord do you see these meteors do you behold these exhalations prince i do bardolph what think you they portend prince hot livers and cold purses bardolph choler my lord if rightly taken prince no if rightly taken halter here comes lean jack here comes bare bone enter falstaff how now my sweet creature of bombast how long ist ago jack since thou sawst thine own knee falstaff my own knee when i was about thy years hal i was not an eagles talon in the waist i could have crept into any aldermans thumb ring a plague of sighing and grief it blows a man up like a bladder theres 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 swore the devil his true liegeman upon the cross of a welsh hook what a plague call you him poins o glendower falstaff 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 prince he that rides at high speed and with his pistol kills a sparrow flying falstaff you have hit it prince so did he never the sparrow falstaff well that rascal hath good metal in him he will not run prince why what a rascal art thou then to praise him so for running falstaff o horseback ye cuckoo but a foot he will not budge a foot prince yes jack upon instinct falstaff 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 fathers beard is turnd white with the news you may buy land now as cheap as stinking mackerel but tell me hal art not thou horrible 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 prince not a whit ifaith i lack some of thy instinct falstaff well thou wilt be horribly chid to morrow when thou comest to thy father if thou love life practise an answer prince do thou stand for my father and examine me upon the particulars of my life falstaff shall i content this chair shall be my state this dagger my sceptre and this cushion my crown prince 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 falstaff 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 my 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 prince well here is my leg falstaff and here is my speech stand aside nobility hostess o jesu this is excellent sport i faith falstaff weep not sweet queen for trickling tears are vain hostess o the father how he holds his countenance falstaff for gods sake lords convey my tristful queen for tears do stop the floodgates of her eyes hostess o jesu he doth it as like one of these harlotry players as ever i see falstaff 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 mothers word partly my own opinion but chiefly a villainous 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 askd shall the son of england prove a thief and take purses a question to be askd 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 prince what manner of man an it like your majesty falstaff a goodly portly man ifaith and a corpulent of a cheerful look a pleasing eye and a most noble carriage and as i think his age some fifty or byr 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 prince dost thou speak like a king do thou stand for me and ill play my father falstaff 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 poulters hare prince well here i am set falstaff and here i stand judge my masters prince now harry whence come you falstaff my noble lord from eastcheap prince the complaints i hear of thee are grievous falstaff sblood my lord they are false nay ill tickle ye for a young prince ifaith prince swearest thou ungracious boy henceforth neer look on me thou art violently carried away from grace there is a devil haunts thee in the likeness of an old fat man a tun of man is thy companion why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours that bolting hutch of beastliness that swollen parcel of dropsies that huge bombard of sack 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 villainous but in all things wherein worthy but in nothing falstaff i would your grace would take me with you whom means your grace prince that villainous abominable misleader of youth falstaff that old white bearded satan falstaff my lord the man i know prince i know thou dost falstaff 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 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 damnd if to be fat be to be hated then pharaohs 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 harrys company banish not him thy harrys company banish plump jack and banish all the world prince i do i will a knocking heard exeunt hostess francis and bardolph enter bardolph running bardolph o my lord my lord the sheriff with a most monstrous watch is at the door falstaff out ye rogue play out the play i have much to say in the behalf of that falstaff re enter the hostess hastily hostess o jesu my lord my lord prince heigh heigh the devil rides upon a fiddlestick whats the matter hostess the sheriff and all the watch are at the door they are come to search the house shall i let them in falstaff dost thou hear hal never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit thou art essentially mad without seeming so prince and thou a natural coward without instinct falstaff 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 prince go hide thee behind the arras the rest walk up above now my masters for a true face and good conscience falstaff both which i have had but their date is out and therefore ill hide me prince call in the sheriff exeunt all but the prince and poins enter sheriff and carrier now master sheriff whats your will with me sheriff first pardon me my lord a hue and cry hath followed certain men unto this house prince what men sheriff one of them is well known my gracious lord a gross fat man carrier as fat as butter prince the man i do assure you is not here for i myself at this time have employd 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 any thing he shall be charged withal and so let me entreat you leave the house sheriff i will my lord there are two gentlemen have in this robbery lost three hundred marks prince it may be so if he have robbd these men he shall be answerable and so farewell sheriff good night my noble lord prince i think it is good morrow is it not sheriff indeed my lord i thinkt be two oclock exit sheriff and carrier prince this oily rascal is known as well as pauls go call him forth poins falstaff fast asleep behind the arras and snorting like a horse prince hark how hard he fetches breath search his pockets poins searches what hast thou found poins nothing but papers my lord prince lets see what they be read them poins reads item a capon s d item sauce d item sack two gallons s d item anchovies and sack after supper s d item bread ob prince o monstrous but one half pennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack what there is else keep close well read it at more advantage there let him sleep till day ill to the court in the morning we must all to the wars and thy place shall be honourable ill 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 poins poins good morrow good my lord exeunt act iii scene i bangor a room in the archdeacons house enter hotspur worcester mortimer and glendower mortimer these promises are fair the parties sure and our induction full of prosperous hope hotspur lord mortimer and cousin glendower will you sit down and uncle worcester a plague upon it i have forgot the map glendower 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 wisheth you in heaven hotspur and you in hell as oft as he hears owen glendower spoke of glendower i cannot blame him at my nativity the front of heaven was full of fiery shapes of burning cressets ay and at my birth the frame and huge foundation of the earth shaked like a coward hotspur why so it would have done at the same season if your mothers cat had but kittend though yourself had never been born glendower i say the earth did shake when i was born hotspur and i say the earth was not of my mind if you suppose as fearing you it shook glendower the heavens were all on fire the earth did tremble hotspur o then th 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 pinchd and vexd 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 glendower 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 markd me extraordinary and all the courses of my life do show i am not in the roll of common men where is he living clippd 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 womans son can trace me in the tedious ways of art and hold me pace in deep experiments hotspur i think there is no man speaks better welsh ill to dinner mortimer peace cousin percy you will make him mad glendower i can call spirits from the vasty deep hotspur why so can i or so can any man but will they come when you do call for them glendower why i can teach you cousin to command the devil hotspur 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 ill be sworn ive power to shame him hence o while you live tell truth and shame the devil mortimer come come no more of this unprofitable chat glendower three times hath henry bolingbroke made head against my power thrice from the banks of wye and sandy bottomd severn have i sent him bootless home and weather beaten back hotspur home without boots and in foul weather too how scaped he agues in the devils name glendower come heres the map shall we divide our right according to our threefold order taen mortimer th archdeacon hath divided it into three limits very equally england from trent and severn hitherto by south and east is to my part assignd 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 to glend within that space you may have drawn together your tenants friends and neighbouring gentlemen glendower 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 hotspur 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 ill have the current in this place damnd up and here the smug and sliver 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 glendower not wind it shall it must you see it doth mortimer yea but mark how he bears his course and runs me up with like advantage on the other side gelding th opposed continent as much as on the other side it takes from you worcester yea but a little charge will trench him here and on this north side win this cape of land and then he runneth straight and evenly hotspur ill have it so a little charge will do it glendower i will not have it alterd hotspur will not you glendower no nor you shall not hotspur who shall say me nay glendower why that will i hotspur let me not understand you then speak it in welsh glendower i can speak english lord as well as you for i was traind up in the english court where being but young i framed to the harp many an english ditty lovely well and gave the tongue a helpful ornament a virtue that was never seen in you hotspur marry and i am glad of it with all my heart i had rather be a kitten and cry mew than one of these same metre ballet mongers i had rather hear a brazen canstick turnd or a dry wheel grate on the axletree and that would set my teeth nothing on edge nothing so much as mincing poetry tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag glendower come you shall have trent turnd hotspur i do not care ill give thrice so much land to any well deserving friend but in the way of bargain mark ye me ill cavil on the ninth part of a hair are the indentures drawn shall we be gone glend the moon shines fair you may away by night ill in and 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 exit mortimer fie cousin percy how you cross my father hotspur 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 wingd 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 tell you what he held me last night at the least nine hours in reckoning up the several devils names that were his lacqueys i cried hum and well but markd him not a word o hes as tedious as a tired horse a railing wife worse than a smoky house i had rather live with cheese and garlic in a windmill far than feed on cates and have him talk to me in any summer house in christendom mortimer 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 worcester in faith my lord you are too wilful blunt 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 thats 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 mens hearts and leaves behind a stain upon the beauty of all parts besides beguiling them of commendation hotspur well i am schoold good manners be your speed here come our wives and let us take our leave re enter glendower with lady mortimer and lady percy mortimer this is the deadly spite that angers me my wife can speak no english i no welsh glendower my daughter weeps she will not part with you shell be a soldier too shell to the wars mortimer good father tell her that she and my aunt percy shall follow in your conduct speedily glendower speaks to lady mortimer in welsh and she answers him in the same glendower shes desperate here a peevish self willd harlotry one that no persuasion can do good upon lady mortimer speaks to mortimer in welsh mortimer i understand thy looks that pretty welsh which thou pourst down from these swelling heavens i am too perfect in and but for shame in such a parley should i answer thee lady mortimer speaks to him again in welsh i understand thy kisses and thou mine and thats a feeling disputation but i will never be a truant love till i have learnd thy language for thy tongue makes welsh as sweet as ditties highly pennd sung by a fair queen in a summers bower with ravishing division to her lute glendower nay if you melt then will she run mad lady mortimer speaks to mortimer again in welsh mortimer o i am ignorance itself in this glendower she bids you on 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 eyelids crown the god of sleep charming your blood with pleasing heaviness making such difference betwixt wake and sleep as is the difference betwixt day and night the hour before the heavenly harnessd team begins his golden progress in the east mortimer with all my heart ill sit and hear her sing by that time will our book i think be drawn glendower do so an 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 hotspur come kate thou art perfect in lying down come quick quick that i may lay my head in thy lap lady percy go ye giddy goose the music plays hotspur now i perceive the devil understands welsh and tis no marvel hes so humorous byr lady hes a good musician lady percy 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 hotspur i had rather hear lady my brach howl in irish lady percy wouldst thou have thy head broken hotspur no lady percy then be still hotspur neither tis a womans fault lady percy now god help thee hotspur peace she sings a welsh song by lady mortimer come kate ill have your song too lady percy not mine in good sooth hotspur not yours in good sooth heart you swear like a comfit makers wife not mine in good sooth and as true as i live and as god shall mend me and as sure as day and givest such sarcenet surety for thy oaths as if thou neer walkdst 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 lady percy i will not sing hotspur tis the next way to turn tailor or be redbreast teacher an the indentures be drawn ill away within these two hours and so come in when ye will exit glendower come come lord mortimer you are as slow as hot lord percy is on fire to go by this our books drawn well but seal and then to horse immediately mortimer with all my heart exeunt scene ii london a room in the palace enter king henry prince henry and lords king 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 exeunt lords 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 hell breed revengement and a scourge for me but thou dost in thy passages of life make me believe that thou art only markd 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 base such lewd such mean attempts such barren pleasures rude society as thou art matchd withal and grafted to accompany the greatness of thy blood and hold their level with thy princely heart prince 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 charged withal yet such extenuation let me beg as in reproof of many tales devised by smiling pick thanks and base news mongers which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear i may for some things true wherein my youth hath faulty wanderd and irregular find pardon on my true submission king 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 ruind and the soul of every man prophetically does forethink thy fall had i so lavish of my presence been so common hackneyd 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 wonderd 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 dressd myself in such humility that i did pluck allegiance from mens 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 neer seen but wonderd 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 enfeoffd himself to popularity that being dally swallowd by mens 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 drowsed and hung their eyelids down slept in his face and renderd such aspect as cloudy men use to their adversaries being with his presence glutted gorged and full and in that very line harry standst thou for thou hast lost thy princely privilege with vile participation not an eye but is a weary of thy common sight save mine which hath desired to see thee more which now doth that i would not have it do make blind itself with foolish tenderness prince i shall hereafter my thrice gracious lord be more myself king for all the world as thou art to this hour was richard then when i from france set foot at ravenspurg 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 lions 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 swathing clothes this infant warrior in his enterprises discomfited great douglas taen 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 th archbishops grace of york douglas and 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 nearst and dearest enemy thou that art like enough through vassal fear base inclination and the start of spleen to fight against me under percys pay to dog his heels and curtsy at his frowns to show how much thou art degenerate prince do not think so you shall not find it so and god forgive them that so much have swayd your majestys good thoughts away from me i will redeem all this on percys 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 favour in a bloody mask which washd away shall scour my shame with it and that shall be the day wheneer 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 t engross up glorious deeds on my behalf and i will call hall 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 i perform and do survive 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 king a hundred thousand rebels die in this thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein enter sir walter blunt how now good blunt thy looks are full of speed blunt so is the business that i come to speak of lord mortimer of scotland hath sent word that douglas and the english rebels met th eleventh of this month at shrewsbury a mighty and a fearful head they are if promises be kept on every hand as ever offerd foul play in a state king 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 you harry shall set forward on thursday we ourselves will march our meeting is bridgenorth and harry you shall march through glostershire by which account our business valued some twelve days hence our general forces at bridgenorth shall meet our hands are full of business lets away advantage feeds him fat while men delay exeunt scene iii eastcheap a room in the boars head tavern enter falstaff and bardolph falstaff 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 ladys loose gown i am withered like an old apple john well ill 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 brewers horse the inside of a church company villainous company hath been the spoil of me bardolph sir john you are so fretful you cannot live long falstaff why there is it come sing me a 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 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 bardolph why you are so fat sir john that you must needs be out of all compass out of all reasonable compass sir john falstaff do thou amend thy face and ill amend my life thou art our admiral thou bearest the lantern in the poop but tis in the nose of thee thou art the knight of the burning lamp bardolph why sir john my face does you no harm falstaff no ill be sworn i make as good use of it as many a man doth of a deaths 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 thats gods angel but thou art altogether given over and wert indeed but for the light in thy face the son of utter darkness when thou rannst up gads hill in the night to catch my horse if i did not think thou hadst been an ignis fatuus or a ball of wildfire theres 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 chandlers in europe i have maintaind that salamander of yours with fire any time this two and thirty years god reward me for it bardolph sblood i would my face were in your stomach falstaff god a mercy so should i be sure to be heart burnd enter the hostess how now dame partlet the hen have you enquird yet who pickd my pocket hostess why sir john what do you think sir john do you think i keep thieves in my house i have searchd 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 falstaff ye lie hostess bardolph was shaved and lost many a hair and ill be sworn my pocket was pickd go to you are a woman go hostess who i no i defy thee gods light i was never calld so in mine own house before falstaff go to i know you well enough hostess 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 falstaff dowlas filthy dowlas i have given them away to bakers wives and they have made bolters of them hostess now as i am a 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 falstaff he had his part of it let him pay hostess he alas he is poor he hath nothing falstaff how poor look upon his face what call you rich let them coin his nose let them coin his cheeks ill 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 pickd i have lost a seal ring of my grandfathers worth forty mark hostess o jesu i have heard the prince tell him i know not how oft that that ring was copper falstaff 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 enter prince henry and poins marching falstaff meets them playing on his truncheon like a fife how now lad is the wind in that door ifaith must we all march bardolph yea two and two newgate fashion hostess my lord i pray you hear me prince what sayst thou mistress quickly how doth thy husband i love him well he is an honest man hostess good my lord hear me falstaff prythee let her alone and list to me prince what sayst thou jack falstaff the other night i fell asleep here behind the arras and had my pocket pickd this house is turnd bawdy house they pick pockets prince what didst thou lose jack falstaff wilt thou believe me hal three or four bonds of forty pound a piece and a seal ring of my grandfathers prince a trifle some eight penny matter hostess 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 mouthd man as he is and said he would cudgel you prince what he did not hostess theres neither faith truth nor womanhood in me else falstaff theres no more faith in thee than in a stewd prune nor no more truth in thee than in a drawn fox and for woman hood maid marian may be the deputys wife of the ward to thee go you thing go hostess say what thing what thing i am an honest mans wife and setting thy knighthood aside thou art a knave to call me so falstaff setting thy womanhood aside thou art a beast to say otherwise hostess say what beast thou knave thou falstaff what beast why an otter prince an otter sir john why an otter falstaff why shes neither fish nor flesh a man knows not where to have her hostess thou art an unjust man in saying so thou or any man knows where to have me thou knave thou prince thou sayst true hostess and he slanders thee most grossly hostess so he doth you my lord and said this other day you ought him a thousand pound prince sirrah do i owe you a thousand pound falstaff a thousand pound hal a million thy love is worth a million thou owest me thy love hostess nay my lord he calld you jack and said he would cudgel you falstaff did i bardolph bardolph indeed sir john you said so falstaff yea if he said my ring was copper prince i say tis copper darest thou be as good as thy word now falstaff why hal thou knowst as thou art but man i dare but as thou art prince i fear thee as i fear the roaring of the lions whelp prince and why not as the lion falstaff the king himself is to be feared as the lion dost thou think ill fear thee as i fear thy father nay an i do i pray god my girdle break prince sirrah theres no room for faith truth nor honesty in this bosom of thine it is all filld up with midriff charge an honest woman with picking thy pocket why thou whoreson impudent embossd rascal if there were anything in thy pocket but tavern reckonings and one poor pennyworth of sugar candy to make thee long winded if thy pocket were enrichd 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 falstaff dost thou hear hal thou knowst in the state of innocency adam fell and what should poor jack falstaff do in the days of villainy thou seest i have more flesh than another man and therefore more frailty you confess then you pickd my pocket prince it appears so by the story falstaff 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 prythee be gone exit hostess now hal to the news at court for the robbery lad how is that answered prince o my sweet beef i must still be good angel to thee the money is paid back again falstaff o i do not like that paying back tis a double labour prince i am good friends with my father and may do any thing falstaff rob me the exchequer the first thing thou doest and do it with unwashd hands too bardolph do my lord prince i have procured thee jack a charge of foot falstaff 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 prince bardolph bardolph my lord prince go bear this letter to lord john of lancaster to my brother john this to my lord of westmoreland exit bardolph go poins to horse to horse for thou and i have thirty miles to ride yet ere dinner time exit poins meet me to morrow jack i the temple hall at two oclock in th 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 they or we must lower lie exit falstaff rare words brave world hostess my breakfast come o i could wish this tavern were my drum exit act iv scene i the rebel camp near shrewsbury enter hotspur worcester and douglas hotspur 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 seasons stamp should go so general current through the world by god i cannot flatter i defy the tongues of soothers but a braver place in my hearts love hath no man than yourself nay task me to my word approve me lord douglas thou art the king of honour no man so potent breathes upon the ground but i will beard him hotspur do so and tis well enter a messenger with letters what letters hast thou there i can but thank you messenger these letters come from your father hotspur letters from him why comes he not himself messenger he cannot come my lord hes grievous sick hotspur zwounds how has he the leisure to be sick in such a justling time who leads his power under whose government come they along messenger his letters bears his mind not i my lord worcester i prythee tell me doth he keep his bed messenger he did my lord four days ere i set forth and at the time of my departure thence he was much feard by his physicians worcester 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 hotspur 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 no did he think it meet to lay so dangerous and dear a trust on any soul removed but on his own yet doth he give us bold advertisement that with our small conjunction we should on to see how fortune is disposed to us for as he writes there is no quailing now because the king is certainly possessd of all our purposes what say you to it worcester your fathers sickness is a maim to us hotspur a perilous gash a very limb loppd 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 douglas faith and so we should where now remains a sweet reversion and we may boldly spend upon the hope of what is to come in a comfort of retirement lives in this hotspur a rendezvous a home to fly unto if that the devil and mischance look big upon the maidenhead of our affairs worcester 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 fathers draws a curtain that shows the ignorant a kind of fear before not dreamt of hotspur nay 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 oerturn it topsy turvy down yet all goes well yet all our joints are whole douglas as heart can think there is not such a word spoke in scotland as this term of fear enter sir richard vernon hotspur my cousin vernon welcome by my soul vernon pray god my news be worth a welcome lord the earl of westmoreland seven thousand strong is marching hitherwards with him prince john hotspur no harm what more vernon and further i have learnd the king himself in person is set forth or hitherwards intended speedily with strong and mighty preparation hotspur he shall be welcome too where is his son the nimble footed madcap prince of wales and his comrades that daff the world aside and bid it pass vernon all furnishd all in arms all plumed like estridges that with the wind bate it like eagles having lately bathed 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 cuisses on his thighs gallantly armd rise from the ground like featherd mercury and vault it with such ease into his seat as if an angel droppd down from the clouds to turn and wind a fiery pegasus and witch the world with noble horsemanship hotspur 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 eyed 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 and harry shall hot horse to horse meet and neer part till one drop down a corse o that glendower were come vernon there is more news i learnd in worcester as i rode along he cannot draw his power this fourteen days douglas thats the worst tidings that i hear of yet worcester ay by my faith that bears a frosty sound hotspur what may the kings whole battle reach unto vernon to thirty thousand hotspur 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 douglas talk not of dying i am out of fear of death or deaths hand for this one half year exeunt scene ii a public road near coventry enter falstaff and bardolph falstaff bardolph get thee before to coventry fill me a bottle of sack our soldiers shall march through well to sutton cofil to night bardolph will you give me money captain falstaff lay out lay out bardolph this bottle makes an angel falstaff an if it do take it for thy labour an if it make twenty take them all ill answer the coinage bid my lieutenant peto meet me at the towns end bardolph i will captain farewell exit falstaff if i be not ashamed of my soldiers i am a soused gurnet i have misused the kings press damnably i have got in exchange of a hundred and fifty soldiers three hundred and odd pounds i pressd me none but good householders yeomens sons inquired me out contracted bachelors such as had been askd 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 pressd me none but such toasts and butter with hearts in their bodies 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 gluttons 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 pressd the dead bodies no eye hath seen such scarecrows ill not march through coventry with them thats 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 theres but a shirt and a half in all my company and the half shirt is two napkins tackd together and thrown over the shoulders like a heralds coat without sleeves and the shirt to say the truth stolen from my host at saint albans or the red nose innkeeper of daventry but thats all one theyll find linen enough on every hedge enter prince henry and westmoreland prince how now blown jack how now quilt falstaff 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 westmoreland 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 to night falstaff tut never fear me i am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream prince 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 falstaff mine hal mine prince i did never see such pitiful rascals falstaff tut tut good enough to toss food for powder food for powder theyll fill a pit as well as better tush man mortal men mortal men westmoreland ay but sir john methinks they are exceeding poor and bare too beggarly falstaff faith for their poverty i know not where they had that and for their bareness i am sure they never learnd that of me prince no ill be sworn unless you call three fingers on the ribs bare but sirrah make haste percy is already in the field exit falstaff what is the king encampd westmoreland he is sir john i fear we shall stay too long exit falstaff well to the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast fits a dull fighter and a keen guest exit scene iii the rebel camp near shrewsbury enter hotspur worcester douglas and vernon hotspur well fight with him to night worcester it may not be douglas you give him then advantage vernon not a whit hotspur why say you so looks he not for supply vernon so do we hotspur his is certain ours is doubtful worcester good cousin be advised stir not to night vernon do not my lord douglas you do not counsel well you speak it out of fear and cold heart vernon 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 douglas yea or to night vernon content hotspur to night say i vernon 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 vernons are not yet come up your uncle worcesters 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 himself hotspur so are the horses of the enemy in general journey bated and brought low the better part of ours are full of rest worcester the number of the king exceedeth ours for gods sake cousin stay till all come in the trumpet sounds a parley enter sir walter blunt blunt i come with gracious offers from the king if you vouchsafe me hearing and respect hotspur 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 blunt 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 hotspur 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 worlds 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 innocence and terms of zeal my father in kind heart and pity moved swore him assistance and performed it too now when the lords and barons of the realm perceived 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 profferd him their oaths give him their heirs as pages followd 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 ravenspurg 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 countrys 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 blunt tut i came not to hear this hotspur then to the point in short time after he deposed the king soon after that deprived him of his life and in the neck of that taskd the whole state to make that worse sufferd his kinsman march who is if every owner were well placed indeed his king to be engaged in wales there without ransom to lie forfeited disgraced me in my happy victories sought to entrap me by intelligence rated my uncle from the council board in rage dismissd 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 now we find too indirect for long continuance blunt shall i return this answer to the king hotspur not so sir walter well withdraw awhile go to the king and let there be impawnd some surety for a safe return again and in the morning early shall my uncle bring him our purposes and so farewell blunt i would you would accept of grace and love hotspur and may be so we shall blunt pray god you do exeunt scene iv york a room in the archbishops palace enter the archbishop of york and sir michael archbishop 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 sir michael my good lord i guess their tenour archbishop 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 glendowers absence thence who with them was a rated sinew too and comes not in oer ruld by prophecies i fear the power of percy is too weak to wage an instant trial with the king sir michael why my good lord you need not fear theres douglas and lord mortimer archbishop no mortimers not there sir michael but there is mordake vernon lord harry percy and theres my lord of worcester and a head of gallant warriors noble gentlemen archbishop 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 warlike blunt and many more corrivals and dear men of estimation and command in arms sir michael doubt not my lord they shall be well opposed archbishop i hope no less yet needful tis to fear and to prevent the worst 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 exeunt act v scene i the kings camp near shrewsbury enter king henry prince henry lancaster sir walter blunt and sir john falstaff king how bloodily the sun begins to peer above yon busky hill the day looks pale at his distemperature prince 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 king then with the losers let it sympathize for nothing can seem foul to those that win the trumpet sounds enter worcester and vernon how now my lord of worcester tis not well that you and i should meet upon such terms as now we meet you have deceived 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 tot 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 exhaled meteor a prodigy of fear and a portent of broached mischief to the unborn times worcester 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 king you have not sought it why how comes it then falstaff rebellion lay in his way and he found it prince peace chewet peace worcester it pleased 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 richards 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 falln right the seat of gaunt dukedom of lancaster to this we swore our aid but in short space it raind 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 wood to gripe the general sway into your hand forgot your oath to us at doncaster and being fed by us you used us so as that ungentle gull the cuckoo bird useth the sparrow did oppress our nest grew by our feeding to so great a bulk that even our love thirst not come near your sight for fear of swallowing but with nimble wing we were enforced for safety sake to fly out of your sight and raise this present head whereby we stand opposed by such means as you yourself have forged against yourself by unkind usage dangerous countenance and violation of all faith and troth sworn to tis in your younger enterprise king these things indeed you have articulate proclaimd 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 pellmell havoc and confusion prince 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 fathers 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 king 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 cousins 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 ill be his so tell your cousin and then 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 exit worcester with vernon prince it will not be accepted on my life the douglas and the hotspur both together are confident against the world in arms king 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 exeunt the king blunt and prince john falstaff hal if thou see me down in the battle and bestride me so tis a point of friendship prince nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship say thy prayers and farewell falstaff i would it were bedtime hal and all well prince why thou owest god a death exit falstaff tis not due yet i would be loth 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 honor 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 be hear it no is it insensible then yea to the dead but will it not live with the living no why detraction will not suffer it therefore ill none of it honour is a mere scutcheon and so ends my catechism exit scene ii the rebel camp enter worcester and vernon worcester o no my nephew must not know sir richard the liberal kind offer of the king vernon twere best he did worcester 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 neer so tame so cherishd and lockd 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 cherishd still the nearer death my nephews trespass may be well forgot it hath th excuse of youth and heat of blood and an adopted name of privilege a hare braind hotspur governd by a spleen all his offences live upon my head and on his fathers we did train him on and his corruption being taen 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 vernon deliver what you will ill say tis so here comes your cousin enter hotspur and douglas officers and soldiers behind hotspur my uncle is returnd deliver up my lord of westmoreland uncle what news worcester the king will bid you battle presently douglas defy him by the lord of westmoreland hotspur lord douglas go you and tell him so douglas marry i shall and very willingly exit worcester there is no seeming mercy in the king hotspur did you beg any god forbid worcester i told him gently of our grievances of his oath breaking which he mended thus by new forswearing that he is forsworn he calls us rebels traitors and will scourge with haughty arms this hateful name in us re enter douglas douglas arm gentlemen to arms for i have thrown a brave defiance in king henrys teeth and westmoreland that was engaged did bear it which cannot choose but bring him quickly on worcester the prince of wales steppd forth before the king and nephew challenged you to single fight hotspur 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 showd his tasking seemd it in contempt vernon no by my soul i never in my life did hear a challenge urged 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 trimmd up your praises with a princely tongue spoke your deservings like a chronicle making you ever better than his praise by still dispraising praise valued 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 masterd 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 misconstrued in his wantonness hotspur cousin i think thou art enamoured upon his follies never did i hear of any prince so wild o liberty but be he as he will yet once ere night i will embrace him with a soldiers 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 enter a messenger messenger my lord here are letters for you hotspur 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 dials point still ending at th 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 enter another messenger messenger my lord prepare the king comes on apace hotspur 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 the trumpets sound they embrace and exeunt scene iii plain between the camps excursions and parties fighting alarum to the battle then enter douglas and sir walter blunt meeting blunt what is thy name that in the battle thus thou crossest me what honour dost thou seek upon my head douglas know then my name is douglas and i do haunt thee in the battle thus because some tell me that thou art a king blunt they tell thee true douglas 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 blunt i was not born a yielder thou proud scot and thou shalt find a king that will revenge lord staffords death they fight and blunt is slain enter hotspur hotspur o douglas hadst thou fought at holmedon thus i never had triumphed oer a scot douglas alls done alls won here breathless lies the king hotspur where douglas here hotspur this douglas no i know this face full well a gallant knight he was his name was blunt semblably furnishd like the king himself douglas a fool go with thy soul wherere it goes a borrowd title hast thou bought too dear why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king hotspur the king hath many marching in his coats douglas now by my sword i will kill all his coats ill murder all his wardrobe piece by piece until i meet the king hotspur up and away our soldiers stand full fairly for the day exeunt alarums enter falstaff falstaff though i could scape shot free at london i fear the shot here heres no scoring but upon the pate soft who are you sir walter blunt theres honour for you heres 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 theres not three of my hundred and fifty left alive and they are for the towns end to beg during life but who comes here enter prince henry prince what standst thou idle here lend me thy sword many a nobleman lies stark and stiff under the hoofs of vaunting enemies whose deaths are yet unrevenged i prythee lend me thy sword falstaff o hal i prythee 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 prince he is indeed and living to kill thee i prythee lend me thy sword falstaff nay before god hal if percy be alive thou gettst not my sword but take my pistol if thou wilt prince give it me what is it in the case falstaff ay hal tis hot tis hot theres that will sack a city the prince draws out a bottle of sack what ist a time to jest and dally now throws it at him and exit falstaff well if percy be alive ill 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 theres an end exit scene iv another part of the field alarums excursions enter king henry prince henry lancaster and westmoreland king i prythee harry withdraw thyself thou bleedest too much lord john of lancaster go you unto him lancaster not i my lord unless i did bleed too prince i do beseech your majesty make up lest your retirement do amaze your friends king i will do so my lord of westmoreland lead him to his tent westmoreland come my lord ill lead you to your tent prince 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 staind nobility lies trodden on and rebels arms triumph in massacres lancaster we breathe too long come cousin westmoreland our duty this way lies for gods sake come exeunt lancaster and westmoreland prince by heaven thou hast deceived me lancaster i did not think thee lord of such a spirit before i loved thee as a brother john but now i do respect thee as my soul king i saw him hold lord percy at the point with lustier maintenance than i did look for of such an ungrown warrior prince o this boy lends mettle to us all exit alarums enter douglas douglas another king they grow like hydras heads i am the douglas fatal to all those that wear those colours on them what art thou that counterfeitst the person of a king 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 fallst on me so luckily i will assay thee so defend thyself douglas i fear thou art another counterfeit and yet in faith thou bearst thee like a king but mine im sure thou art whoeer thou be and thus i win thee they fight the king being in danger re enter prince henry prince 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 they fight douglas flies cheerly my lord how fares your grace sir nicholas gawsey hath for succour sent and so hath clifton ill to clifton straight king stay and breathe awhile thou hast redeemd thy lost opinion and showd thou makest some tender of my life in this fair rescue thou hast brought to me prince o god they did me too much injury that ever said i hearkend for your death if it were so i might have let alone th insulting hand of douglas over you which would have been as speedy in your end as all the poisonous potions in the world and saved the treacherous labour of your son king make up to clifton ill to sir nicholas gawsey exit enter hotspur hotspur if i mistake not thou art harry monmouth prince thou speakst as if i would deny my name hotspur my name is harry percy prince why then i see a very valiant rebel of the 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 hotspur 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 prince ill make it greater ere i part from thee and all the budding honours on thy crest ill crop to make a garland for my head hotspur i can no longer brook thy vanities they fight enter falstaff falstaff well said hal to it hal nay you shall find no boys play here i can tell you re enter douglas he fights with falstaff who falls down as if he were dead and exit douglas hotspure is wounded and falls hotspur o harry thou hast robbd 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 thoughts the slave of life and life times 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 dies prince for worms brave percy fare thee well great heart ill weaved 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 ill thank myself for doing these fair rites of tenderness adieu and take thy praise with thee to heaven thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave but not rememberd in thy epitaph sees falstaff on the ground what old acquaintance could not all this flesh keep in a little life poor jack farewell i could have better spared 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 embowelld will i see thee by and by till then in blood by noble percy lie exit falstaff rising embowelld if thou embowel me to day ill 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 zwounds 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 ill make him sure yea and ill swear i killd him why may not he rise as well as i nothing confutes me but eyes and nobody sees me therefore sirrah with a new wound in your thigh come you along with me takes hotspur on his hack re enter prince henry and lancaster prince come brother john full bravely hast thou fleshd thy maiden sword lancaster but soft whom have we here did you not tell me this fat man was dead prince i did i saw him dead breathless and bleeding upon the ground art thou alive or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight i prythee speak we will not trust our eyes without our ears thou art not what thou seemst falstaff no thats certain i am not a double man but if i be not jack falstaff then am i a jack there is percy throwing the body down 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 prince why percy i killd myself and saw thee dead falstaff 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 ill take it upon my death i gave him this wound in the thigh if the man were alive and would deny it zwounds i would make him eat a piece of my sword lancaster this is the strangest tale that ever i heard prince 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 ill gild it with the happiest terms i have a retreat is sounded the trumpet sounds retreat the day is ours come brother lets to th highest of the field to see what friends are living who are dead exeunt prince henry and lancaster falstaff ill follow as they say for reward he that rewards me god reward him if i do grow great ill grow less for ill purge and leave sack and live cleanly as a nobleman should do exit bearing off the body scene v another part of the field the trumpets sound enter king henry prince henry lancaster westmoreland and others with worcester and vernon prisoners king thus ever did rebellion find rebuke ill spirited worcester did not we send grace pardon and terms of love to all of you and wouldst thou turn our offers contrary misuse the tenour of thy kinsmans 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 worcester what i have done my safety urged me to and i embrace this fortune patiently since not to be avoided it fails on me king bear worcester to the death and vernon too other offenders we will pause upon exeunt worcester and vernon guarded how goes the field prince the noble scot lord douglas when he saw the fortune of the day quite turnd 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 bruised that the pursuers took him at my tent the douglas is and i beseech your grace i may dispose of him king with all my heart prince 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 king 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 exeunt the second part of king henry the fourth dramatis personae rumour the presenter king henry the fourth henry prince of wales afterwards henry prince john of lancaster prince humphrey of gloucester thomas duke of clarence sons of henry iv earl of northumberland scroop archbishop of york lord mowbray lord hastings lord bardolph sir john colville travers and morton retainers of northumberland opposites against king henry iv earl of warwick earl of westmoreland earl of surrey earl of kent gower harcourt blunt of the kings party lord chief justice servant to lord chief justice sir john falstaff edward poins bardolph pistol peto irregular humourists page to falstaff robert shallow and silence country justices davy servant to shallow fang and snare sheriffs officers ralph mouldy simon shadow thomas wart francis feeble peter bullcalf country soldiers francis a drawer lady northumberland lady percy percys widow hostess quickly of the boars head eastcheap doll tearsheet lords attendants porter drawers beadles grooms servants speaker of the epilogue scene england induction induction warkworth before northumberlands castle enter rumour painted full of tongues rumour 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 emnity under the smile of safety wounds the world and who but rumour who but only i make fearful musters and prepard defence whiles 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 wavring 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 harrys 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 hotspurs sword and that the king before the douglas rage stoopd his anointed head as low as death this have i rumourd through the peasant towns between that royal field of shrewsbury and this worm eaten hold of ragged stone where hotspurs father old northumberland lies crafty sick the posts come tiring on and not a man of them brings other news than they have learnt of me from rumours tongues they bring smooth comforts false worse than true wrongs exit act i scene i warkworth before northumberlands castle enter lord bardolph lord bardolph who keeps the gate here ho the porter opens the gate where is the earl porter what shall i say you are lord bardolph tell thou the earl that the lord bardolph doth attend him here porter his lordship is walkd forth into the orchard please it your honour knock but at the gate and he himself will answer enter northumberland lord bardolph here comes the earl exit porter northumberland 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 lord bardolph noble earl i bring you certain news from shrewsbury northumberland good an god will lord bardolph 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 killd by the hand of douglas young prince john and westmoreland and stafford fled the field and harry monmouths brawn the hulk sir john is prisoner to your son o such a day so fought so followed and so fairly won came not till now to dignify the times since cxsars fortunes northumberland how is this derivd saw you the field came you from shrewsbury lord bardolph i spake with one my lord that came from thence a gentleman well bred and of good name that freely rendred me these news for true enter travers northumberland here comes my servant travers whom i sent on tuesday last to listen after news lord bardolph my lord i over rode him on the way and he is furnishd with no certainties more than he haply may retail from me northumberland now travers what good tidings comes with you travers my lord sir john umfrevile turnd me back with joyful tidings and being better horsd out rode me after him came spurring hard a gentleman almost forspent with speed that stoppd by me to breathe his bloodied horse he askd 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 percys 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 seemd in running to devour the way staying no longer question northumberland ha again said he young harry percys spur was cold of hotspur coldspur that rebellion had met ill luck lord bardolph my lord ill tell you what if my young lord your son have not the day upon mine honour for a silken point ill give my barony never talk of it northumberland why should that gentleman that rode by travers give then such instances of loss lord bardolph who he he was some hilding fellow that had stoln the horse he rode on and upon my life spoke at a venture look here comes more news enter morton northumberland yea this mans brow like to a title leaf foretells the nature of a tragic volume so looks the strand whereon the imperious flood hath left a witnessd usurpation say morton didst thou come from shrewsbury morton i ran from shrewsbury my noble lord where hateful death put on his ugliest mask to fright our party northumberland 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 dread in look so woe begone drew priams curtain in the dead of night and would have told him half his troy was burnt but priam found the fire ere he his tongue and i my percys death ere thou reportst 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 my ear indeed thou hast a sigh to blow away this praise ending with brother son and all are dead morton douglas is living and your brother yet but for my lord your son northumberland 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 feard is chanced yet speak morton tell thou an earl his divination lies and i will take it as a sweet disgrace and make thee rich for doing me such wrong morton you are too great to be by me gainsaid your spirit is too true your fears too certain northumberland yet for all this say not that percys dead i see a strange confession in thine eye thou shakst thy head and holdst 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 remembred tolling a departing friend lord bardolph i cannot think my lord your son is dead morton 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 rendring faint quittance wearied and out breathd 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 temperd courage in his troops for from his metal was his party steeled which once in him abated an the rest turnd on themselves like dull and heavy lead and as the thing thats heavy in itself upon enforcement flies with greatest speed so did our men heavy in hotspurs 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 taen prisoner and that furious scot the bloody douglas whose well labouring sword had three times slain th appearance of the king gan vail his stomach and did grace the shame of those that turnd 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 northumberland 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 weakned joints like strengthless hinges buckle under life impatient of his fit breaks like a fire out of his keepers arms even so my limbs weakned with grief being now enragd 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 coif thou art a guard too wanton for the head which princes fleshd with conquest aim to hit now bind my brows with iron and approach the raggedst hour that time and spite dare bring to frown upon th enragd northumberland let heaven kiss earth now let not natures hand keep the wild flood confind let order die and let this world no longer be a stage to feed contention in a lingring 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 lord bardolph this strained passion doth you wrong my lord morton sweet earl divorce not wisdom from your honour the lives of all your loving complices lean on your health the which if you give oer to stormy passion must perforce decay you cast th event of war my noble lord and summd the account of chance before you said let us make head it was your pre surmise that in the dole of blows your son might drop you knew he walkd oer perils on an edge more likely to fall in than to get oer you were advisd his flesh was capable of wounds and scars and that his forward spirit would lift him where most trade of danger rangd yet did you say go forth and none of this though strongly apprehended could restrain the stiff borne action what hath then befalln or what hath this bold enterprise brought forth more than that being which was like to be lord bardolph we all that are engaged to this loss knew that we ventured on such dangerous seas that if we wrought out life twas ten to one and yet we venturd for the gain proposd chokd the respect of likely peril feard and since we are oerset venture again come we will put forth body and goods morton tis more than time and my most noble lord i hear for certain and dare speak the truth the gentle archbishop of york is up with well appointed powrs 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 constraind as men drink potions that their weapons only seemd 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 supposd sincere and holy in his thoughts hes followd both with body and with mind and doth enlarge his rising with the blood of fair king richard scrapd 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 northumberland i knew of this before but to speak truth this present grief had wipd 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 exeunt scene ii london a street enter sir john falstaff with his page bearing his sword and buckler falstaff sirrah you giant what says the doctor to my water page he said sir the water itself was a good healthy water but for the party that owed it he might have moe diseases than he knew for falstaff 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 intends 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 overwhelmd 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 mannd with an agate till now but i will inset 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 fledge i will sooner have a beard grow in the palm of my hand than he shall get one off his cheek and yet he will not stick to say his face is a face royal god may finish it when he will tis not a hair amiss yet he may keep it still at a face royal for a barber shall never earn sixpence out of it and yet hell be crowing as if he had writ man ever since his father was a bachelor he may keep his own grace but hes almost out of mine i can assure him what said master dommelton about the satin for my short cloak and my slops page he said sir you should procure him better assurance than bardolph he would not take his band and yours he liked not the security falstaff let him be damnd like the glutton pray god his tongue be hotter a whoreson achitophel a rascal 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 through 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 lookd 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 wheres bardolph page hes gone into smithfield to buy your worship horse falstaff i bought him in pauls and hell buy me a horse in smithfield an i could get me but a wife in the stews i were mannd horsd and wivd enter the lord chief justice and servant page sir here comes the nobleman that committed the prince for striking him about bardolph falstaff wait close i will not see him chief justice whats he that goes there servant falstaff ant please your lordship chief justice he that was in question for the robbry servant 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 chief justice what to york call him back again servant sir john falstaff falstaff boy tell him i am deaf page you must speak louder my master is deaf chief justice i am sure he is to the hearing of anything good go pluck him by the elbow i must speak with him servant sir john falstaff what a young knave and begging is there not wars is there not employment doth not the king lack subjects do not the rebels need 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 servant you mistake me sir falstaff 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 servant i pray you sir then set your knighthood and your soldiership aside and give me leave to tell you you in your throat if you say i am any other than an honest man falstaff i give thee leave to tell me so i lay aside that which grows to me if thou getst any leave of me hang me if thou takst leave thou wert better be hangd you hunt counter hence avaunt servant sir my lord would speak with you chief justice sir john falstaff a word with you falstaff 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 chief justice sir john i sent for you before your expedition to shrewsbury falstaff ant please your lordship i hear his majesty is returnd with some discomfort from wales chief justice i talk not of his majesty you would not come when i sent for you falstaff and i hear moreover his highness is falln into this same whoreson apoplexy chief justice well god mend him i pray you let me speak with you falstaff this apoplexy as i take it is a kind of lethargy ant please your lordship a kind of sleeping in the blood a whoreson tingling chief justice what tell you me of it be it as it is falstaff it hath it 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 chief justice i think you are falln into the disease for you hear not what i say to you falstaff very well my lord very well rather ant please you it is the disease of not listening the malady of not marking that i am troubled withal chief justice to punish you by the heels would amend the attention of your ears and i care not if i do become your physician falstaff 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 chief justice i sent for you when there were matters against you for your life to come speak with me falstaff as i was then advisd by my learned counsel in the laws of this land service i did not come chief justice well the truth is sir john you live in great infamy falstaff he that buckles himself in my belt cannot live in less chief justice your means are very slender and your waste is great falstaff i would it were otherwise i would my means were greater and my waist slenderer chief justice you have misled the youthful prince falstaff the young prince hath misled me i am the fellow with the great belly and he my dog chief justice well i am loath to gall a new heald wound your days service at shrewsbury hath a little gilded over your nights exploit on gadshill you may thank th unquiet time for your quiet oerposting that action falstaff my lord chief justice but since all is well keep it so wake not a sleeping wolf falstaff to wake a wolf is as bad as smell a fox chief justice what you are as a candle the better part burnt out falstaff a wassail candle my lord all tallow if i did say of wax my growth would approve the truth chief justice there is not a white hair in your face but should have his effect of gravity falstaff his effect of gravy gravy chief justice you follow the young prince up and down like his ill angel falstaff not so my lord your ill angel is light but 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 costermongers times that true valour is turnd berod pregnancy is made a tapster and 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 do measure the heat of our livers with the bitterness of your galls and we that are in the vaward of our youth must confess are wags too chief justice 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 falstaff 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 hallooing 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 of the ear that the prince gave you he gave it like a rude prince and you took it like a sensible lord i have checkd him for it and the young lion repents marry not in ashes and sackcloth but in new silk and old sack chief justice well god send the prince a better companion falstaff god send the companion a better prince i cannot rid my hands of him chief justice well the king hath severd you i hear you are going with lord john of lancaster against the archbishop and the earl of northumberland falstaff 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 a 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 alway yet the trick of our english nation if they have a good thing to make it too common if ye 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 a rust than to be scoured to nothing with perpetual motion chief justice well be honest be honest and god bless your expedition falstaff will your lordship lend me a thousand pound to furnish me forth chief justice not a penny not a penny you are too impatient to bear crosses fare you well commend me to my cousin westmoreland exeunt chief justice and servant falstaff if i do fillip me with a three man beetle a man can no more separate age and covetousness than a 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 page sir falstaff what money is in my purse page seven groats and two pence falstaff 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 perceivd the first white hair of my chin about it you know where to find me exit page 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 exit scene iii york the archbishops palace enter the archbishop thomas mowbray the earl marshal lord hastings and lord bardolph archbishop 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 mowbray i well allow the occasion of our amis 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 hastings 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 lord bardolph the question then lord hastings standeth thus whether our present five and twenty thousand may hold up head without northumberland hastings with him we may lord bardolph yea marry theres 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 facd as this conjecture expectation and surmise of aids incertain should not be admitted archbishop tis very true lord bardolph for indeed it was young hotspurs case at shrewsbury lord bardolph it was my lord who lind himself with hope eating the air and promise of supply flattring himself in 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 leapt into destruction hastings but by your leave it never yet did hurt to lay down likelihoods and forms of hope lord bardolph 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 th 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 we must 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 least 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 oer and leaves his part created cost a naked subject to the weeping clouds and waste for churlish winters tyranny hastings grant that our hopes yet likely of fair birth should be still born and that we now possessd the utmost man of expectation i think we are so a body strong enough even as we are to equal with the king lord bardolph what is the king but five and twenty thousand hastings 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 archbishop that he should draw his several strengths together and come against us in full puissance need not be dreaded hastings if he should do so he leaves his back unarmd the french and welsh baying at his heels never fear that lord bardolph who is it like should lead his forces hither hastings the duke of lancaster and westmoreland against the welsh himself and harry monmouth but who is substituted against the french i have no certain notice archbishop let us on and publish the occasion of our arms the commonwealth is sick of their own choice their over greedy love hath surfeited an 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 trimmd in thine own desires thou beastly feeder art so full of him that thou provokst 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 howlst to find it what trust is in these times they that when richard livd would have him die are now become enamourd on his grave thou that threwst dust upon his goodly head when through proud london he came sighing on after th admired heels of bolingbroke criest now o earth yield us that king again and take thou this o thoughts of men accursd past and to come seems best things present worst mowbray shall we go draw our numbers and set on hastings we are times subjects and time bids be gone exeunt act ii scene i london a street enter hostess with two officers fang and snare hostess master fang have you entred the action fang it is entred hostess wheres your yeoman ist a lusty yeoman will a stand tot fang sirrah wheres snare hostess o lord ay good master snare snare here here fang snare we must arrest sir john falstaff hostess yea good master snare i have entred him and all snare it may chance cost some of our lives for he will stab hostess alas the day take heed of him he stabbd me in mine own house and that most beastly in good faith a cares not what mischief he does if his weapon be out he will foin like any devil he will spare neither man woman nor child fang if i can close with him i care not for his thrust hostess no nor i neither ill be at your elbow fang an i but fist him once an a come but within my vice hostess i am undone by his going i warrant you hes 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 is indited to dinner to the lubbers head in lumbert street to master smooths the silkman i pray you since my exion is entred 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 fubbd off and fubbd off and fubbd 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 knaves wrong enter sir john falstaff page and bardolph yonder he comes and that arrant malmsey nose knave bardolph with him do your offices do your offices master fang and master snare do me do me do me your offices falstaff how now whose mares dead whats the matter fang sir john i arrest you at the suit of mistress quickly falstaff away varlets draw bardolph cut me off the villians head throw the quean in the channel hostess throw me in the channel ill throw thee in the channel wilt thou wilt thou thou bastardly rogue murder murder ah thou honeysuckle villain wilt thou kill gods officers and the kings ah thou honey seed rogue thou art a honey seed a man queller and a woman queller falstaff keep them off bardolph fang a rescue a rescue hostess good people bring a rescue or two thou wot wot thou thou wot wot ta do do thou rogue do thou hemp seed page away you scullion you rampallian you fustilarian ill tickle your catastrophe enter the lord chief justice and his men chief justice what is the matter keep the peace here ho hostess good my lord be good to me i beseech you stand to me chief justice 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 hangst thou upon him hostess o my most worshipful lord ant please your grace i am a poor widow of eastcheap and he is arrested at my suit chief justice for what sum hostess 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 a nights like a mare falstaff i think i am as like to ride the mare if i have any vantage of ground to get up chief justice 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 falstaff what is the gross sum that i owe thee hostess 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 sea coal fire upon wednesday in wheeson week when the prince broke thy head for liking his father to 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 butchers 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 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 the thirty shillings i put thee now to thy book oath deny it if thou canst falstaff 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 chief justice 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 practisd upon the easy yielding spirit of this woman and made her serve your uses both in purse and in person hostess yea in truth my lord chief justice pray thee peace pay her the debt you owe her and unpay the villainy you have done with her the one you may do with sterling money and the other with current repentance falstaff 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 remembred i will not be your suitor i say to you i do desire deliverance from these officers being upon hasty employment in the kings affairs chief justice you speak as having power to do wrong but answer in th effect of your reputation and satisfy the poor woman falstaff come hither hostess enter gower chief justice now master gower what news gower the king my lord and harry prince of wales are near at hand the rest the paper tells gives a letter falstaff as i am a gentleman hostess faith you said so before falstaff as i am a gentleman come no more words of it hostess by this heavenly ground i tread on i must be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my dining chambers falstaff 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 hangers and these fly bitten tapestries let it be ten pound if thou canst come and twere not for thy humours theres not a better wench in england go wash thy face and draw the 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 hostess pray thee sir john let it be but twenty nobles i faith i am loath to pawn my plate so god save me la falstaff let it alone ill make other shift youll be a fool still hostess well you shall have it though i pawn my gown i hope youll come to supper youll pay me all together falstaff will i live to bardolph go with her with her hook on hook on hostess will you have doll tearsheet meet you at supper falstaff no more words lets have her exeunt hostess bardolph and officers chief justice i have heard better news falstaff whats the news my lord chief justice where lay the king to night gower at basingstoke my lord falstaff i hope my lord alls well what is the news my lord chief justice come all his forces back gower no fifteen hundred foot five hundred horse are marchd up to my lord of lancaster against northumberland and the archbishop falstaff comes the king back from wales my noble lord chief justice you shall have letters of me presently come go along with me good master gower falstaff my lord chief justice whats the matter falstaff master gower shall i entreat you with me to dinner gower i must wait upon my good lord here i thank you good sir john chief justice sir john you loiter here too long being you are to take soldiers up in counties as you go falstaff will you sup with me master gower chief justice what foolish master taught you these manners sir john falstaff 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 chief justice now the lord lighten thee thou art a great fool exeunt scene ii london another street enter prince henry and poins prince before god i am exceeding weary poins ist come to that i had thought weariness durst not have attachd one of so high blood prince 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 poins why a prince should not be so loosely studied as to remember so weak a composition prince 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 colourd ones or to bear the inventory of thy shirts as one for superfluity and another 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 of 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 poins 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 prince shall i tell thee one thing poins poins yes faith and let it be an excellent good thing prince it shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine poins go to i stand the push of your one thing that you will tell prince 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 poins very hardly upon such a subject prince by this hand thou thinkest me as far in the devils 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 poins the reason prince what wouldst thou think of me if i should weep poins i would think thee a most princely hypocrite prince it would be every mans thought and thou art a blessed fellow to think as every man thinks never a mans thought in the world keeps the road way better than thine every man would think me an hypocrite indeed and what accites your most worshipful thought to think so poins why because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed to falstaff prince and to thee poins 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 those two things i confess i cannot help by the mass here comes bardolph enter bardolph and page prince and the boy that i gave falstaff a had him from me christian and look if the fat villain have not transformd him ape bardolph god save your grace prince and yours most noble bardolph poins come you virtuous ass you bashful fool must you be blushing wherefore blush you now what a maidenly man at arms are you become ist such a matter to get a pottle pots maidenhead page a calls me een 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 alewifes new petticoat and so peepd through prince has not the boy profited bardolph away you whoreson upright rabbit away page away you rascally althaeas dream away prince instruct us boy what dream boy page marry my lord althaea dreamt she was delivered of a firebrand and therefore i call him her dream prince a crowns worth of good interpretation there tis boy giving a crown poins o that this blossom could be kept from cankers well there is sixpence to preserve thee bardolph an you do not make him be hangd among you the gallows shall have wrong prince and how doth thy master bardolph bardolph well my lord he heard of your graces coming to town theres a letter for you poins deliverd with good respect and how doth the martlemas your master bardolph in bodily health sir poins marry the immortal part needs a physician but that moves not him though that be sick it dies not prince i do allow this well to be as familiar with me as my dog and he holds his place for look you how he writes poins reads john falstaff knight every man must know that as oft as he has occasion to name himself even like those that are kin to the king for they never prick their finger but they say theres some of the kings blood spilt how comes that says he that takes upon him not to conceive the answer is as ready as a borrowers cap i am the kings poor cousin sir prince nay they will be kin to us or they will fetch it from japhet but the letter reads sir john falstaff knight to the son of the king nearest his father harry prince of wales greeting poins why this is a certificate prince peace reads i will imitate the honourable romans in brevity poins he sure means brevity in breath short winded prince reads 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 mayst and so farewell thine by yea and no which is as much as to say as thou usest him jack falstaff with my familiars john with my brothers and sisters and sir john with all europe poins my lord ill steep this letter in sack and make him eat it prince thats to make him eat twenty of his words but do you use me thus ned must i marry your sister poins god send the wench no worse fortune but i never said so prince 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 bardolph yea my lord prince where sups he doth the old boar feed in the old frank bardolph at the old place my lord in eastcheap prince what company page ephesians my lord of the old church prince sup any women with him page none my lord but old mistress quickly and mistress doll tearsheet prince what pagan may that be page a proper gentlewoman sir and a kinswoman of my masters prince even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull shall we steal upon them ned at supper poins i am your shadow my lord ill follow you prince sirrah you boy and bardolph no word to your master that i am yet come to town theres for your silence bardolph i have no tongue sir page and for mine sir i will govern it prince fare you well go exeunt bardolph and page this doll tearsheet should be some road poins i warrant you as common as the way between saint albans and london prince how might we see falstaff bestow himself to night in his true colours and not ourselves be seen poins put on two leathern jerkins and aprons and wait upon him at his table as drawers prince from a god to a bull a heavy descension it was joves case from a prince to a prentice a low transformation that shall be mine for in everything the purpose must weigh with the folly follow me ned exeunt scene iii warkworth before the castle enter northumberland lady northumberland and lady percy northumberland 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 lady northumberland i have given over i will speak no more do what you will your wisdom be your guide northumberland alas sweet wife my honour is at pawn and but my going nothing can redeem it lady percy o yet for gods sake go not to these wars the time was father that you broke your word when you were more endeard to it than now when your own percy when my hearts 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 sons 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 practisd not his gait and speaking thick which nature made his blemish became the accents of the valiant for those who 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 fashiond 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 hotspurs 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 hotspurs neck have talkd of monmouths grave northumberland 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 lady northumberland o fly to scotland till that the nobles and the armed commons have of their puissance made a little taste lady percy 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 suffred 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 northumberland come come go in with me tis with my mind as with the tide swelld up unto his 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 exeunt scene iv london the boars head tavern in eastcheap enter francis and another drawer francis what the devil hast thou brought there apple johns thou knowest sir john cannot endure an apple john second drawer 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 angred him to the heart but he hath forgot that francis why then cover and set them down and see if thou canst find out sneaks noise mistress tearsheet would fain hear some music enter third drawer third drawer dispatch the room where they suppd is too hot theyll come in straight francis 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 third drawer by the mass here will be old uds it will be an excellent stratagem second drawer ill see if i can find out sneak exeunt second and third drawers enter hostess and doll tearsheet hostess 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 thats a marvellous searching wine and it perfumes the blood ere one can say whats this how do you now doll better than i was hem hostess why thats well said a good hearts worth gold lo here comes sir john enter falstaff falstaff singing when arthur first in court empty the jordan exit francis singing and was a worthy king how now mistress doll hostess sick of a calm yea good faith falstaff so is all her sect and they be once in a calm they are sick doll a pox damn you you muddy rascal is that all the comfort you give me falstaff you make fat rascals mistress doll doll i make them gluttony and diseases make them i make them not falstaff 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 doll yea joy our chains and our jewels falstaff your brooches pearls and ouches 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 chargd chambers bravely doll hang yourself you muddy conger hang yourself hostess by my troth this is the old fashion you two never meet but you fall to some discord you are both i good truth as rheumatic as two dry toasts you cannot one bear with anothers confirmities what the good year one must bear and that must be you you are the weaker vessel as as they say the emptier vessel doll can a weak empty vessel bear such a huge full hogs head theres a whole merchants venture of bourdeaux stuff in him you have not seen a hulk better stuffd in the hold come ill 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 re enter francis francis sir ancient pistols below and would speak with you doll hang him swaggering rascal let him not come hither it is the foul mouthdst rogue in england hostess if he swagger let him not come here no by my faith i must live among my neighbours ill no swaggerers i am in good name and fame with the very best shut the door there comes no swaggerers here i have not livd all this while to have swaggering now shut the door i pray you falstaff dost thou hear hostess hostess pray ye pacify yourself sir john there comes no swaggerers here falstaff dost thou hear it is mine ancient hostess tilly fally sir john neer tell me and your ancient swaggrer comes not in my doors i was before master tisick the debuty t other day and as he said to me twas no longer ago than wednesday last i good faith 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 ill no swaggrers falstaff hes no swaggrer hostess a tame cheater i faith you may stroke him as gently as a puppy greyhound hell not swagger with a barbary hen if her feathers turn back in any show of resistance call him up drawer exit francis hostess 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 doll so you do hostess hostess do i yea in very truth do i an twere an aspen leaf i cannot abide swaggrers enter pistol bardolph and page pistol god save you sir john falstaff welcome ancient pistol here pistol i charge you with a cup of sack do you discharge upon mine hostess pistol i will discharge upon her sir john with two bullets falstaff she is pistol proof sir you shall not hardly offend her hostess come ill drink no proofs nor no bullets ill drink no more than will do me good for no mans pleasure i pistol then to you mistress dorothy i will charge you doll 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 pistol i know you mistress dorothy doll away you cut purse rascal you filthy bung away by this wine ill 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 gods light with two points on your shoulder much pistol god let me not live but i will murder your ruff for this falstaff no more pistol i would not have you go off here discharge yourself of our company pistol hostess no good captain pistol not here sweet captain doll captain thou abominable damnd 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 earnd them you a captain you slave for what for tearing a poor whores ruff in a bawdy house he a captain hang him rogue he lives upon mouldy stewd prunes and dried cakes a captain gods light these villains will make the word as odious as the word occupy which was an excellent good word before it was ill sorted therefore captains had need look tot bardolph pray thee go down good ancient falstaff hark thee hither mistress doll pistol not i i tell thee what corporal bardolph i could tear her ill be revengd of her page pray thee go down pistol ill see her damnd first to plutos damnd lake by this hand to th infernal deep with erebus and tortures vile also hold hook and line say i down down dogs down faitors have we not hiren here hostess good captain peesel be quiet tis very late i faith i beseek you now aggravate your choler pistol these be good humours indeed shall packhorses and hollow pamperd jades of asia which cannot go but thirty mile a day compare with caesars and with cannibals and troiant greeks nay rather damn them with king cerberus and let the welkin roar shall we fall foul for toys hostess by my troth captain these are very bitter words bardolph be gone good ancient this will grow to a brawl anon pistol die men like dogs give crowns like pins have we not hiren here hostess o my word captain theres none such here what the good year do you think i would deny her for gods sake be quiet pistol then feed and be fat my fair calipolis come gives some sack si fortune me tormente sperato me contento fear we broadsides no let the fiend give fire give me some sack and sweetheart lie thou there laying down his sword come we to full points here and are etceteras nothings falstaff pistol i would be quiet pistol sweet knight i kiss thy neaf what we have seen the seven stars doll for gods sake thrust him down stairs i cannot endure such a fustian rascal pistol thrust him down stairs know we not galloway nags falstaff quoit him down bardolph like a shove groat shilling nay an a do nothing but speak nothing a shall be nothing here bardolph come get you down stairs pistol what shall we have incision shall we imbrue snatching up his sword then death rock me asleep abridge my doleful days why then let grievous ghastly gaping wounds untwine the sisters three come atropos i say hostess heres goodly stuff toward falstaff give me my rapier boy doll i pray thee jack i pray thee do not draw falstaff get you down stairs drawing and driving pistol out hostess heres a goodly tumult ill forswear keeping house afore ill be in these tirrits and frights so murder i warrant now alas alas put up your naked weapons put up your naked weapons exeunt pistol and bardolph doll i pray thee jack be quiet the rascals gone ah you whoreson little valiant villain you hostess are you not hurt i th groin methought a made a shrewd thrust at your belly re enter bardolph falstaff have you turnd him out a doors bardolph yea sir the rascals drunk you have hurt him sir i th shoulder falstaff a rascal to brave me doll ah you sweet little rogue you alas poor ape how thou sweatst 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 falstaff a rascally slave i will toss the rogue in a blanket doll do an thou darst for thy heart an thou dost ill canvass thee between a pair of sheets enter musicians page the music is come sir falstaff let them play play sirs sit on my knee don a rascal bragging slave the rogue fled from me like quick silver doll i faith and thou followdst him like a church thou whoreson little tidy bartholomew boar pig when wilt thou leave fighting a days and foining a nights and begin to patch up thine old body for heaven enter behind prince henry and poins disguised as drawers falstaff peace good doll do not speak like a deaths head do not bid me remember mine end doll sirrah what humours the prince of falstaff a good shallow young fellow a would have made a good pantler a would ha chippd bread well doll they say poins has a good wit falstaff he a good wit hang him baboon his wits as thick as tewksbury mustard theres no more conceit in him than is in a mallet doll why does the prince love him so then falstaff because their legs are both of a bigness and a plays at quoits well and eats conger and fennel and drinks off candles ends for flap dragons and rides the wild mare with the boys and jumps upon joind 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 prince would not this nave of a wheel have his ears cut off poins lets beat him before his whore prince look wheer the witherd elder hath not his poll clawd like a parrot poins is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance falstaff kiss me doll prince saturn and venus this year in conjunction what says th almanac to that poins and look whether the fiery trigon his man be not lisping to his masters old tables his note book his counsel keeper falstaff thou dost give me flattering busses doll by my troth i kiss thee with a most constant heart falstaff i am old i am old doll i love thee better than i love eer a scurvy young boy of them all falstaff what stuff wilt have a kirtle of i shall receive money a thursday shalt have a cap to morrow a merry song come a grows late well to bed thout forget me when i am gone doll by my troth thout set me a weeping an thou sayst so prove that ever i dress myself handsome till thy return well hearken a th end falstaff some sack francis prince poins anon anon sir advancing falstaff ha a bastard son of the kings and art thou not poins his brother prince why thou globe of sinful continents what a life dost thou lead falstaff a better than thou i am a gentleman thou art a drawer prince very true sir and i come to draw you out by the ears hostess o the lord preserve thy grace by my troth welcome to london now the lord bless that sweet face of thine o jesu are you come from wales falstaff thou whoreson mad compound of majesty by this light flesh and corrupt blood thou art welcome leaning his band upon doll doll how you fat fool i scorn you poins my lord he will drive you out of your revenge and turn all to a merriment if you take not the heat prince you whoreson candle mine you how vilely did you speak of me even now before this honest virtuous civil gentlewoman hostess gods blessing of your good heart and so she is by my troth falstaff didst thou hear me prince 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 falstaff no no no not so i did not think thou wast within hearing prince i shall drive you then to confess the wilful abuse and then i know how to handle you falstaff no abuse hal o mine honour no abuse prince not to dispraise me and call me pander and bread chipper and i know not what falstaff no abuse hal poins no abuse falstaff no abuse ned i th world honest ned none i dispraisd him before the wicked that the wicked might not fall in love with thee 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 prince 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 poins answer thou dead elm answer falstaff the fiend hath prickd down bardolph irrecoverable and his face is lucifers privy kitchen where he doth nothing but roast malt worms for the boy there is a good angel about him but the devil outbids him too prince for the women falstaff for one of them shes in hell already and burns poor souls for th other i owe her money and whether she be damnd for that i know not hostess no i warrant you falstaff 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 hostess all victlers do so whats a joint of mutton or two in a whole lent prince you gentlewoman doll what says your grace falstaff his grace says that which his flesh rebels against knocking within hostess who knocks so loud at door look to th door there francis enter peto prince peto how now what news peto 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 prince 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 exeunt prince poins peto and bardolph falstaff now comes in the sweetest morsel of the night and we must hence and leave it unpickd knocking within more knocking at the door re enter bardolph how now whats the matter bardolph you must away to court sir presently a dozen captains stay at door for you falstaff to the page 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 calld on farewell good wenches if i be not sent away post i will see you again ere i go doll i cannot speak if my heart be not ready to burst well sweet jack have a care of thyself falstaff farewell farewell exeunt falstaff and bardolph hostess 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 bardolph within mistress tearsheet hostess whats the matter bardolph within bid mistress tearsheet come to my master hostess o run doll run run good come to bardolph she comes blubberd yea will you come doll exeunt act iii scene i westminster the palace enter the king in his nightgown with a page king go call the earls of surrey and of warwick but ere they come bid them oer read these letters and well consider of them make good speed exit page how many thousands of my poorest subjects are at this hour asleep o sleep o gentle sleep natures soft nurse how have i frightened thee that thou no more will weigh my eyelids down and steep my senses in forgetfulness why rather sleep liest thou in smoky cribs upon uneasy pallets stretching thee and hushd with buzzing night flies to thy slumber than in the perfumd chambers of the great under the canopies of costly state and lulld with sound of sweetest melody o thou dull god why liest thou with the vile in loathsome beds and leavst the kingly couch a watch case or a common larum bell wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast seal up the ship boys 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 deafing 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 enter warwick and surrey warwick many good morrows to your majesty king is it good morrow lords warwick tis one oclock and past king why then good morrow to you all my lords have you read oer the letters that i sent you warwick we have my liege king 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 warwick it is but as a body yet distempered which to his former strength may be restored with good advice and little medicine my lord northumberland will soon be coold king 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 neptunes 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 toild 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 to warwick you cousin nevil as i may remember when richard with his eye brim full of tears then checkd and rated by northumberland did speak these words now provd 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 bowd the state that i and greatness were compelld 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 times condition and the division of our amity warwick there is a history in all mens lives figuring the natures of the times deceasd the which observd a man may prophesy with a near aim of the main chance of things as yet not come to life who in their seeds and weak beginning 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 king 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 warwick it cannot be my lord rumour doth double like the voice and echo the numbers of the feared 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 receivd a certain instance that glendower is dead your majesty hath been this fortnight ill and these unseasoned hours perforce must ad unto your sickness king i will take your counsel and were these inward wars once out of hand we would dear lords unto the holy land exeunt scene ii gloucestershire before justice shallows house enter shallow and silence meeting mouldy shadow wart feeble bullcalf and servants behind shallow come on come on come on give me your hand sir give me your hand sir an early stirrer by the rood and how doth my good cousin silence silence good morrow good cousin shallow shallow and how doth my cousin your bed fellow and your fairest daughter and mine my god daughter ellen silence alas a black ousel cousin shallow shallow by yea and no sir i dare say my cousin william is become a good scholar he is at oxford still is he not silence indeed sir to my cost shallow a must then to the inns o court shortly i was once of clements inn where i think they will talk of mad shallow yet silence you were calld lusty shallow then cousin shallow by the mass i was calld anything and i would have done anything 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 cotsole 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 boy and page to thomas mowbray duke of norfolk silence this sir john cousin that comes hither anon about soldiers shallow the same sir john the very same i see him break scoggins 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 grays inn jesu jesu the mad days that i have spent and to see how many of my old acquaintance are dead silence we shall all follow cousin shallow 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 silence by my troth i was not there shallow death is certain is old double of your town living yet silence dead sir shallow jesu jesu dead 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 clappd i th clout at twelve score and carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and fourteen and a half that it would have done a mans heart good to see how a score of ewes now silence thereafter as they be a score of good ewes may be worth ten pounds shallow and is old double dead enter bardolph and one with him silence here come two of sir john falstaffs men as i think shallow good morrow honest gentlemen bardolph i beseech you which is justice shallow shallow i am robert shallow sir a poor esquire of this county and one of the kings justices of the peace what is your good pleasure with me bardolph my captain sir commends him to you my captain sir john falstaff a tall gentleman by heaven and a most gallant leader shallow he greets me well sir i knew him a good back sword man how doth the good knight may i ask how my lady his wife doth bardolph sir pardon a soldier is better accommodated than with a wife shallow 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 bardolph pardon sir i have heard the word phrase call you it by this 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 enter falstaff shallow it is very just look here comes good sir john give me your good hand give me your worships good hand by my troth you like well and bear your years very well welcome good sir john falstaff i am glad to see you well good master robert shallow master surecard as i think shallow no sir john it is my cousin silence in commission with me falstaff good master silence it well befits you should be of the peace silence your good worship is welcome falstaff fie this is hot weather gentlemen have you provided me here half a dozen sufficient men shallow marry have we sir will you sit falstaff let me see them i beseech you shallow wheres the roll wheres the roll wheres the roll let me see let me see let me see so so so so so so yea marry sir rafe mouldy let them appear as i call let them do so let them do so let me see where is mouldy mouldy here ant please you shallow what think you sir john a good limbd fellow young strong and of good friends falstaff is thy name mouldy mouldy yea ant please you falstaff tis the more time thou wert usd shallow 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 falstaff prick him mouldy i was prickd 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 prickd me there are other men fitter to go out than i falstaff go to peace mouldy you shall go mouldy it is time you were spent mouldy spent shallow peace fellow peace stand aside know you where you are for th other sir john let me see simon shadow falstaff yea marry let me have him to sit under hes like to be a cold soldier shallow wheres shadow shadow here sir falstaff shadow whose son art thou shadow my mothers son sir falstaff thy mothers son like enough and thy fathers shadow so the son of the female is the shadow of the male it is often so indeed but much of the fathers substance shallow do you like him sir john falstaff shadow will serve for summer prick him for we have a number of shadows fill up the muster book shallow thomas wart falstaff wheres he wart here sir falstaff is thy name wart wart yea sir falstaff thou art a very ragged wart shallow shall i prick him sir john falstaff it were superfluous for his apparel is built upon his back and the whole frame stands upon pins prick him no more shallow ha ha ha you can do it sir you can do it i commend you well francis feeble feeble here sir falstaff what trade art thou feeble feeble a womans tailor sir shallow shall i prick him sir falstaff you may but if he had been a mans tailor hed ha prickd you wilt thou make as many holes in an enemys battle as thou hast done in a womans petticoat feeble i will do my good will sir you can have no more falstaff well said good womans tailor well said courageous feeble thou wilt be as valiant as the wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse prick the womans tailor well master shallow deep master shallow feeble i would wart might have gone sir falstaff i would thou wert a mans 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 feeble it shall suffice sir falstaff i am bound to thee reverend feeble who is next shallow peter bullcalf o th green falstaff yea marry lets see bullcalf bullcalf here sir falstaff fore god a likely fellow come prick me bullcalf till he roar again bullcalf o lord good my lord captain falstaff what dost thou roar before thou art prickd bullcalf o lord sir i am a diseased man falstaff what disease hast thou bullcalf a whoreson cold sir a cough sir which i caught with ringing in the kings affairs upon his coronation day sir falstaff 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 shallow here is two more calld than your number you must have but four here sir and so i pray you go in with me to dinner falstaff come i will go drink with you but i cannot tarry dinner i am glad to see you by my troth master shallow shallow o sir john do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in saint georges field falstaff no more of that master shallow no more of that shallow ha twas a merry night and is jane nightwork alive falstaff she lives master shallow shallow she never could away with me falstaff never never she would always say she could not abide master shallow shallow by the mass i could anger her to th heart she was then a bona roba doth she hold her own well falstaff old old master shallow shallow nay she must be old she cannot choose but be old certain shes old and had robin nightwork by old nightwork before i came to clements inn silence thats fifty five year ago shallow ha cousin silence that thou hadst seen that that this knight and i have seen ha sir john said i well falstaff we have heard the chimes at midnight master shallow shallow that we have that we have that we have in faith sir john we have our watchword was hem boys come lets to dinner come lets to dinner jesus the days that we have seen come come exeunt falstaff and the justices bullcalf good master corporate bardolph stand my friend and heres four harry ten shillings in french crowns for you in very truth sir i had as lief be hangd 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 bardolph go to stand aside mouldy and good master corporal captain for my old dames sake stand my friend she has nobody to do anything about her when i am gone and she is old and cannot help herself you shall have forty sir bardolph go to stand aside feeble by my troth i care not a man can die but once we owe god a death ill neer bear a base mind ant be my destiny so ant be not so no mans too good to serve s prince and let it go which way it will he that dies this year is quit for the next bardolph well said thart a good fellow feeble faith ill bear no base mind re enter falstaff and the justices falstaff come sir which men shall i have shallow four of which you please bardolph sir a word with you i have three pound to free mouldy and bullcalf falstaff go to well shallow come sir john which four will you have falstaff do you choose for me shallow marry then mouldy bullcalf feeble and shadow falstaff mouldy and bullcalf for you mouldy stay at home till you are past service and for your part bullcalf grow you come unto it i will none of you shallow sir john sir john do not yourself wrong they are your likeliest men and i would have you servd with the best falstaff will you tell me master shallow how to choose a man care i for the limb the thews the stature bulk and big assemblance of a man give me the spirit master shallow heres wart you see what a ragged appearance it is a shall charge you and discharge you with the motion of a pewterers hammer come off and on swifter than he that gibbets on the brewers bucket and this same half facd 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 womans tailor run off o give me the spare men and spare me the great ones put me a caliver into warts hand bardolph bardolph hold wart traverse thus thus thus falstaff come manage me your caliver so very well go to very good exceeding good o give me always a little lean old chopt bald shot well said i faith wart thart a good scab hold theres a tester for thee shallow he is not his crafts master he doth not do it right i remember at mile end green when i lay at clements inn i was then sir dagonet in arthurs 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 neer see such a fellow falstaff 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 shallow sir john the lord bless you god 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 falstaff fore god would you would shallow go to i have spoke at a word god keep you falstaff fare you well gentle gentlemen exeunt justices on bardolph lead the men away exeunt all but falstaff 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 starvd 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 turks tribute i do remember him at clements inn like a man made after supper of a cheese paring when a was naked he was for all the world like a forkd radish with a head fantastically carved upon it with a knife a was so forlorn that his dimensions to any thick sight were invisible a was the very genius of famine yet lecherous as a monkey and the whores calld him mandrake a came ever in the rearward of the fashion and sung those tunes to the overscutchd huswifes that he heard the carmen whistle and sware they were his fancies or his good nights and now is this vices dagger become a squire and talks as familiarly of john a gaunt as if he had been sworn brother to him and ill be sworn a neer saw him but once in the tiltyard and then he burst his head for crowding among the marshals 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 beeves well ill be acquainted with him if i return and t shall go hard but ill make him a philosophers 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 exit act iv scene i yorkshire within the forest of gaultree enter the archbishop of york mowbray hastings and others archbishop what is this forest calld hastings tis gaultree forest ant shall please your grace archbishop here stand my lords and send discoverers forth to know the numbers of our enemies hastings we have sent forth already archbishop tis well done my friends and brethren in these great affairs i must acquaint you that i have receivd 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 retird 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 mowbray thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground and dash themselves to pieces enter a messenger hastings now what news messenger 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 mowbray the just proportion that we gave them out let us sway on and face them in the field enter westmoreland archbishop what well appointed leader fronts us here mowbray i think it is my lord of westmoreland westmoreland health and fair greeting from our general the prince lord john and duke of lancaster archbishop say on my lord of westmoreland in peace what doth concern your coming westmoreland 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 countenancd by boys and beggary i say if damnd commotion so appeard 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 maintaind whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touchd whose learning and good letters peace hath tutord whose white investments figure innocence the dove and very blessed spirit of peace wherefore you do so ill translate yourself out of the speech of peace that bears such grace into the harsh and boistrous tongue of war turning your books to graves your ink to blood your pens to lances and your tongue divine to a loud trumpet and a point of war archbishop wherefore do i this so the question stands briefly to this end we are all diseasd 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 awhile like fearful war to diet rank minds sick of happiness and purge th obstructions which begin to stop our very veins of life hear me more plainly i have in equal balance justly weighd 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 enforcd from our most quiet there 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 offerd to the king and might by no suit gain our audience when we are wrongd 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 minutes instance present now hath 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 westmoreland when ever yet was your appeal denied wherein have you been galled by the king what peer hath been subornd to grate on you that you should seal this lawless bloody book of forgd rebellion with a seal divine and consecrate commotions bitter edge archbishop my brother general the commonwealth to brother horn an household cruelty i make my quarrel in particular westmoreland there is no need of any such redress or if there were it not belongs to you mowbray 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 westmoreland 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 restord to all the duke of norfolks signiories your noble and right well remembred fathers mowbray what thing in honour had my father lost that need to be revivd and breathd in me the king that lovd him as the state stood then was force perforce compelld to banish him and then that henry 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 stayd 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 westmoreland 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 smild but if your father had been victor there he neer 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 blessd and gracd 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 everything set off that might so much as think you enemies mowbray but he hath forcd us to compel this offer and it proceeds from policy not love westmoreland 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 compelld mowbray well by my will we shall admit no parley westmoreland that argues but the shame of your offence a rotten case abides no handling hastings 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 westmoreland that is intended in the generals name i muse you make so slight a question archbishop then take my lord of westmoreland this schedule for this contains our general grievances each several article herein redressd all members of our cause both here and hence that are insinewed to this action acquitted by a true substantial form and present execution of our wills to us and to our purposes confind we come within our awful banks again and knit our powers to the arm of peace westmoreland 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 diffrence call the swords which must decide it archbishop my lord we will do so exit westmoreland mowbray there is a thing within my bosom tells me that no conditions of our peace can stand hastings fear you not that if we can make our peace upon such large terms and so absolute as our conditions shall consist upon our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains mowbray 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 winnowd with so rough a wind that even our corn shall seem as light as chaff and good from bad find no partition archbishop 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 los 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 enragd him on to offer strokes as he is striking holds his infant up and hangs resolvd correction in the arm that was upreard to execution hastings 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 archbishop tis very true and therefore be assurd 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 mowbray be it so here is returnd my lord of westmoreland re enter westmoreland westmoreland the prince is here at hand pleaseth your lordship to meet his grace just distance tween our armies mowbray your grace of york in gods name then set forward archbishop before and greet his grace my lord we come exeunt scene ii another part of the forest enter from one side mowbray attended afterwards the archbishop hastings and others from the other side prince john of lancaster westmoreland officers and others prince john you are well encountred 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 showd 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 monarchs heart and ripens in the sunshine of his favour would he abuse the countenance of the king alack what mischiefs 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 th imagind 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 heavn as a false favourite doth his princes name in deeds dishonourable you have taen 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 up swarmd them archbishop good my lord of lancaster i am not here against your fathers peace but as i told my lord of westmoreland the time misordred 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 shovd from the court whereon this hydra son of war is born whose dangerous eyes may well be charmd asleep with grant of our most just and right desires and true obedience of this madness curd stoop tamely to the foot of majesty mowbray if not we ready are to try our fortunes to the last man hastings 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 prince john you are too shallow hastings much to shallow to sound the bottom of the after times westmoreland pleaseth your grace to answer them directly how far forth you do like their articles prince john i like them all and do allow them well and swear here by the honour of my blood my fathers purposes have been mistook and some about him have too lavishly wrested his meaning and authority my lord these griefs shall be with speed redressd 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 lets drink together friendly and embrace that all their eyes may bear those tokens home of our restored love and amity archbishop i take your princely word for these redresses prince john i give it you and will maintain my word and thereupon i drink unto your grace hastings go captain and deliver to the army this news of peace let them have pay and part i know it will please them hie thee captain exit officer archbishop to you my noble lord of westmoreland westmoreland i pledge your grace and if you knew what pains i have bestowd to breed this present peace you would drink freely but my love to ye shall show itself more openly hereafter archbishop i do not doubt you westmoreland i am glad of it health to my lord and gentle cousin mowbray mowbray you wish me health in very happy season for i am on the sudden something ill archbishop against ill chances men are ever merry but heaviness foreruns the good event westmoreland therefore be merry coz since sudden sorrow serves to say thus some good thing comes to morrow archbishop believe me i am passing light in spirit mowbray so much the worse if your own rule be true shouts within prince john the word of peace is rendred hark how they shout mowbray this had been cheerful after victory archbishop a peace is of the nature of a conquest for then both parties nobly are subdud and neither party loser prince john go my lord and let our army be discharged too exit westmoreland and good my lord so please you let our trains march by us that we may peruse the men we should have copd withal archbishop go good lord hastings and ere they be dismissd let them march by exit hastings prince john i trust lords we shall lie to night together re enter westmoreland now cousin wherefore stands our army still westmoreland the leaders having charge from you to stand will not go off until they hear you speak prince john they know their duties re enter hastings hastings my lord our army is dispersd already like youthful steers unyokd they take their courses east west north south or like a school broke up each hurries toward his home and sporting place westmoreland 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 mowbray is this proceeding just and honourable westmoreland is your assembly so archbishop will you thus break your faith prince john i pawnd thee none i promisd 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 scattred stray god and not we hath safely fought to day some guard these traitors to the block of death treasons true bed and yielder up of breath exeunt scene iii another part of the forest alarum excursions enter falstaff and colville meeting falstaff whats your name sir of what condition are you and of what place i pray colville i am a knight sir and my name is colville of the dale falstaff well then colville is your name a knight is your degree and your place the dale colville shall still be your name a traitor your degree and the dungeon your place a place deep enough so shall you be still colville of the dale colville are not you sir john falstaff falstaff as good a man as he sir whoeer i am do you 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 colville i think you are sir john falstaff and in that thought yield me falstaff 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 enter prince john of lancaster westmoreland blunt and others prince john the heat is past follow no further now call in the powers good cousin westmoreland exit 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 falstaff 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 foundred nine score and odd posts and here travel tainted as i am have in my pure and immaculate valour taken sir john colville 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 nosd fellow of rome i came saw and overcame prince john it was more of his courtesy than your deserving falstaff i know not here he is and here i yield him and i beseech your grace let it be bookd with the rest of this days deeds or by the lord i will have it in a particular ballad else with mine own picture on the top ont colville kissing my foot to the which course if i be enforcd if you do not all show like gilt twopences to me and i in the clear sky of fame oershine 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 prince john thines too heavy to mount falstaff let it shine then prince john thines too thick to shine falstaff let it do something my good lord that may do me good and call it what you will prince john is thy name colville colville it is my lord prince john a famous rebel art thou colville falstaff and a famous true subject took him colville i am my lord but as my betters are that led me hither had they been ruld by me you should have won them dearer than you have falstaff i know not how they sold themselves but thou like a kind fellow gavest thyself away gratis and i thank thee for thee re enter westmoreland prince john now have you left pursuit westmoreland retreat is made and execution stayd prince john send colville with his confederates to york to present execution blunt lead him hence and see you guard him sure exeunt blunt and others 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 falstaff 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 prince john fare you well falstaff i in my condition shall better speak of you than you deserve exeunt all but falstaff falstaff 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 thats no marvel he drinks no wine theres 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 delivered oer 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 extremes 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 puffd 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 learning 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 tilld 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 humane principle i would teach them should be to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack enter bardolph how now bardolph bardolph the army is discharged all and gone falstaff let them go ill through gloucestershire and there will i visit master robert shallow esquire i have him already tempring between my finger and my thumb and shortly will i seal with him come away exeunt scene iv westminster the jerusalem chamber enter the king prince thomas of clarence prince humphrey of gloucester warwick and others king 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 addressd our power connected 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 warwick both which we doubt not but your majesty shall soon enjoy king humphrey my son of gloucester where is the prince your brother prince humphrey i think hes gone to hunt my lord at windsor king and how accompanied prince humphrey i do not know my lord king is not his brother thomas of clarence with him prince humphrey no my good lord he is in presence here clarence what would my lord and father king 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 observd he hath a tear for pity and a hand open as day for melting charity yet notwithstanding being incensd he is flint as humorous as winter and as sudden as flaws congealed in the spring of day his temper therefore must be well observd chide him for faults and do it reverently when you perceive his blood inclind 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 clarence i shall observe him with all care and love king why art thou not at windsor with him thomas clarence he is not there to day he dines in london king and how accompanied canst thou tell that clarence with poins and other his continual followers king 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 thunguided 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 opposd decay warwick 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 lookd upon and learnt which once attaind 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 other turning past evils to advantages king tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb in the dead carrion enter westmoreland whos here westmoreland westmoreland health to my sovereign and new happiness added to that that am to deliver prince john your son doth kiss your graces hand mowbray the bishop scroop hastings and all are brought to the correction of your law there is not now a rebels sword unsheathd 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 king o westmoreland thou art a summer bird which ever in the haunch of winter sings the lifting up of day enter harcourt look heres more news harcourt 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 shrieve of yorkshire overthrown the manner and true order of the fight this packet please it you contains at large king 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 prince humphrey comfort your majesty clarence o my royal father westmoreland my sovereign lord cheer up yourself look up warwick be patient princes you do know these fits are with his highness very ordinary stand from him give him air hell straight be well clarence no no he cannot long hold out these pangs th 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 prince humphrey the people fear me for they do observe unfatherd heirs and loathly births of nature the seasons change their manners as the year had found some months asleep and leapt them over clarence the river hath thrice flowd no ebb between and the old folk times doting chronicles say it did so a little time before that our great grandsire edward sickd and died warwick speak lower princes for the king recovers prince humphrey this apoplexy will certain be his end king i pray you take me up and bear me hence into some other chamber softly pray exeunt scene v westminster another chamber the king lying on a bed clarence gloucester warwick and others in attendance king let there be no noise made my gentle friends unless some dull and favourable hand will whisper music to my weary spirit warwick call for the music in the other room king set me the crown upon my pillow here clarence his eye is hollow and he changes much warwick less noise less noise enter prince henry prince who saw the duke of clarence clarence i am here brother full of heaviness prince how now rain within doors and none abroad how doth the king prince humphrey exceeding ill prince heard he the good news yet tell it him prince humphrey he altred much upon the hearing it prince if he be sick with joy hell recover without physic warwick not so much noise my lords sweet prince speak low the king your father is disposd to sleep clarence let us withdraw into the other room warwick willt please your grace to go along with us prince no i will sit and watch here by the king exeunt all but the prince why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow being so troublesome a bedfellow o polishd perturbation golden care that keepst 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 biggen 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 scaldst 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 divorcd 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 putting on the crown lo where it sits which god shall guard and put the worlds 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 exit king warwick gloucester clarence re enter warwick gloucester clarence clarence doth the king call warwick what would your majesty how fares your grace king why did you leave me here alone my lords clarence we left the prince my brother here my liege who undertook to sit and watch by you king the prince of wales where is he let me see him he is not here warwick this door is open he is gone this way prince humphrey he came not through the chamber where we stayd king where is the crown who took it from my pillow warwick when we withdrew my liege we left it here king the prince hath taen 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 exit warwick 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 sleep with thoughts their brains with care their bones with industry for this they have engrossed and pild up the cankred heaps of strange achieved gold for this they have been thoughtful to invest their sons with arts and martial exercises when like the bee tolling from every flower the virtuous sweets our thighs with wax our mouths with honey packd we bring it to the hive and like the bees are murdred for our pains this bitter taste yields his engrossments to the ending father re enter warwick now where is he that will not stay so long till his friend sickness hath determind me warwick 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 quaffd but blood would by beholding him have washd his knife with gentle eye drops he is coming hither king but wherefore did he take away the crown re enter prince henry lo where he comes come hither to me harry depart the chamber leave us here alone exeunt all but the king and the prince prince i never thought to hear you speak again king thy wish was father harry to that thought i stay too long by thee i weary thee dost thou so hunger for mine empty chair that thou wilt needs invest thee with my honours before thy hour be ripe o foolish youth thou seekst 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 stoln that which after some few hours were thine without offense and at my death thou hast seald up my expectation thy life did manifest thou lovdst me not and thou wilt have me die assurd of it thou hidst 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 crownd 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 curbd license plucks the muzzle of restraint and the wild dog shall flesh his tooth on 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 prince o pardon me my liege but for my tears the moist impediments unto my speech i had forestalld 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 kneeling if i affect it more than as your honour and as your renown let me no more from this obedience rise which my most inward true and 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 th 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 this 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 medcine potable but thou most fine most honourd most renownd 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 murdred 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 king o my son god put it in thy mind to take it hence that thou mightst win the more thy fathers 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 crookd 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 seemd in me but as an honour snatchd with boistrous 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 mood for what in me was purchasd falls upon thee in a more fairer sort so thou the garland wearst successively yet though thou standst 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 taen out by whose fell working i was first advancd and by whose power i well might lodge a fear to be again displacd 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 prince 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 enter prince john of lancaster warwick lords and others king look look here comes my john of lancaster prince john health peace and happiness to my royal father king thou bringst me happiness and peace son john but health alack with youthful wings is flown from this bare witherd trunk upon thy sight my worldly business makes a period where is my lord of warwick prince my lord of warwick king doth any name particular belong unto the lodging where i first did swoon warwick tis calld jerusalem my noble lord king 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 supposd the holy land but bear me to that chamber there ill lie in that jerusalem shall harry die exeunt act v scene i gloucestershire shallows house enter shallow falstaff bardolph and page shallow by cock and pie sir you shall not away to night what davy i say falstaff you must excuse me master robert shallow shallow i will not excuse you you shall not be excusd excuses shall not be admitted there is no excuse shall serve you shall not be excusd why davy enter davy davy here sir shallow davy davy davy davy let me see davy let me see davy let me see yea marry william cook bid him come hither sir john you shall not be excusd davy marry sir thus those precepts cannot be served and again sir shall we sow the headland with wheat shallow with red wheat davy but for william cook are there no young pigeons davy yes sir here is now the smiths note for shoeing and plough irons shallow let it be cast and paid sir john you shall not be excused davy now sir a new link to the bucket must needs be had and sir do you mean to stop any of williams wages about the sack he lost the other day at hinckley fair shallow a shall answer it some pigeons davy a couple of short leggd hens a joint of mutton and any pretty little tiny kickshaws tell william cook davy doth the man of war stay all night sir shallow yea davy i will use him well a friend i th court is better than a penny in purse use his men well davy for they are arrant knaves and will backbite davy no worse than they are backbitten sir for they have marvellous foul linen shallow well conceited davy about thy business davy davy i beseech you sir to countenance william visor of woncot against clement perkes o th hill shallow there is many complaints davy against that visor that visor is an arrant knave on my knowledge davy i grant your worship that he is a knave sir but yet god forbid sir but a knave should have some countenance at his friends request an honest man sir is able to speak for himself when a knave is not i have servd your worship truly sir this eight years an 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 you let him be countenancd shallow go to i say he shall have no wrong look about davy exit davy where are you sir john come come come off with your boots give me your hand master bardolph bardolph i am glad to see your worship shallow i thank thee with all my heart kind master bardolph to the page and welcome my tall fellow come sir john falstaff ill follow you good master robert shallow exit shallow bardolph look to our horses exeunt bardolph and page if i were sawed into quantities i should make four dozen of such bearded hermits staves as master shallow it is a wonderful thing to see the semblable coherence of his mens spirits and his they by observing of 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 shallow within sir john falstaff i come master shallow i come master shallow exit scene ii westminster the palace enter severally warwick and the lord chief justice warwick how now my lord chief justice whither away chief justice how doth the king warwick exceeding well his cares are now all ended chief justice i hope not dead warwick hes walkd the way of nature and to our purposes he lives no more chief justice i would his majesty had calld me with him the service that i truly did his life hath left me open to all injuries warwick indeed i think the young king loves you not chief justice 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 enter lancaster clarence gloucester westmoreland and others warwick here comes the heavy issue of dead harry o that the living harry had the temper of he the worst of these three gentlemen how many nobles then should hold their places that must strike sail to spirits of vile sort chief justice o god i fear all will be overturnd prince john good morrow cousin warwick good morrow gloucester clarence good morrow cousin prince john we meet like men that had forgot to speak warwick we do remember but our argument is all too heavy to admit much talk prince john well peace be with him that hath made us heavy chief justice peace be with us lest we be heavier prince humphrey 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 prince john though no man be assurd what grace to find you stand in coldest expectation i am the sorrier would twere otherwise clarence well you must now speak sir john falstaff fair which swims against your stream of quality chief justice sweet princes what i did i did in honour led by th impartial conduct of my soul and never shall you see that i will beg a ragged and forestalld remission if truth and upright innocency fail me ill to the king my master that is dead and tell him who hath sent me after him warwick here comes the prince enter king henry the fifth attended chief justice good morrow and god save your majesty king 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 by my faith 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 assurd ill be your father and your brother too let me but bear your love ill bear your cares yet weep that harrys dead and so will i but harry lives that shall convert those tears by number into hours of happiness brothers we hope no otherwise from your majesty king you all look strangely on me and you most you are i think assurd i love you not chief justice i am assurd if i be measurd rightly your majesty hath no just cause to hate me king 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 th immediate heir of england was this easy may this be washd in lethe and forgotten chief justice i then did use the person of your father the image of his power lay then in me and in th 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 profand see your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted behold yourself so by a son disdaind 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 lieges sovereignty king 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 fathers 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 th unstained sword that you have usd 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 practisd 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 spirits 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 flowd 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 governd 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 remembred all our state and god consigning to my good intents no prince nor peer shall have just cause to say god shorten harrys happy life one day exeunt scene iii gloucestershire shallows orchard enter falstaff shallow silence bardolph the page and davy shallow nay you shall see my orchard where in an arbour we will eat a last years pippin of mine own graffing with a dish of caraways and so forth come cousin silence and then to bed falstaff fore god you have here a goodly dwelling and rich shallow barren barren barren beggars all beggars all sir john marry good air spread davy spread davy well said davy falstaff this davy serves you for good uses he is your serving man and your husband shallow 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 silence ah sirrah quoth a we shall singing 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 falstaff theres a merry heart good master silence ill give you a health for that anon shallow give master bardolph some wine davy davy sweet sir sit ill be with you anon most sweet sir sit master page good master page sit proface what you want in meat well have in drink but you must bear the hearts all exit shallow be merry master bardolph and my little soldier there be merry silence singing be merry be merry my wife has all for women are shrews both short and tall tis merry in hall when beards wag an and welcome merry shrove tide be merry be merry falstaff i did not think master silence had been a man of this mettle silence who i i have been merry twice and once ere now re enter davy davy to bardolph theres a dish of leather coats for you shallow davy davy your worship ill be with you straight to bardolph a cup of wine sir silence singing a cup of wine thats brisk and fine and drink unto the leman mine and a merry heart lives long a falstaff well said master silence silence an we shall be merry now comes in the sweet o th night falstaff health and long life to you master silence silence singing fill the cup and let it come ill pledge you a mile to th bottom shallow honest bardolph welcome if thou wantst anything and wilt not call beshrew thy heart welcome my little tiny thief and welcome indeed too ill drink to master bardolph and to all the cabileros about london davy i hope to see london once ere i die bardolph an i might see you there davy shallow by the mass your crack a quart together ha will you not master bardolph bardolph yea sir in a pottle pot shallow by gods liggens i thank thee the knave will stick by thee i can assure thee that a will not out a tis true bred bardolph and ill stick by him sir shallow why there spoke a king lack nothing be merry one knocks at door look whos at door there ho who knocks exit davy falstaff to silence who has drunk a bumper why now you have done me right silence singing do me right and dub me knight samingo ist not so falstaff tis so silence ist so why then say an old man can do somewhat re enter davy davy ant please your worship theres one pistol come from the court with news falstaff from the court let him come in enter pistol how now pistol pistol sir john god save you falstaff what wind blew you hither pistol pistol not the ill wind which blows no man to good sweet knight thou art now one of the greatest men in this realm silence byr lady i think a be but goodman puff of barson pistol 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 falstaff i pray thee now deliver them like a man of this world pistol a foutra for the world and worldlings base i speak of africa and golden joys falstaff o base assyrian knight what is thy news let king cophetua know the truth thereof silence singing and robin hood scarlet and john pistol shall dunghill curs confront the helicons and shall good news be baffled then pistol lay thy head in furies lap shallow honest gentleman i know not your breeding pistol why then lament therefore shallow give me pardon sir if sir you come with news from the court i take it theres but two ways either to utter them or conceal them i am sir under the king in some authority pistol under which king bezonian speak or die shallow under king harry pistol harry the fourth or fifth shallow harry the fourth pistol a foutra for thine office sir john thy tender lambkin now is king harry the fifths the man i speak the truth when pistol lies do this and fig me like the bragging spaniard falstaff what is the old king dead pistol as nail in door the things i speak are just falstaff 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 bardolph o joyful day i would not take a knighthood for my fortune pistol what i do bring good news falstaff carry master silence to bed master shallow my lord shallow be what thou wilt i am fortunes steward get on thy boots well ride all night o sweet pistol away bardolph exit 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 mans horses the laws of england are at my commandment blessed are they that have been my friends and woe to my lord chief justice pistol 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 exeunt scene iv london a street enter beadles dragging in hostess quickly and doll tearsheet hostess no thou arrant knave i would to god that i might die that i might have thee hangd thou hast drawn my shoulder out of joint first beadle 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 killd about her doll nut hook nut hook you lie come on ill tell thee what thou damnd tripe visagd rascal an the child i now go with do miscarry thou wert better thou hadst struck thy mother thou paper facd villain hostess 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 first beadle 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 amongst you doll ill tell you what you thin man in a censer i will have you as soundly swingd for this you blue bottle rogue you filthy famishd correctioner if you be not swingd ill forswear half kirtles first beadle come come you she knight errant come hostess o god that right should thus overcome might well of sufferance comes ease doll come you rogue come bring me to a justice hostess ay come you starvd bloodhound doll goodman death goodman bones hostess thou atomy thou doll come you thin thing come you rascal first beadle very well exeunt scene v westminster near the abbey enter grooms strewing rushes first groom more rushes more rushes second groom the trumpets have sounded twice third groom twill be two oclock ere they come from the coronation dispatch dispatch exeunt trumpets sound and the king and his train pass over the stage after them enter falstaff shallow pistol bardolph and page falstaff 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 pistol god bless thy lungs good knight falstaff come here pistol stand behind me to shallow o if i had had 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 shallow it doth so falstaff it shows my earnestness of affection shallow it doth so falstaff my devotion shallow it doth it doth it doth falstaff as it were to ride day and night and not to deliberate not to remember not to have patience to shift me shallow it is best certain falstaff 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 pistol tis semper idem for obsque hoc nihil est tis all in every part shallow tis so indeed pistol 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 hald thither by most mechanical and dirty hand rouse up revenge from ebon den with fell alectos snake for doll is in pistol speaks nought but truth falstaff i will deliver her shouts within and the trumpets sound pistol there roard the sea and trumpet clangor sounds enter the king and his train the lord chief justice among them falstaff god save thy grace king hal my royal hal pistol the heavens thee guard and keep most royal imp of fame falstaff god save thee my sweet boy king my lord chief justice speak to that vain man chief justice have you your wits know you what tis you speak falstaff my king my jove i speak to thee my heart king i know thee not old man fall to thy prayers how ill white hairs become a fool and jester i have long dreamt of such a kind of man so surfeit swelld so old and so profane but being awakd i do despise my dream make less thy body hence and more thy grace leave gormandizing 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 turnd 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 evils and as we hear you do reform yourselves we will according to your strengths and qualities give you advancement be it your charge my lord to see performd the tenour of our word set on exeunt the king and his train falstaff master shallow i owe you a thousand pounds shallow yea marry sir john which i beseech you to let me have home with me falstaff 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 shallow i cannot perceive how unless you give me your doublet and stuff me out with straw i beseech you good sir john let me have five hundred of my thousand falstaff sir i will be as good as my word this that you heard was but a colour shallow a colour that i fear you will die in sir john falstaff fear no colours go with me to dinner come lieutenant pistol come bardolph i shall be sent for soon at night re enter prince john the lord chief justice with officers chief justice go carry sir john falstaff to the fleet take all his company along with him falstaff my lord my lord chief justice i cannot now speak i will hear you soon take them away pistol si fortuna me tormenta spero me contenta exeunt all but prince john and the lord chief justice prince john i like this fair proceeding of the kings he hath intent his wonted followers shall all be very well provided for but all are banishd till their conversations appear more wise and modest to the world chief justice and so they are prince john the king hath calld his parliament my lord chief justice he hath prince john 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 pleasd the king come will you hence exeunt epilogue epilogue first my fear then my curtsy last my speech my fear is your displeasure my curtsy my duty and my speech to beg your pardons 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 meant 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 promisd 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 and so i kneel down before you but indeed to pray for the queen 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 would 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 cloyd with fat meat our humble author will continue the story with sir john in it and make you merry with fair katherine 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 the end the life of king henry the fifth dramatis personae chorus king henry the fifth duke of gloucester brother to the king duke of bedford duke of exeter uncle to the king duke of york cousin to the king earl of salisbury earl of westmoreland earl of warwick archbishop of canterbury bishop of ely earl of cambridge conspirator against the king lord scroop sir thomas grey sir thomas erpingham officer in the kings army gower fluellen macmorris jamy bates soldier in the kings army court williams nym bardolph pistol boy a herald charles the sixth king of france lewis the dauphin duke of burgundy duke of orleans duke of britaine duke of bourbon the constable of france rambures french lord grandpre governor of harfleur montjoy a french herald ambassadors to the king of england isabel queen of france katherine daughter to charles and isabel alice a lady attending her hostess of the boars head eastcheap formerly mrs quickly now married to pistol lords ladies officers soldiers messengers attendants scene england and france prologue prologue enter chorus 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 warlike harry like himself assume the port of mars and at his heels leashd in like hounds should famine sword and fire crouch for employment but pardon gentles all the flat unraised spirits that hath dard 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 confind 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 th receiving earth for tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings carry them here and there jumping oer times turning th 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 exit act i scene i london an ante chamber in the kings palace enter the archbishop of canterbury and the bishop of ely canterbury my lord ill tell you that self bill is urgd which in th eleventh year of the last kings reign was like and had indeed against us passd but that the scambling and unquiet time did push it out of farther question ely but how my lord shall we resist it now canterbury 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 valud thus as much as would maintain to the kings 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 alms houses right well supplied and to the coffers of the king beside a thousand pounds by th year thus runs the bill ely this would drink deep canterbury t would drink the cup and all ely but what prevention canterbury the king is full of grace and fair regard ely and a true lover of the holy church canterbury the courses of his youth promisd it not the breath no sooner left his fathers body but that his wildness mortified in him seemd to die too yea at that very moment consideration like an angel came and whippd th offending adam out of him leaving his body as a paradise tenvelop 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 wilfulnes so soon did lose his seat and all at once as in this king ely we are blessed in the change canterbury 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 rendred 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 charterd libertine is still and the mute wonder lurketh in mens ears to steal his sweet and honeyd 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 unletterd rude and shallow his hours filld up with riots banquets sports and never noted in him any study any retirement any sequestration from open haunts and popularity ely the strawberry grows underneath the nettle and wholesome berries thrive and ripen best neighbourd by fruit of baser quality and so the prince obscurd his contemplation under the veil of wildness which no doubt grew like the summer grass fastest by night unseen yet crescive in his faculty canterbury it must be so for miracles are ceasd and therefore we must needs admit the means how things are perfected ely but my good lord how now for mitigation of this bill urgd by the commons doth his majesty incline to it or no canterbury he seems indifferent or rather swaying more upon our part than cherishing th 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 opend 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 ely how did this offer seem receivd my lord canterbury with good acceptance of his majesty save that there was not time enough to hear as i perceivd his grace would fain have done the severals and unhidden passages of his true tides to some certain dukedoms and generally to the crown and seat of france derivd from edward his great grandfather ely what was th impediment that broke this off canterbury the french ambassador upon that instant cravd audience and the hour i think is come to give him hearing is it four oclock ely it is canterbury then go we in to know his embassy which i could with a ready guess declare before the frenchman speak a word of it ely ill wait upon you and i long to hear it exeunt scene ii london the presence chamber in the kings palace enter the king gloucester bedford exeter warwick westmoreland and attendants king henry where is my gracious lord of canterbury exeter not here in presence king henry send for him good uncle westmoreland shall we call in th ambassador my liege king henry not yet my cousin we would be resolvd before we hear him of some things of weight that task our thoughts concerning us and france enter the archbishop of canterbury and the bishop of ely canterbury god and his angels guard your sacred throne and make you long become it king henry 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 our 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 gives edge unto the swords that makes such waste in brief mortality under this conjuration speak my lord for we will hear note and believe in heart that what you speak is in your conscience washd as pure as sin with baptism canterbury 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 subdud the saxons there left behind and settled certain french who holding in disdain the german women for some dishonest manners of their life establishd 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 calld 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 supposd the founder of this law who died within the year of our redemption four hundred twenty six and charles the great subdud 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 usurpd the crown of charles the duke of lorraine 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 conveyd himself as th heir to th 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 foresaid duke of lorraine 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 summers sun king pepins title and hugh capets claim king lewis his satisfaction all appear to hold in right and tide 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 tides usurpd from you and your progenitors king henry may i with right and conscience make this claim canterbury the sin upon my head dread sovereign for in the book of numbers is it writ when the man 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 grandsires tomb from whom you claim invoke his warlike spirit and your great uncles edward the black prince who on the french ground playd a tragedy making defeat on the fun power of france whiles his most mighty father on a hill stood smiling to behold his lions 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 ely 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 puissant liege is in the very may morn of his youth ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises exeter your brother kings and monarchs of the earth do all expect that you should rouse yourself as did the former lions of your blood westmoreland 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 paviliond in the fields of france canterbury 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 king henry we must not only arm t invade the french but lay down our proportions to defend against the scot who will make road upon us with all advantages canterbury they of those marches gracious sovereign shall be a wall sufficient to defend our inland from the pilfering borderers king henry 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 unfurnishd kingdom came pouring like the tide into a breach with ample and brim fulness of his force galling the gleaned land with hot assays girdling with grievous siege castles and towns that england being empty of defence hath shook and trembled at th ill neighbourhood canterbury she hath been then more feard than harmd 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 edwards fame with prisoner kings and make her chronicle as rich with praise as is the ooze and bottom of the sea with sunken wreck and sumless treasuries westmoreland but theres 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 exeter it follows then the cat must stay at home yet that is but a crushd necessity since we have locks to safeguard necessaries and pretty traps to catch the petty thieves while that the armed hand doth fight abroad th 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 canterbury therefore doth heaven divide the state of man in divers functions setting endeavour in continual motion to which is fixed as an aim or but 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 summers 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 eyd justice with his surly hum delivering oer 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 come 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 dials centre so many a thousand actions once afoot end in one purpose and be all well home 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 king henry call in the messengers sent from the dauphin exeunt some attendants now are we well resolvd and by gods help and yours the noble sinews of our power france being ours well bend it to our awe or break it all to pieces or there well sit ruling in large and ample empery oer 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 worshippd with a waxen epitaph enter ambassadors of france now are we well prepard to know the pleasure of our fair cousin dauphin for we hear your greeting is from him not from the king ambassador mayt please your majesty to give us leave freely to render what we have in charge or shall we sparingly show you far of the dauphins meaning and our embassy king henry we are no tyrant but a christian king unto whose grace our passion is as subject as are our wretches fettred in our prisons therefore with frank and with uncurbed plainness tell us the dauphins mind ambassador 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 advisd theres 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 king henry what treasure uncle exeter tennis balls my liege king henry we are glad the dauphin is so pleasant with us his present and your pains we thank you for when we have matchd our rackets to these balls we will in france by gods grace play a set shall strike his fathers crown into the hazard tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler that all the courts of france will be disturbd with chaces and we understand him well how he comes oer us with our wilder days not measuring what use we made of them we never valud 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 turnd 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 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 dauphins 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 hallowd 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 exeunt ambassadors exeter this was a merry message king henry we hope to make the sender blush at it therefore my lords omit no happy hour that may give furthrance 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 ad more feathers to our wings for god before well chide this dauphin at his fathers door therefore let every man now task his thought that this fair action may on foot be brought exeunt act ii prologue flourish enter chorus chorus now all the youth of england are on fire and silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies now thrive the armourers and honours 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 promisd to harry and his followers the french advisd 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 confirmd 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 th abuse of distance 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 play house 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 well not offend one stomach with our play but till the king come forth and not till then unto southampton do we shift our scene exit scene i london before the boars head tavern eastcheap enter corporal nym and lieutenant bardolph bardolph well met corporal nym nym good morrow lieutenant bardolph bardolph what are ancient pistol and you friends yet nym 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 mans sword will and theres an end bardolph i will bestow a breakfast to make you friends and well be all three sworn brothers to france lett be so good corporal nym nym faith i will live so long as i may thats 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 bardolph it is certain corporal that he is married to nell quickly and certainly she did you wrong for you were troth plight to her nym 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 enter pistol and hostess bardolph here comes ancient pistol and his wife good corporal be patient here nym how now mine host pistol pistol base tike callst thou me host now by this hand i swear i scorn the term nor shall my nell keep lodgers hostess 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 nym draws o well a day lady if he be not drawn now we shall see wilful adultery and murder committed bardolph good lieutenant good corporal offer nothing here nym pish pistol pish for thee iceland dog thou prick eard cur of iceland hostess good corporal nym show thy valour and put up your sword nym will you shog off i would have you solus pistol 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 pistols cock is up and flashing fire will follow nym 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 thaes the humour of it pistol o braggart vile and damned furious wight the grave doth gape and doting death is near therefore exhale pistol draws bardolph hear me hear me what i say he that strikes the first stroke ill run him up to the hilts as i am a soldier draws pistol an oath of mickle might and fury shall abate pistol and nym sheathe their swords give me thy fist thy fore foot to me give thy spirits are most tall nym i will cut thy throat one time or other in fair terms that is the humour of it pistol couple a gorge that is the word i thee defy again o hound of crete thinkst thou my spouse to get no to the spital go and from the powdring tub of infamy fetch forth the lazar kite of cressids kind doll tearsheet she by name and her espouse i have and i will hold the quondam quickly for the only she and pauca theres enough go to enter the boy boy 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 hes very ill bardolph away you rogue hostess by my troth hell yield the crow a pudding one of these days the king has killd his heart good husband come home presently exeunt hostess and boy bardolph come shall i make you two friends we must to france together why the devil should we keep knives to cut one anothers throats pistol let floods oerswell and fiends for food howl on nym youll pay me the eight shillings i won of you at betting pistol base is the slave that pays nym that now i will have thats the humour of it pistol as manhood shall compound push home pistol and nym draw bardolph by this sword he that makes the first thrust ill kill him by this sword i will pistol sword is an oath and oaths must have their course sheathes his sword bardolph corporal nym an thou wilt be friends be friends an thou wilt not why then be enemies with me too prithee put up nym i shall have my eight shillings i won of you at betting pistol a noble shalt thou have and present pay and liquor likewise will i give to thee and friendship shall combine and brotherhood ill 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 nym sheathing his sword i shall have my noble pistol in cash most justly paid nym shaking hands well then thats the humour oft re enter hostess hostess as ever you come of women come in quickly to sir john ah poor heart he is so shakd of a burning quotidian tertian that it is most lamentable to behold sweet men come to him nym the king hath run bad humours on the knight thats the even of it pistol nym thou hast spoke the right his heart is fracted and corroborate nym the king is a good king but it must be as it may he passes some humours and careers pistol let us condole the knight for lambkins we will live exeunt scene ii southampton a council chamber enter exeter bedford and westmoreland bedford fore god his grace is bold to trust these traitors exeter they shall be apprehended by and by westmoreland how smooth and even they do bear themselves as if allegiance in their bosoms sat crowned with faith and constant loyalty bedford the king hath note of all that they intend by interception which they dream not of exeter nay but the man that was his bedfellow whom he hath dulld and cloyd with gracious favours that he should for a foreign purse so sell his sovereigns life to death and treachery trumpets sound enter the king scroop cambridge grey and attendants king henry 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 powrs 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 scroop no doubt my liege if each man do his best king henry 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 cambridge never was monarch better feard and lovd than is your majesty theres not i think a subject that sits in heart grief and uneasines under the sweet shade of your government grey true those that were your fathers enemies have steepd their galls in honey and do serve you with hearts create of duty and of zeal king henry 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 scroop so service shall with steeled sinews toil and labour shall refresh itself with hope to do your grace incessant services king henry we judge no less uncle of exeter enlarge the man committed yesterday that raild against our person we consider it was excess of wine that set him on and on his more advice we pardon him scroop thats mercy but too much security let him be punishd sovereign lest example breed by his sufferance more of such a kind king henry o let us yet be merciful cambridge so may your highness and yet punish too grey sir you show great mercy if you give him life after the taste of much correction king henry 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 winkd at how shall we stretch our eye when capital crimes chewd swallowd and digested appear before us well yet enlarge that man though cambridge scroop and grey in their dear care and tender preservation of our person would have him punishd and now to our french causes who are the late commissioners cambridge i one my lord your highness bade me ask for it to day scroop so did you me my liege grey and i my royal sovereign king henry 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 have so cowarded and chasd your blood out of appearance cambridge i do confess my fault and do submit me to your highness mercy grey scroop to which we all appeal king henry the mercy that was quick in us but late by your own counsel is suppressd and killd 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 an appertinents belonging to his honour and this man hath for a few light crowns lightly conspird 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 knewst the very bottom of my soul that almost mightst have coind me into gold wouldst thou have practisd 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 and white my eye will scarcely see it treason and murder ever kept together as two yoke devils sworn to eithers 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 fetchd from glistring semblances of piety but he that temperd 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 gulld 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 englishmans 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 garnishd and deckd 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 indued 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 exeter 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 scroop our purposes god justly hath discoverd and i repent my fault more than my death which i beseech your highness to forgive although my body pay the price of it cambridge 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 sufferance heartily will rejoice beseeching god and you to pardon me grey never did faithful subject more rejoice at the discovery of most dangerous treason than i do at this hour joy oer myself prevented from a damned enterprise my fault but not my body pardon sovereign king henry god quit you in his mercy hear your sentence you have conspird against our royal person joind with an enemy proclaimd and from his coffers receivd 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 kingdoms 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 exeunt cambridge scroop and grey guarded 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 flourish exeunt scene iii eastcheap before the boars head tavern enter pistol hostess nym bardolph and boy hostess prithee honey sweet husband let me bring thee to staines pistol no for my manly heart doth earn bardolph be blithe nym rouse thy vaunting veins boy bristle thy courage up for falstaff he is dead and we must earn therefore bardolph would i were with him wheresomeer he is either in heaven or in hell hostess nay sure hes not in hell hes in arthurs bosom if ever man went to arthurs bosom a made a finer end and went away an it had been any christom child a parted evn just between twelve and one evn at the turning o th tide for after i saw him fumble with the sheets and play with flowers and smile upon his fingers end i knew there was but one way for his nose was as sharp as a pen and a babbld of green fields how now sir john quoth i what man be o 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 hopd 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 nym they say he cried out of sack hostess ay that a did bardolph and of women hostess nay that a did not boy yes that a did and said they were devils incarnate hostess a could never abide carnation twas a colour he never liked boy a said once the devil would have him about women hostess a did in some sort indeed handle women but then he was rheumatic and talkd of the whore of babylon boy do you not remember a saw a flea stick upon bardolphs nose and a said it was a black soul burning in hell bardolph well the fuel is gone that maintaind that fire thats all the riches i got in his service nym shall we shog the king will be gone from southampton pistol come lets away my love give me thy lips look to my chattles and my moveables let senses rule the word is pitch and pay trust none for oaths are straws mens faiths are wafer cakes and holdfast 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 boy and thats but unwholesome food they say pistol touch her soft mouth and march bardolph farewell hostess kissing her nym i cannot kiss that is the humour of it but adieu pistol let housewifery appear keep close i thee command hostess farewell adieu exeunt scene iv france the kings palace flourish enter the french king the dauphin the dukes of berri and britaine the constable and others french king thus comes 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 of 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 dauphin 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 maintaind 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 kingd her sceptre so fantastically borne by a vain giddy shallow humorous youth that fear attends her not constable 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 dauphin 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 filld which of a weak and niggardly projection doth like a miser spoil his coat with scanting a little cloth french king think we king harry strong and princes look you strongly arm to meet him the kindred of him hath been fleshd 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 capdvd by the hand of that black name edward black prince of wales whiles that his mountain sire on mountain standing up in the air crownd with the golden sun saw his heroical seed and smild 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 stern of that victorious stock and let us fear the native mightiness and fate of him enter a messenger messenger ambassadors from harry king of england do crave admittance to your majesty french king well give them present audience go and bring them exeunt messenger and certain lords you see this chase is hotly followed friends dauphin 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 re enter lords with exeter and train french king from our brother of england exeter 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 borrowed glories that by gift of heaven by law of nature and of nations longs 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 pickd from the worm holes of long vanishd days nor from the dust of old oblivion rakd he sends you this most memorable line gives a paper in every branch truly demonstrative willing you overlook this pedigree and when you find him evenly derivd from his most famd of famous ancestors edward the third he bids you then resign your crown and kingdom indirectly held from him the native and true challenger french king or else what follows exeter 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 mens blood the privy maidens groans for husbands fathers and betrothed lovers that shall be swallowed in this controversy this is his claim his threatning and my message unless the dauphin be in presence here to whom expressly i bring greeting too french king for us we will consider of this further to morrow shall you bear our full intent back to our brother of england dauphin for the dauphin i stand here for him what to him from england exeter 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 fathers highness do not in grant of all demands at large sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty hell 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 dauphin 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 exeter hell make your paris louvre shake for it were it the mistress court of mighty europe and be assurd youll 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 french king to morrow shall you know our mind at full exeter dispatch us with all speed lest that our king come here himself to question our delay for he is footed in this land already french king you shall be soon dispatchd with fair conditions a night is but small breath and little pause to answer matters of this consequence flourish exeunt act iii prologue flourish enter chorus chorus thus with imagind 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 phorbus 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 confusd behold the threaden sails borne with th invisible and creeping wind draw the huge bottoms through the furrowed sea breasting the lofty surge o do but think you stand upon the rivage and behold a city on th 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 arrivd to pith and puissance for who is he whose chin is but enrichd with one appearing hair that will not follow these culld and choice drawn cavaliers to france work work your thoughts and therein see a siege behold the ordnance on their carriages with fatal mouths gaping on girded harfleur suppose th ambassador from the french comes back tells harry that the king doth offer him katherine 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 alarum and chambers go off and down goes all before them still be kind and eke out our performance with your mind exit scene i france before harfleur alarum enter the king exeter bedford gloucester and soldiers with scaling ladders king once more unto the breach dear friends once more or close the wall up with our english dead in peace theres 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 favourd rage then lend the eye a terrible aspect let it pry through the portage of the head like the brass cannon let the brow oerwhelm it as fearfully as doth a galled rock oerhang and jutty his confounded base swilld 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 sheathd their swords for lack of argument dishonour not your mothers now attest that those whom you calld 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 games afoot follow your spirit and upon this charge cry god for harry england and saint george exeunt alarum and chambers go off scene ii before harfleur enter nym bardolph pistol and boy bardolph on on on on on to the breach to the breach nym 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 pistol the plain song is most just for humours do abound knocks go and come gods vassals drop and die and sword and shield in bloody field doth win immortal fame boy would i were in an alehouse in london i wouid give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety pistol and i if wishes would prevail with me my purpose should not fail with me but thither would i hie boy as duly but not as truly as bird doth sing on bough enter fluellen fluellen up to the breach you dogs avaunt you cullions driving them forward pistol 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 nym these be good humours your honour wins bad humours exeunt all but boy boy as young as i am i have observd 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 antics do not amount to a man for bardolph he is white liverd and red facd 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 matchd with as few good deeds for a never broke any mans head but his own and that was against a post when he was drunk they will steal anything and call it purchase bardolph stole a lute case bore it twelve leagues and sold it for three halfpence 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 mens pockets as their gloves or their handkerchers which makes much against my manhood if i should take from anothers pocket to put into mine for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs i must leave them and seek some better service their villainy goes against my weak stomach and therefore i must cast it up exit re enter fluellen gower following gower captain fluellen you must come presently to the mines the duke of gloucester would speak with you fluellen 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 yard under the countermines by cheshu i think a will plow up all if there is not better directions gower the duke of gloucester to whom the order of the siege is given is altogether directed by an irishman a very vallant gentleman i faith fluellen it is captain macmorris is it not gower i think it be fluellen by cheshu he is an ass as in the world i will verify as much in his beard he has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars look you of the roman disciplines than is a puppy dog enter macmorris and captain jamy gower here a comes and the scots captain captain jamy with him fluellen 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 jamy i say gud day captain fluellen fluellen god den to your worship good captain james gower how now captain macmorris have you quit the mines have the pioneers given oer macmorris by chrish la tish ill done the work ish give over the trompet sound the retreat by my hand i swear and my fathers 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 fluellen 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 jamy 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 macmorris 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 beseechd and the trumpet call 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 jamy by the mess ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber ayll de gud service or ill lig i th grund for it ay or go to death and ill payt as valorously as i may that sall i suerly do that is the breff and the long marry i wad full fain heard some question tween you tway fluellen captain macmorris i think look you under your correction there is not many of your nation macmorris 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 fluellen 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 war and in the derivation of my birth and in other particularities macmorris i do not know you so good a man as myself so chrish save me i will cut off your head gower gentlemen both you will mistake each other jamy ah thats a foul fault a parley sounded gower the town sounds a parley fluellen 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 war and there is an end exeunt scene iii before the gates of harfleur enter the governor and some citizens on the walls enter the king and all his train before the gates king henry 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 battry 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 fleshd 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 flowring infants what is it then to me if impious war arrayd in flames like to the prince of fiends do with his smirchd complexion all fell feats enlinkd to waste and desolation what ist 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 wickednes when down the hill he holds his fierce career we may as bootless spend our vain command upon th 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 oerblows the filthy and contagious clouds of heady murder spoil and villainy if not why in a moment look to see the blind and bloody with foul hand defile the locks of your shrill shrieking daughters your fathers taken by the silver beards and their most reverend heads dashd to the walls your naked infants spitted upon pikes whiles the mad mothers with their howls confusd do break the clouds as did the wives of jewry at herods bloody hunting slaughtermen what say you will you yield and this avoid or guilty in defence be thus destroyd governor our expectation hath this day an end the dauphin whom of succours 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 king henry open your gates exit governor 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 flourish the king and his train enter the town scene iv rouen the french kings palace enter katherine and alice katherine alice tu as ete en angleterre et tu parles bien le langage alice un peu madame katherine je te prie menseignez il faut que japprenne a parler comment appelez vous la main en anglais alice la main elle est appelee de hand katherine de hand et les doigts alice les doigts ma foi joublie les doigts mais je me souviendrai les doigts je pense quils sont appeles de fingres oui de fingres katherine la main de hand les doigts de fingres je pense que je suis le bon ecolier jai gagne deux mots danglais vitement comment appelez vous les ongles alice les ongles nous les appelons de nails katherine de nails ecoutez dites moi si je parle bien de hand de fingres et de nails alice cest bien dit madame il est fort bon anglais katherine dites moi langlais pour le bras alice de arm madame katherine et le coude alice delbow katherine delbow je men fais la repetition de tous les mots que vous mavez appris des a present alice il est trop difficile madame comme je pense katherine excusez moi alice ecoutez dhand de fingre de nails darma de bilbow alice delbow madame katherine o seigneur dieu je men oublie delbow comment appelez vous le col alice de nick madame katherine de nick et le menton alice de chin katherine de sin le col de nick le menton de sin alice oui sauf votre honneur en verite vous prononcez les mots aussi droit que les natifs dangleterre katherine je ne doute point dapprendre par la grace de dieu et en peu de temps alice navez vous pas deja oublie ce que je vous ai enseigne katherine non je reciterai a vous promptement dhand de fingre de mails alice de nails madame katherine de nails de arm de ilbow alice sauf votre honneur delbow katherine ainsi dis je delbow de nick et de sin comment appelez vous le pied et la robe alice le foot madame et le count katherine le foot et le count o seigneur dieu ils sont mots de son mauvais corruptible gros et impudique et non pour les dames dhonneur duser je ne voudrais prononcer ces mots devant les seigneurs de france pour tout le monde foh le foot et le count neanmoins je reciterai une autre fois ma lecon ensemble dhand de fingre de nails darm delbow de nick de sin de foot le count alice excellent madame katherine cest assez pour une fois allons nous a diner exeunt scene v the french kings palace enter the king of france the dauphin duke of britaine the constable of france and others french king tis certain he hath passd the river somme constable and if he be not fought withal my lord let us not live in france let us quit an and give our vineyards to a barbarous people dauphin 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 britaine normans but bastard normans norman bastards mort dieu ma vie if they march along unfought withal but i will sell my dukedom to buy a slobbry and a dirty farm in that nook shotten isle of albion constable dieu de batailles 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 reind 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 call them in their native lords dauphin 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 britaine 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 french king where is montjoy the herald speed him hence let him greet england with our sharp defiance up princes and with spirit of honour edged more sharper than your swords hie to the field charles delabreth high constable of france you dukes of orleans bourbon and of berri alengon brabant bar and burgundy jaques chatillon rambures vaudemont beaumont grandpre roussi and fauconbridge foix lestrake 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 rouen bring him our prisoner constable this becomes the great sorry am i his numbers are so few his soldiers sick and famishd in their march for i am sure when he shall see our army hell drop his heart into the sink of fear and for achievement offer us his ransom french king 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 rouen dauphin not so i do beseech your majesty french king be patient for you shall remain with us now forth lord constable and princes all and quickly bring us word of englands fall exeunt scene vi the english camp in picardy enter captains english and welsh gower and fluellen gower how now captain fluellen come you from the bridge fluellen i assure you there is very excellent services committed at the bridge gower is the duke of exeter safe fluellen 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 live and my living and my uttermost power he is not god be praised and blessed any hurt in the world but keeps the bridge most valiantly with excellent discipline there is an aunchient lieutenant there at the bridge i think in my very conscience he is as valiant a man as mark antony and he is man of no estimation in the world but i did see him do as gallant service gower what do you call him fluellen he is calld aunchient pistol gower i know him not enter pistol fluellen here is the man pistol captain i thee beseech to do me favours the duke of exeter doth love thee well fluellen ay i praise god and i have merited some love at his hands pistol bardolph a soldier firm and sound of heart and of buxom valour hath by cruel fate and giddy fortunes furious fickle wheel that goddess blind that stands upon the rolling restless stone fluellen by your patience aunchient pistol fortune is painted blind with a muffler afore her eyes to signify to you that fortune is blind 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 pistol fortune is bardolphs foe and frowns on him for he hath stoln a pax and hanged must a be a damned death let gallows gape for dog let man go free and let not hemp his windpipe 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 bardolphs vital thread be cut with edge of penny cord and vile reproach speak captain for his life and i will thee requite fluellen aunchient pistol i do partly understand your meaning pistol why then rejoice therefore fluellen 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 pistol die and be damnd and figo for thy friendship fluellen it is well pistol the fig of spain exit fluellen very good gower why this is an arrant counterfeit rascal i remember him now a bawd a cutpurse fluellen ill assure you a uttred as prave words at the pridge as you shall see in a summers day but it is very well what he has spoke to me that is well i warrant you when time is serve gower 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 disgracd 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 generals cut and a horrid suit of the camp will do among foaming bottles and ale washd 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 fluellen 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 drum within hark you the king is coming and i must speak with him from the pridge drum and colours enter the king and his poor soldiers and gloucester god pless your majesty king henry how now fluellen camst thou from the bridge fluellen ay so please your majesty the duke of exeter has very gallantly maintaind 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 king henry what men have you lost fluellen 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 fires out king henry we would have all such offenders so cut off and we give express charge that in our marches through the country there be nothing compelld 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 tucket enter montjoy montjoy you know me by my habit king henry well then i know thee what shall i know of thee montjoy my masters mind king henry unfold it montjoy thus says my king say thou to harry of england though we seemd dead we did but sleep advantage is a better soldier than rashness tell him we could have rebukd 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 th 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 pronouncd so far my king and master so much my office king henry what is thy name i know thy quality montjoy montjoy king henry 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 lessend 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 theres for thy labour montjoy go bid thy master well advise himself if we may pass we will if we be hindred 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 montjoy i shall deliver so thanks to your highness exit gloucester i hope they will not come upon us now king henry we are in gods hand brother not in theirs march to the bridge it now draws toward night beyond the river well encamp ourselves and on to morrow bid them march away exeunt scene vii the french camp near agincourt enter the constable of france the lord rambures the duke of orleans the dauphin with others constable tut i have the best armour of the world would it were day orleans you have an excellent armour but let my horse have his due constable it is the best horse of europe orleans will it never be morning dauphin my lord of orleans and my lord high constable you talk of horse and armour orleans you are as well provided of both as any prince in the world dauphin what a long night is this i will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns ca ha he bounds from the earth as if his entrails were hairs le cheval volant the pegasus chez 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 orleans hes of the colour of the nutmeg dauphin 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 constable indeed my lord it is a most absolute and excellent horse dauphin it is the prince of palfreys his neigh is like the bidding of a monarch and his countenance enforces homage orleans no more cousin dauphin 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 sovereigns 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 orleans i have heard a sonnet begin so to ones mistress dauphin then did they imitate that which i composd to my courser for my horse is my mistress orleans your mistress bears well dauphin me well which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and particular mistress constable nay for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back dauphin so perhaps did yours constable mine was not bridled dauphin o then belike she was old and gentle and you rode like a kern of ireland your french hose off and in your strait strossers constable you have good judgment in horsemanship dauphin be warnd by me then they that ride so and ride not warily fall into foul bogs i had rather have my horse to my mistress constable i had as lief have my mistress a jade dauphin i tell thee constable my mistress wears his own hair constable i could make as true a boast as that if i had a sow to my mistress dauphin le chien est retourne a son propre vomissement et la truie lavee au bourbier thou makst use of anything constable yet do i not use my horse for my mistress or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose rambures my lord constable the armour that i saw in your tent to night are those stars or suns upon it constable stars my lord dauphin some of them will fall to morrow i hope constable and yet my sky shall not want dauphin that may be for you bear a many superfluously and twere more honour some were away constable evn as your horse bears your praises who would trot as well were some of your brags dismounted dauphin 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 constable i will not say so for fear i should be facd out of my way but i would it were morning for i would fain be about the ears of the english rambures who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners constable you must first go yourself to hazard ere you have them dauphin tis midnight ill go arm myself exit orleans the dauphin longs for morning rambures he longs to eat the english constable i think he will eat all he kills orleans by the white hand of my lady hes a gallant prince constable swear by her foot that she may tread out the oath orleans he is simply the most active gentleman of france constable doing is activity and he will still be doing orleans he never did harm that i heard of constable nor will do none to morrow he will keep that good name still orleans i know him to be valiant constable i was told that by one that knows him better than you orleans whats he constable marry he told me so himself and he said he card not who knew it orleans he needs not it is no hidden virtue in him constable by my faith sir but it is never anybody saw it but his lackey tis a hooded valour and when it appears it will bate orleans ill wind never said well constable i will cap that proverb with there is flattery in friendship orleans and i will take up that with give the devil his due constable well placd there stands your friend for the devil have at the very eye of that proverb with a pox of the devil orleans you are the better at proverbs by how much a fools bolt is soon shot constable you have shot over orleans tis not the first time you were overshot enter a messenger messenger my lord high constable the english lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents constable who hath measurd the ground messenger the lord grandpre constable a valiant and most expert gentleman would it were day alas poor harry of england he longs not for the dawning as we do orleans what a wretched and peevish fellow is this king of england to mope with his fat braind followers so far out of his knowledge constable if the english had any apprehension they would run away orleans that they lack for if their heads had any intellectual armour they could never wear such heavy head pieces rambures that island of england breeds very valiant creatures their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage orleans foolish curs that run winking into the mouth of a russian bear and have their heads crushd like rotten apples you may as well say thats a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion constable just just and the men do sympathise 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 orleans ay but these english are shrewdly out of beef constable 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 orleans it is now two oclock but let me see by ten we shall have each a hundred englishmen exeunt act iv prologue enter chorus chorus 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 fixd sentinels almost receive the secret whispers of each others watch fire answers fire and through their paly flames each battle sees the others umberd face steed threatens steed in high and boastful neighs piercing the nights 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 ton 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 mornings 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 ruind 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 over bears 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 that 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 disposd in brawl ridiculous the name of agincourt yet sit and see minding true things by what their mockries be exit scene i france the english camp at agincourt enter the king bedford and gloucester king henry 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 enter erpingham good morrow old sir thomas erpingham a good soft pillow for that good white head were better than a churlish turf of france erpingham not so my liege this lodging likes me better since i may say now lie i like a king king henry tis good for men to love their present pains upon example so the spirit is eased and when the mind is quickned 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 gloucester we shall my liege erpingham shall i attend your grace king henry 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 erpingham the lord in heaven bless thee noble harry exeunt all but the king king henry god a mercy old heart thou speakst cheerfully enter pistol pistol qui va la king henry a friend pistol discuss unto me art thou officer or art thou base common and popular king henry i am a gentleman of a company pistol trailst thou the puissant pike king henry even so what are you pistol as good a gentleman as the emperor king henry then you are a better than the king pistol the kings 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 heart string i love the lovely bully what is thy name king henry harry le roy pistol le roy a cornish name art thou of cornish crew king henry no i am a welshman pistol knowst thou fluellen king henry yes pistol tell him ill knock his leek about his pate upon saint davys day king henry do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day lest he knock that about yours pistol art thou his friend king henry and his kinsman too pistol the figo for thee then king henry i thank you god be with you pistol my name is pistol calld exit king henry it sorts well with your fierceness enter fluellen and gower gower captain fluellen fluellen so in the name of jesu christ speak fewer it is the greatest admiration in the universal world when the true and aunchient 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 pompeys 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 gower why the enemy is loud you hear him all night fluellen 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 gower i will speak lower fluellen i pray you and beseech you that you will exeunt gower and fluellen king henry though it appear a little out of fashion there is much care and valour in this welshman enter three soldiers john bates alexander court and michael williams court brother john bates is not that the morning which breaks yonder bates i think it be but we have no great cause to desire the approach of day williams we see yonder the beginning of the day but i think we shall never see the end of it who goes there king henry a friend williams under what captain serve you king henry under sir thomas erpingham williams a good old commander and a most kind gentleman i pray you what thinks he of our estate king henry even as men wreckd upon a sand that look to be washd off the next tide bates he hath not told his thought to the king king henry 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 bates 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 king henry by my troth i will speak my conscience of the king i think he would not wish himself anywhere but where he is bates then i would he were here alone so should he be sure to be ransomed and a many poor mens lives saved king henry i dare say you love him not so ill to wish him here alone howsoever you speak this to feel other mens minds methinks i could not die anywhere so contented as in the kings company his cause being just and his quarrel honourable williams thats more than we know bates ay or more than we should seek after for we know enough if we know we are the kings subjects if his cause be wrong our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us williams but if the cause be not good the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads choppd 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 anything 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 who to disobey were against all proportion of subjection king henry 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 masters command transporting a sum of money be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconcild iniquities you may call the business of the master the author of the servants 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 punishd for before breach of the kings laws in now the kings 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 subjects duty is the kings but every subjects 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 williams tis certain every man that dies ill the ill upon his own head the king is not to answer for it bates i do not desire he should answer for me and yet i determine to fight lustily for him king henry i myself heard the king say he would not be ransomd williams ay he said so to make us fight cheerfully but when our throats are cut he may be ransomd and we neer the wiser king henry if i live to see it i will never trust his word after williams you pay him then thats 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 peacocks feather youll never trust his word after come tis a foolish saying king henry your reproof is something too round i should be angry with you if the time were convenient williams let it be a quarrel between us if you live king henry i embrace it williams how shall i know thee again king henry give me any gage of thine and i will wear it in my bonnet then if ever thou darst acknowledge it i will make it my quarrel williams heres my glove give me another of thine king henry there williams 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 king henry if ever i live to see it i will challenge it williams thou darst as well be hangd king henry well i will do it though i take thee in the kings company williams keep thy word fare thee well bates be friends you english fools be friends we have french quarrels enow if you could tell how to reckon king henry 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 exeunt soldiers 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 hearts 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 idol ceremony what kind of god art thou that sufferst 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 feard than they in fearing what drinkst thou oft instead of homage sweet but poisond flattery o be sick great greatness and bid thy ceremony give thee cure thinks 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 commandst the beggars knee command the health of it no thou proud dream that playst so subtly with a kings 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 tide 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 filld and vacant mind gets him to rest crammd 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 pheebus 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 countrys peace enjoys it but in gross brain little wots what watch the king keeps to maintain the peace whose hours the peasant best advantages enter erpingham erpingham my lord your nobles jealous of your absence seek through your camp to find you king good old knight collect them all together at my tent ill be before thee erpingham i shall dot my lord exit king o god of battles steel my soldiers hearts possess them not with fear take from them now the sense of reckning if th 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 richards body have interred new and on it have bestowed more contrite tears than from it issued forced drops of blood five hundred poor i have in yearly pay who twice a day their witherd hands hold up toward heaven to pardon blood and i have built two chantries where the sad and solemn priests sing still for richards soul more will i do though all that i can do is nothing worth since that my penitence comes after all imploring pardon enter gloucester gloucester my liege king henry my brother gloucesters voice ay i know thy errand i will go with thee the day my friends and all things stay for me exeunt scene ii the french camp enter the dauphin orleans rambures and others orleans the sun doth gild our armour up my lords dauphin montez a cheval my horse varlet laquais ha orleans o brave spirit dauphin via les eaux et la terre orleans rien puis lair et le feu dauphin ciel cousin orleans enter constable now my lord constable constable hark how our steeds for present service neigh dauphin mount them and make incision in their hides that their hot blood may spin in english eyes and dout them with superfluous courage ha rambures what will you have them weep our horses blood how shall we then behold their natural tears enter a messenger messenger the english are embattld you french peers constable 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 curtle 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 oerturn 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 mountains basis by took stand for idle speculation but that our honours must not whats 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 enter grandpre grandpre why do you stay so long my lords of france yond island carrions desperate of their bones ill favouredly become the morning field their ragged curtains poorly are let loose and our air shakes them passing scornfully big mars seems bankrupt in their beggard 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 gimmald bit lies foul with chawd grass still and motionless and their executors the knavish crows fly oer 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 constable they have said their prayers and they stay for death dauphin shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits and give their fasting horses provender and after fight with them constable i stay but for my guidon 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 exeunt scene iii the english camp enter gloucester bedford exeter erpingham with all his host salisbury and westmoreland gloucester where is the king bedford the king himself is rode to view their battle westmoreland of fighting men they have full three score thousand exeter theres five to one besides they all are fresh salisbury gods arm strike with us tis a fearful odds god bye you princes all ill 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 bedford farewell good salisbury and good luck go with thee exeter farewell kind lord fight valiantly to day and yet i do thee wrong to mind thee of it for thou art framd of the firm truth of valour exit salisbury bedford he is as full of valour as of kindness princely in both enter the king westmoreland o that we now had here but one ten thousand of those men in england that do no work to day king whats he that wishes so my cousin westmoreland no my fair cousin if we are markd to die we are enow to do our country loss and if to live the fewer men the greater share of honour gods 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 gods 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 mans company that fears his fellowship to die with us this day is calld the feast of crispian he that outlives this day and comes safe home will stand a tip toe when this day is namd 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 crispians day old men forget yet all shall be forgot but hell 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 remembred this story shall the good man teach his son and crispin crispian shall neer 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 neer so vile this day shall gentle his condition and gentlemen in england now a bed shall think themselves accursd they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon saint crispins day re enter salisbury salisbury my sovereign lord bestow yourself with speed the french are bravely in their battles set and will with all expedience charge on us king henry all things are ready if our minds be so westmoreland perish the man whose mind is backward now king henry thou dost not wish more help from england coz westmoreland gods will my liege would you and i alone without more help could fight this royal battle king henry why now thou hast unwishd five thousand men which likes me better than to wish us one you know your places god be with you all tucket enter montjoy montjoy 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 king henry who hath sent thee now montjoy the constable of france king henry 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 lions skin while the beast livd was killd 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 days work and those that leave their valiant bones in france dying like men though buried in your dunghills they shall be famd 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 bullets 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 besmirchd with rainy marching in the painful field theres 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 theyll be in fresher robes or they will pluck the gay new coats oer 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 montjoy i shall king harry and so fare thee well thou never shalt hear herald any more exit king henry i fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom enter the duke of york york my lord most humbly on my knee i beg the leading of the vaward king henry take it brave york now soldiers march away and how thou pleasest god dispose the day exeunt scene iv the field of battle alarum excursions enter french soldier pistol and boy pistol yield cur french soldier je pense que vous etes le gentilhomme de bonne qualite pistol cality calen o custure me art thou a gentleman what is thy name discuss french soldier o seigneur dieu pistol 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 french soldier o prenez misericorde ayez pitie de moi pistol moy shall not serve i will have forty moys or i will fetch thy rim out at thy throat in drops of crimson blood french soldier est il impossible dechapper la force de ton bras pistol brass cur thou damned and luxurious mountain goat offerst me brass french soldier o pardonnez moi pistol sayst thou me so is that a ton of moys come hither boy ask me this slave in french what is his name boy ecoutez comment etes vous appele french soldier monsieur le fer boy he says his name is master fer pistol master fer ill fer him and firk him and ferret him discuss the same in french unto him boy i do not know the french for fer and ferret and firk pistol bid him prepare for i will cut his throat french soldier que dit il monsieur boy il me commande a vous dire que vous faites vous pret car ce soldat ici est dispose tout a cette heure de couper votre gorge pistol owy cuppele gorge permafoy peasant unless thou give me crowns brave crowns or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword french soldier o je vous supplie pour lamour de dieu me pardonner je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison gardez ma vie et je vous donnerai deux cents ecus pistol what are his words boy 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 pistol tell him my fury shall abate and i the crowns will take french soldier petit monsieur que dit il boy encore quil est contre son jurement de pardonner aucun prisonnier neamnoins pour les ecus que vous lavez promis il est content a vous donner la liberte le franchisement french soldier sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercimens et je mestime heureux que je suis tombe entre les mains dun chevalier je pense le plus brave vaillant et tres distingue seigneur dangleterre pistol expound unto me boy boy he gives you upon his knees a thousand thanks and he esteems himself happy that he hath falln into the hands of one as he thinks the most brave valorous and thrice worthy signieur of england pistol as i suck blood i will some mercy show follow me exit boy suivez vous le grand capitaine exit french soldier 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 th old play that every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger and they are both hangd 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 exit scene v another part of the field of battle enter constable orleans bourbon dauphin and rambures constable o diable orleans o seigneur le jour est perdu tout est perdu dauphin mort dieu ma vie all is confounded all reproach and everlasting shame sits mocking in our plumes a short alarum o mechante fortune do not run away constable why an our ranks are broke dauphin o perdurable shame lets stab ourselves be these the wretches that we playd at dice for orleans is this the king we sent to for his ransom bourbon shame and eternal shame nothing but shame let us 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 gender than my dog his fairest daughter is contaminated constable disorder that hath spoild us friend us now let us on heaps go offer up our lives orleans we are enow yet living in the field to smother up the english in our throngs if any order might be thought upon bourbon the devil take order now ill to the throng let life be short else shame will be too long exeunt scene vi another part of the field alarum enter the king and his train with prisoners exeter and others king henry well have we done thrice valiant countrymen but alls not done yet keep the french the field exeter the duke of york commends him to your majesty king henry 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 exeter 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 insteeped and takes him by the beard kisses the gashes that bloodily did yawn upon his face he cries aloud tarry my 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 cheerd him up he smild me in the face raught me his hand and with a feeble grip says dear my lord commend my service to my sovereign so did he turn and over suffolks neck he threw his wounded arm and kissd his lips and so espousd to death with blood he seald a testament of noble ending love the pretty and sweet manner of it forcd those waters from me which i would have stoppd but i had not so much of man in me and all my mother came into mine eyes and gave me up to tears king henry i blame you not for hearing this i must perforce compound with mistful eyes or they will issue too alarum but hark what new alarum is this same the french have reinforcd their scatterd men then every soldier kill his prisoners give the word through exeunt scene vii another part of the field enter fluellen and gower fluellen 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 offert in your conscience now is it not gower tis certain theres not a boy left alive and the cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha done this slaughter besides they have burned and carried away all that was in the kings tent wherefore the king most worthily hath causd every soldier to cut his prisoners throat o tis a gallant king fluellen ay he was porn at monmouth captain gower what call you the towns name where alexander the pig was born gower alexander the great fluellen why i pray you is not pig great the pig or great or the mighty or the huge or the magnanimous are all one reckonings save the phrase is a little variations gower i think alexander the great was born in macedon his father was called philip of macedon as i take it fluellen 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 calld 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 alexanders life well harry of monmouths 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 best friend cleitus gower our king is not like him in that he never killd any of his friends fluellen 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 killd his friend cleitus being in his ales and his cups so also harry monmouth being in his right wits and his good judgments turnd 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 gower sir john falstaff fluellen that is he ill tell you there is good men porn at monmouth gower here comes his majesty alarum enter the king warwick gloucester exeter and others with prisoners flourish king henry i was not angry since i came to france until this instant take a trumpet herald ride thou unto the horsemen on yond hill if they will fight with us bid them come down or void the field they do offend our sight if theyll do neither we will come to them and make them skirr away as swift as stones enforced from the old assyrian slings besides well 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 enter montjoy exeter here comes the herald of the french my liege gloucester his eyes are humbler than they usd to be king henry how now what means this herald knowst thou not that i have find these bones of mine for ransom comst thou again for ransom montjoy no great king i come to thee for charitable licence that we may wander oer 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 drownd and soakd 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 king henry 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 oer the field montjoy the day is yours king henry praised be god and not our strength for it what is this castle calld that stands hard by montjoy they call it agincourt king henry then call we this the field of agincourt fought on the day of crispin crispianus fluellen your grandfather of famous memory ant 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 king henry they did fluellen fluellen your majesty says very true if your majesties is remembred of it the welshmen did good service in 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 tavys day king henry i wear it for a memorable honour for i am welsh you know good countryman fluellen all the water in wye cannot wash your majestys 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 king henry thanks good my countryman fluellen by jeshu i am your majestys countryman care not who know it i will confess it to all the orld i need not be ashamd of your majesty praised be got so long as your majesty is an honest man enter williams king henry 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 exeunt heralds with montjoy exeter soldier you must come to the king king henry soldier why wearst thou that glove in thy cap williams ant please your majesty tis the gage of one that i should fight withal if he be alive king henry an englishman williams ant please your majesty a rascal that swaggerd with me last night who if a live and ever dare to challenge this glove i have sworn to take him a box o th 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 king henry what think you captain fluellen is it fit this soldier keep his oath fluellen he is a craven and a villain else ant please your majesty in my conscience king henry it may be his enemy is a gentlemen of great sort quite from the answer of his degree fluellen though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is as lucifier and belzebub himself it is necessary look your grace that he keep his vow and his oath if he be perjurd see you now his reputation is as arrant a villain and a jacksauce as ever his black shoe trod upon gods ground and his earth in my conscience la king henry then keep thy vow sirrah when thou meetst the fellow williams so i will my liege as i live king henry who servst thou under williams under captain gower my liege fluellen gower is a good captain and is good knowledge and literatured in the wars king henry call him hither to me soldier williams i will my liege exit king henry here fluellen wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap when alencon and myself were down together i pluckd this glove from his helm if any man challenge this he is a friend to alencon and an enemy to our person if thou encounter any such apprehend him an thou dost me love fluellen your grace does me as great honours as can be desird in the hearts of his subjects i would fain see the man that has but two legs that shall find himself aggriefd at this glove that is all but i would fain see it once an please god of his grace that i might see king henry knowst thou gower fluellen he is my dear friend an please you king henry pray thee go seek him and bring him to my tent fluellen i will fetch him exit king henry 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 th ear it is the soldiers 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 touchd 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 exeunt scene viii before king henrys pavilion enter gower and williams williams i warrant it is to knight you captain enter fluellen fluellen gods will and his pleasure captain i beseech you now come apace to the king there is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of williams sir know you this glove fluellen know the glove i know the glove is a glove williams i know this and thus i challenge it strikes him fluellen sblood an arrant traitor as anys in the universal world or in france or in england gower how now sir you villain williams do you think ill be forsworn fluellen stand away captain gower i will give treason his payment into plows i warrant you williams i am no traitor fluellen thats a lie in thy throat i charge you in his majestys name apprehend him hes a friend of the duke alencons enter warwick and gloucester warwick how now how now whats the matter fluellen 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 summers day here is his majesty enter the king and exeter king henry how now whats the matter fluellen 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 alencon williams my liege this was my glove here is the fellow of it and he that i gave it to in change promisd to wear it in his cap i promisd 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 fluellen your majesty hear now saving your majestys manhood what an arrant rascally beggarly lousy knave it is i hope your majesty is pear me testimony and witness and will avouchment that this is the glove of alencon that your majesty is give me in your conscience now king henry 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 fluellen an please your majesty let his neck answer for it if there is any martial law in the world king henry how canst thou make me satisfaction williams all offences my lord come from the heart never came any from mine that might offend your majesty king henry it was ourself thou didst abuse williams your majesty came not like yourself you appeard to me but as a common man witness the night your garments your lowliness and what your highness sufferd 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 king henry 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 fluellen 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 williams i will none of your money fluellen 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 silling i warrant you or i will change it enter an english herald king henry now herald are the dead numbred herald here is the number of the slaughtred french gives a paper king henry what prisoners of good sort are taken uncle exeter 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 king henry 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 dubbd 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 guichard dolphin john duke of alencon antony duke of brabant the brother to the duke of burgundy and edward duke of bar of lusty earls grandpre and roussi fauconbridge and foix beaumont and marle vaudemont and lestrake here was a royal fellowship of death where is the number of our english dead herald presents another paper edward the duke of york the earl of suffolk sir richard kikely 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 los on one part and on th other take it god for it is none but thine exeter tis wonderful king henry come go we in procession to the village and be it death proclaimed through our host to boast of this or take that praise from god which is his only fluellen is it not lawful an please your majesty to tell how many is killd king henry yes captain but with this acknowledgment that god fought for us fluellen yes my conscience he did us great good king henry do we all holy rites let there be sung non nobis and te deum the dead with charity enclosd in clay and then to calais and to england then where neer from france arrivd more happy men exeunt act v prologue enter chorus chorus 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 th 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 mouthd 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 th antique rome with the plebeians swarming at their heels go forth and fetch their conquring caesar 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 englands stay at home the emperors coming in behalf of france to order peace between them and omit all the occurrences whatever chancd till harrys back return again to france there must we bring him and myself have playd the interim by remembring you tis past then brook abridgment and your eyes advance after your thoughts straight back again to france exit scene i france the english camp enter fluellen and gower gower nay thats right but why wear you your leek to day saint davys day is past fluellen there is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things i will tell you ass my friend captain gower the rascally scald beggarly lousy pragging knave pistol which you and yourself and all the world 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 bid me eat my leek it was in a place where i could not breed no contendon with him but i will be so bold 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 enter pistol gower why here he comes swelling like a turkey cock fluellen tis no matter for his swellings nor his turkey cocks god pless you aunchient pistol you scurvy lousy knave god pless you pistol ha art thou bedlam dost thou thirst base troyan to have me fold up parcas fatal web hence i am qualmish at the smell of leek fluellen i peseech you heartily scurvy lousy knave at my desires and my requests and my petitions to eat look you this leek because 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 pistol not for cadwallader and all his goats fluellen there is one goat for you strikes him will you be so good scald knave as eat it pistol base troyan thou shalt die fluellen you say very true scald knave when gods will is i will desire you to live in the meantime and eat your victuals come there is sauce for it striking him again you calld 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 gower enough captain you have astonishd him fluellen 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 pistol must i bite fluellen yes certainly and out of doubt and out of question too and ambiguides pistol by this leek i will most horribly revenge i eat and eat i swear fluellen eat i pray you will you have some more sauce to your leek there is not enough leek to swear by pistol quiet thy cudgel thou dost see i eat fluellen 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 pistol good fluellen ay leeks is good hold you there is a groat to heal your pate pistol me a groat fluellen yes verily and in truth you shall take it or i have another leek in my pocket which you shall eat pistol i take thy groat in earnest of revenge fluellen if i owe you anything i will pay you in cudgels you shall be a woodmonger and buy nothing of me but cudgels god bye you and keep you and heal your pate exit pistol all hell shall stir for this gower go go you are a couterfeit 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 avouch 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 exit pistol doth fortune play the huswife with me now news have i that my nell is dead i th spital of malady of france and there my rendezvous is quite cut off old i do wax and from my weary limbs honour is cudgelld well bawd ill turn and something lean to cutpurse of quick hand to england will i steal and there ill steal and patches will i get unto these cudgelld scars and swear i got them in the gallia wars exit scene ii france the french kings palace enter at one door king henry exeter bedford gloucester warwick westmoreland and other lords at another the french king queen isabel the princess katherine alice and other ladies the duke of burgundy and his train king henry 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 katherine and as a branch and member of this royalty by whom this great assembly is contrivd we do salute you duke of burgundy and princes french and peers health to you all french king right joyous are we to behold your face most worthy brother england fairly met so are you princes english every one queen isabel 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 home 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 king henry to cry amen to that thus we appear queen isabel you english princes an i do salute you burgundy my duty to you both on equal love great kings of france and england that i have labourd 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 prevaild 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 chasd and all her husbandry doth lie on heaps corrupting in it own fertility her vine the merry cheerer of the heart unpruned dies her hedges even pleachd like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair put forth disorderd 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 diffusd attire and everything that seems unnatural which to reduce into our former favout 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 king henry if duke of burgundy you would the peace whose want gives growth to th 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 enscheduld briefly in your hands burgundy the king hath heard them to the which as yet there is no answer made king henry well then the peace which you before so urgd lies in his answer french king i have but with a cursorary eye oerglanced 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 king henry brother we shall go uncle exeter and brother clarence and you brother gloucester warwick and huntington 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 any thing in or out of our demands and well consign thereto will you fair sister go with the princes or stay here with us queen isabel our gracious brother i will go with them haply a womans voice may do some good when articles too nicely urgd be stood on king henry yet leave our cousin katherine here with us she is our capital demand comprisd within the fore rank of our articles queen isabel she hath good leave exeunt all but the king katherine and alice king henry fair katherine and most fair will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms such as will enter at a ladys ear and plead his love suit to her gentle heart katherine your majesty shall mock me i cannot speak your england king henry o fair katherine 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 katherine pardonnez moi i cannot tell vat is like me king henry an angel is like you kate and you are like an angel katherine que dit il que je suis semblable a les anges alice oui vraiment sauf votre grace ainsi dit il king henry i said so dear katherine and i must not blush to affirm it katherine o bon dieu les langues des hommes sont pleines de tromperies king henry what says she fair one that the tongues of men are full of deceits alice oui dat de tongues of de mans is be full of deceits dat is de princess king henry the princess is the better english woman 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 farther 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 katherine sauf votre honneur me understand well king henry 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 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 cloquence nor i have no cunning in protestation only downright oaths which i never use till urgd nor never break for urging if thou canst love a fellow of this temper kate whose face is not worth sunburning 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 livst 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 rhyme themselves into ladies favours they do always reason themselves out again what a speaker is but a prater a rhyme is but a ballad a good leg will fall a straight back will stoop a black beard will turn white a curld 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 sayst thou then to my love speak my fair and fairly i pray thee katherine is it possible dat i sould love de enemy of france king henry 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 katherine i cannot tell vat is dat king henry no kate i will tell thee in french which i am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new married wife about her husbands neck hardly to be shook off je quand sur le possession de france et quand vous avez le possession de moi let me see what then saint denis be my speed donc votre est france et vous etes 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 katherine sauf votre honneur le francais que vous parlez il est meilleur que langlais lequel je parle king henry no faith ist 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 katherine i cannot tell king henry can any of your neighbours tell kate ill ask them come i know thou lovest me and at night when you come into your closet youll 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 beest 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 sayst thou my fair flower de luce katherine i do not know dat king henry 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 katherine du monde mon tres cher et divin deesse katherine your majestee ave fausse french enough to deceive de most sage damoiselle dat is en france king henry 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 fathers 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 in 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 katherine 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 katherine break thy mind to me in broken english wilt thou have me katherine dat is as it shall please de roi mon pere king henry nay it will please him well kate it shall please him kate katherine den it sall also content me king henry upon that i kiss your hand and i can you my queen katherine laissez mon seigneur laissez laissez ma foi je ne veux point que vous abaissiez votre grandeur en baisant la main dune notre seigneur indigne serviteur excusez moi je vous supplie mon tres puissant seigneur king henry then i will kiss your lips kate katherine les dames et demoiselles pour etre baisees devant leur noces il nest pas la coutume de france king henry madame my interpreter what says she alice dat it is not be de fashion pour le ladies of france i cannot tell vat is baiser en anglish king henry to kiss alice your majestee entendre bettre que moi king henry it is not a fashion for the maids in france to kiss before they are married would she say alice oui vraiment king henry o kate nice customs curtsy to great kings dear kate you and i cannot be confind within the weak list of a countrys fashion we are the makers of manners kate and the liberty that follows our places stops the mouth 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 kissing her 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 henry of england than a general petition of monarchs here comes your father enter the french power and the english lords burgundy god save your majesty my royal cousin teach you our princess english king henry i would have her learn my fair cousin how perfectly i love her and that is good english burgundy is she not apt king henry 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 burgundy 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 rosd 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 king henry yet they do wink and yield as love is blind and enforces burgundy they are then excusd my lord when they see not what they do king henry then good my lord teach your cousin to consent winking burgundy i will wink on her to consent my lord if you will teach her to know my meaning for maids well summerd 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 king henry 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 burgundy as love is my lord before it loves king henry 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 french king 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 entred king henry shall kate be my wife french king so please you king henry 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 french king we have consented to all terms of reason king henry ist so my lords of england westmoreland the king hath granted every article his daughter first and then in sequel all according to their firm proposed natures exeter 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 tres cher fils henri roi dangleterre heritier de france and thus in latin praeclarissimus filius noster henricus rex angliae et haeres franciae french king nor this i have not brother so denied but our request shall make me let it pass king henry i pray you then in love and dear alliance let that one article rank with the rest and thereupon give me your daughter french king 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 others 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 lords amen king henry now welcome kate and bear me witness all that here i kiss her as my sovereign queen floulish queen isabel 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 all amen king henry prepare we for our marriage on which day my lord of burgundy well 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 prosprous be sennet exeunt epilogue epilogue enter chorus chorus thus far with rough and all unable pen our bending author hath pursud 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 lived this star of england fortune made his sword by which the worlds best garden he achieved and of it left his son imperial lord henry the sixth in infant bands crownd 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 exit the end the first part of henry the sixth dramatis personae king henry the sixth duke of gloucester uncle to the king and protector duke of bedford uncle to the king and regent of france thomas beaufort duke of exeter great uncle to the king henry beaufort great uncle to the king bishop of winchester and afterwards cardinal john beaufort earl of somerset afterwards duke richard plantagenet son of richard late earl of cambridge afterwards duke of york earl of warwick earl of salisbury earl of suffolk lord talbot afterwards earl of shrewsbury john talbot his son edmund mortimer earl of march sir john fastolfe sir william lucy sir william glansdale sir thomas gargrave mayor of london woodville lieutenant of the tower vernon of the white rose or york faction basset of the red rose or lancaster faction a lawyer gaolers to mortimer charles dauphin and afterwards king of france reignier duke of anjou and titular king of naples duke of burgundy duke of alencon bastard of orleans governor of paris master gunner of orleans and his son general of the french forces in bordeaux a french sergeant a porter an old shepherd father to joan la pucelle margaret daughter to reignier afterwards married to king henry countess of auvergne joan la pucelle commonly called joan of arc lords warders of the tower heralds officers soldiers messengers english and french attendants fiends appearing to la pucelle scene england and france the first part of king henry the sixth act i scene westminster abbey dead march enter the funeral of king henry the fifth attended on by the duke of bedford regent of france the duke of gloucester protector the duke of exeter the earl of warwick the bishop of winchester bedford 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 henrys death king henry the fifth too famous to live long england neer lost a king of so much worth gloucester england neer had a king until his time virtue he had deserving to command his brandishd sword did blind men with his beams his arms spread wider than a dragons 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 neer lift up his hand but conquered exeter we mourn in black why mourn we not in blood henry is dead and never shall revive upon a wooden coffin we attend and deaths 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 glorys overthrow or shall we think the subtle witted french conjurers and sorcerers that afraid of him by magic verses have contrivd his end winchester he was a king blessd 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 churchs prayers made him so prosperous gloucester the church where is it had not churchmen prayd his thread of life had not so soon decayd none do you like but an effeminate prince whom like a school boy you may overawe winchester gloucester whateer 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 gloucester name not religion for thou lovst the flesh and neer throughout the year to church thou gost except it be to pray against thy foes bedford cease cease these jars and rest your minds in peace lets to the altar heralds wait on us instead of gold well offer up our arms since arms avail not now that henrys dead posterity await for wretched years when at their mothers moistned eyes babes shall suck our isle be made a nourish 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 caesar or bright enter a messenger messenger my honourable lords health to you all sad tidings bring i to you out of france of loss of slaughter and discomfiture guienne champagne rheims orleans paris guysors poictiers are all quite lost bedford what sayst thou man before dead henrys corse speak softly or the loss of those great towns will make him burst his lead and rise from death gloucester is paris lost is rouen yielded up if henry were recalld to life again these news would cause him once more yield the ghost exeter how were they lost what treachery was usd messenger no treachery but want of men and money amongst the soldiers this is muttered that here you maintain several factions and whilst a field should be dispatchd and fought you are disputing of your generals one would have lingring 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 obtaind awake awake english nobility let not sloth dim your honours new begot croppd are the flower de luces in your arms of englands coat one half is cut away exeter were our tears wanting to this funeral these tidings would call forth their flowing tides bedford me they concern regent i am of france give me my steeled coat ill fight for france away with these disgraceful wailing robes wounds will i lend the french instead of eyes to weep their intermissive miseries enter a second messenger second messenger 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 joind reignier duke of anjou doth take his part the duke of alencon flieth to his side exeter the dauphin crowned king all fly to him o whither shall we fly from this reproach gloucester we will not fly but to our enemies throats bedford if thou be slack ill fight it out bedford gloucester why doubtst thou of my forwardness an army have i musterd in my thoughts wherewith already france is overrun enter a third messenger third messenger my gracious lords to add to your laments wherewith you now bedew king henrys hearse i must inform you of a dismal fight betwixt the stout lord talbot and the french winchester what wherein talbot overcame ist so third messenger o no wherein lord talbot was oerthrown the circumstance ill 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 pluckd 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 everywhere enragd he slew the french exclaimd the devil was in arms all the whole army stood agazd on him his soldiers spying his undaunted spirit a talbot a talbot cried out amain and rushd into the bowels of the battle here had the conquest fully been seald up if sir john fastolfe had not playd the coward he being in the vaward placd behind with purpose to relieve and follow them cowardly fled not having struck one stroke hence grew the general wreck and massacre enclosed were they with their enemies a base walloon to win the dauphins 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 bedford 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 betrayd third messenger o no he lives but is took prisoner and lord scales with him and lord hungerford most of the rest slaughterd or took likewise bedford his ransom there is none but i shall pay ill hale the dauphin headlong from his throne his crown shall be the ransom of my friend four of their lords ill 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 georges feast withal ten thousand soldiers with me i will take whose bloody deeds shall make an europe quake third messenger so you had need for orleans is besiegd 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 exeter remember lords your oaths to henry sworn either to quell the dauphin utterly or bring him in obedience to your yoke bedford i do remember it and here take my leave to go about my preparation exit gloucester ill to the tower with all the haste i can to view th artillery and munition and then i will proclaim young henry king exit exeter to eltham will i where the young king is being ordaind his special governor and for his safety there ill best devise exit winchester aside 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 exeunt scene france before orleans sound a flourish enter charles the dauphin alencon and reignier marching with drum and soldiers charles 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 famishd english like pale ghosts faintly besiege us one hour in a month alencon 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 reignier lets raise the siege why live we idly here talbot is taken whom we wont to fear remaineth none but mad braind salisbury and he may well in fretting spend his gall nor men nor money hath he to make war charles 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 flee exeunt here alarum they are beaten hack by the english with great loss re enter charles alencon and reignier charles who ever saw the like what men have i dogs cowards dastards i would neer have fled but that they left me midst my enemies reignier 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 alencon 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 bond rascals who would eer suppose they had such courage and audacity charles lets leave this town for they are hare braind slaves and hunger will enforce them to be more eager of old i know them rather with their teeth the walls theyll tear down than forsake the siege reignier i think by some odd gimmers or device their arms are set like clocks still to strike on else neer could they hold out so as they do by my consent well even let them alone alencon be it so enter the bastard of orleans bastard wheres the prince dauphin i have news for him charles bastard of orleans thrice welcome to us bastard methinks your looks are sad your cheer appalld hath the late overthrow wrought this offence be not dismayd 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 whats past and whats to come she can descry speak shall i call her in believe my words for they are certain and unfallible charles go call her in exit bastard 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 re enter the bastard of orleans with joan la pucelle reignier fair maid is t thou wilt do these wondrous feats pucelle 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 amazd theres nothing hid from me in private will i talk with thee apart stand back you lords and give us leave awhile reignier she takes upon her bravely at first dash pucelle dauphin i am by birth a shepherds daughter my wit untraind in any kind of art heaven and our lady gracious hath it pleasd to shine on my contemptible estate lo whilst i waited on my tender lambs and to suns parching heat displayd my cheeks gods mother deigned to appear to me and in a vision full of majesty willd me to leave my base vocation and free my country from calamity her aid she promisd and assurd success in complete glory she reveald herself and whereas i was black and swart before with those clear rays which she infusd on me that beauty am i blessd with which you may see ask me what question thou canst possible and i will answer unpremeditated my courage try by combat if thou darst and thou shalt find that i exceed my sex resolve on this thou shalt be fortunate if thou receive me for thy warlike mate charles thou hast astonishd me with thy high terms only this proof ill 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 pucelle i am prepard here is my keen edgd sword deckd with five flower de luces on each side the which at touraine in saint katherines churchyard out of a great deal of old iron i chose forth charles then come o gods name i fear no woman pucelle and while i live ill neer fly from a man here they fight and joan la pucelle overcomes charles stay stay thy hands thou art an amazon and fightest with the sword of deborah pucelle christs mother helps me else i were too weak charles whoeer helps thee tis thou that must help me impatiently i burn with thy desire my heart and hands thou hast at once subdud excellent pucelle if thy name be so let me thy servant and not sovereign be tis the french dauphin sueth to thee thus pucelle i must not yield to any rites of love for my professions sacred from above when i have chased all thy foes from hence then will i think upon a recompense charles meantime look gracious on thy prostrate thrall reignier my lord methinks is very long in talk alencon doubtless he shrives this woman to her smock else neer could he so long protract his speech reignier shall we disturb him since he keeps no mean alencon he may mean more than we poor men do know these women are shrewd tempters with their tongues reignier my lord where are you what devise you on shall we give oer orleans or no pucelle why no i say distrustful recreants fight till the last gasp i will be your guard charles what she says ill confirm well fight it out pucelle assignd am i to be the english scourge this night the siege assuredly ill raise expect saint martins 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 henrys death the english circle ends dispersed are the glories it included now am i like that proud insulting ship which caesar and his fortune bare at once charles was mahomet inspired with a dove thou with an eagle art inspired then helen the mother of great constantine nor yet saint philips daughters were like thee bright star of venus falln down on the earth how may i reverently worship thee enough alencon leave off delays and let us raise the siege reignier woman do what thou canst to save our honours drive them from orleans and be immortalizd charles presently well try come lets away about it no prophet will i trust if she prove false exeunt scene london before the tower gates enter the duke of gloucester with his serving men in blue coats gloucester i am come to survey the tower this day since henrys death i fear there is conveyance where be these warders that they wait not here open the gates tis gloucester that calls first warder within whos there that knocks so imperiously first serving man it is the noble duke of gloucester second warder within whoeer he be you may not be let in first serving man villains answer you so the lord protector first warder within the lord protect him so we answer him we do no otherwise than we are willd gloucester who willed you or whose will stands but mine theres none protector of the realm but i break up the gates ill be your warrantize shall i be flouted thus by dunghill grooms gloucesters men rush at the tower gates and woodville the lieutenant speaks within woodville within what noise is this what traitors have we here gloucester lieutenant is it you whose voice i hear open the gates heres gloucester that would enter woodville within 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 gloucester faint hearted woodville prizest him fore me arrogant winchester that haughty prelate whom henry our late sovereign neer could brook thou art no friend to god or to the king open the gates or ill shut thee out shortly serving men open the gates unto the lord protector or well burst them open if that you come not quickly enter to the protector at the tower gates winchester and his men in tawny coats winchester how now ambitious humphry what means this gloucester peeld priest dost thou command me to be shut out winchester i do thou most usurping proditor and not protector of the king or realm gloucester stand back thou manifest conspirator thou that contrivedst to murder our dead lord thou that givst whores indulgences to sin ill canvass thee in thy broad cardinals hat if thou proceed in this thy insolence winchester nay stand thou back i will not budge a foot this be damascus be thou cursed cain to slay thy brother abel if thou wilt gloucester i will not slay thee but ill drive thee back thy scarlet robes as a childs bearing cloth ill use to carry thee out of this place winchester do what thou darst i beard thee to thy face gloucester what am i dard 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 cardinals hat in spite of pope or dignities of church here by the cheeks ill drag thee up and down winchester gloucester thou wilt answer this before the pope gloucester winchester goose i cry a rope a rope now beat them hence why do you let them stay thee ill chase hence thou wolf in sheeps array out tawny coats out scarlet hypocrite here gloucesters men beat out the cardinals men and enter in the hurly burly the mayor of london and his officers mayor fie lords that you being supreme magistrates thus contumeliously should break the peace gloucester peace mayor thou knowst little of my wrongs heres beaufort that regards nor god nor king hath here distraind the tower to his use winchester heres gloucester a foe to citizens one that still motions war and never peace oercharging 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 gloucester i will not answer thee with words but blows here they skirmish again mayor nought rests for me in this tumultuous strife but to make open proclamation come officer as loud as eer thou canst cry officer cries all manner of men assembled here in arms this day against gods peace and the kings 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 gloucester cardinal ill be no breaker of the law but we shall meet and break our minds at large winchester gloucester well meet to thy cost be sure thy heart blood i will have for this days work mayor ill call for clubs if you will not away this cardinals more haughty than the devil gloucester mayor farewell thou dost but what thou mayst winchester abominable gloucester guard thy head for i intend to have it ere long exeunt severally gloucester and winchester with their servants mayor see the coast cleard and then we will depart good god these nobles should such stomachs bear i myself fight not once in forty year exeunt scene france before orleans enter on the walls the master gunner of orleans and his boy master gunner sirrah thou knowst how orleans is besiegd and how the english have the suburbs won boy father i know and oft have shot at them howeer unfortunate i missd my aim master gunner but now thou shalt not be thou ruld by me chief master gunner am i of this town something i must do to procure me grace the princes espials have informed me how the english in the suburbs close intrenchd wont through a secret grate 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 placd and even these three days have i watchd if i could see them now do thou watch for i can stay no longer if thou spyst any run and bring me word and thou shalt find me at the governors exit boy father i warrant you take you no care ill never trouble you if i may spy them exit enter salisbury and talbot on the turrets with sir william glansdale sir thomas gargrave and others salisbury talbot my life my joy again returnd how wert thou handled being prisoner or by what means gotst thou to be releasd discourse i prithee on this turrets top talbot the earl of bedford had a prisoner calld the brave lord ponton de santrailles for him was i exchangd and ransomed but with a baser man of arms by far once in contempt they would have barterd me which i disdaining scornd and craved death rather than i would be so vile esteemd in fine redeemd i was as i desird 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 salisbury yet tellst thou not how thou wert entertaind talbot with scoffs and scorns and contumelious taunts in open market place producd 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 diggd 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 deemd me not secure so great fear of my name mongst them was spread that they supposd i could rend bars of steel and spurn in pieces posts of adamant wherefore a guard of chosen shot i had that walkd about me every minute while and if i did but stir out of my bed ready they were to shoot me to the heart enter the boy with a linstock salisbury i grieve to hear what torments you endurd but we will be revengd 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 battry next gargrave i think at the north gate for there stand lords glansdale and i here at the bulwark of the bridge talbot for aught i see this city must be famishd or with light skirmishes enfeebled here they shoot and salisbury and gargrave fall down salisbury o lord have mercy on us wretched sinners gargrave o lord have mercy on me woeful man talbot what chance is this that suddenly hath crossd us speak salisbury at least if thou canst speak how farst thou mirror of all martial men one of thy eyes and thy cheeks side struck off accursed tower accursed fatal hand that hath contrivd this woeful tragedy in thirteen battles salisbury oercame henry the fifth he first traind to the wars whilst any trump did sound or drum struck up his sword did neer leave striking in the field yet livst 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 here an alarum and it thunders and lightens what stir is this what tumults in the heavens whence cometh this alarum and the noise enter a messenger messenger my lord my lord the french have gatherd head the dauphin with one joan la pucelle joind a holy prophetess new risen up is come with a great power to raise the siege here salisbury lifteth himself up and groans talbot hear hear how dying salisbury doth groan it irks his heart he cannot be revengd frenchmen ill be a salisbury to you pucelle or puzzel dolphin or dogfish your hearts ill stamp out with my horses heels and make a quagmire of your mingled brains convey me salisbury into his tent and then well try what these dastard frenchmen dare alarum exeunt scene before orleans here an alarum again and talbot pursueth the dauphin and driveth him then enter joan la pucelle driving englishmen before her then enter talbot talbot where is my strength my valour and my force our english troops retire i cannot stay them a woman clad in armour chaseth them enter la pucelle here here she comes ill have a bout with thee devil or devils dam ill conjure thee blood will i draw on thee thou art a witch and straightway give thy soul to him thou servst pucelle come come tis only i that must disgrace thee here they fight talbot heavens can you suffer hell so to prevail my breast ill burst with straining of my courage and from my shoulders crack my arms asunder but i will chastise this high minded strumpet they fight again pucelle talbot farewell thy hour is not yet come i must go victual orleans forthwith a short alarum then enter the town with soldiers oertake me if thou canst i scorn thy strength go go cheer up thy hungry starved men help salisbury to make his testament this day is ours as many more shall be exit talbot my thoughts are whirled like a potters 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 calld us for our fierceness english dogs now like to whelps we crying run away a short alarum hark countrymen either renew the fight or tear the lions out of englands 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 alarum here another skirmish it will not be retire into your trenches you all consented unto salisburys death for none would strike a stroke in his revenge pucelle is entred 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 exit talbot alarum retreat scene orleans flourish enter on the walls la pucelle charles reignier alencon and soldiers pucelle advance our waving colours on the walls rescud is orleans from the english thus joan la pucelle hath performd her word charles divinest creature astraeas daughter how shall i honour thee for this success thy promises are like adonis gardens that one day bloomd and fruitful were the next france triumph in thy glorious prophetess recoverd is the town of orleans more blessed hap did neer befall our state reignier why ring not out the bells aloud 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 alencon all france will be replete with mirth and joy when they shall hear how we have playd the men charles 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 ill rear than rhodopes of memphis ever was in memory of her when she is dead her ashes in an urn more precious than the rich jeweld 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 frances saint come in and let us banquet royally after this golden day of victory flourish exeunt act ii scene before orleans enter a french sergeant and two sentinels sergeant 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 first sentinel sergeant you shall exit sergeant thus are poor servitors when others sleep upon their quiet beds constraind to watch in darkness rain and cold enter talbot bedford burgundy and forces with scaling ladders their drums beating a dead march talbot lord regent and redoubted burgundy by whose approach the regions of artois wallon and picardy are friends to us this happy night the frenchmen are secure having all day carousd and banqueted embrace we then this opportunity as fitting best to quittance their deceit contrivd by art and baleful sorcery bedford coward of france how much he wrongs his fame despairing of his own arms fortitude to join with witches and the help of hell burgundy traitors have never other company but whats that pucelle whom they term so pure talbot a maid they say bedford a maid and be so martial burgundy pray god she prove not masculine ere long if underneath the standard of the french she carry armour as she hath begun talbot well let them practise and converse with spirits god is our fortress in whose conquering name let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks bedford ascend brave talbot we will follow thee talbot 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 bedford agreed ill to yond corner burgundy and i to this talbot 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 the english scale the walls and cry saint george a talbot sentinel arm arm the enemy doth make assault the french leap oer the walls in their shirts enter several ways bastard alencon reignier half ready and half unready alencon how now my lords what all unready so bastard unready ay and glad we scapd so well reignier twas time i trow to wake and leave our beds hearing alarums at our chamber doors alencon of all exploits since first i followd arms neer heard i of a warlike enterprise more venturous or desperate than this bastard i think this talbot be a fiend of hell reignier if not of hell the heavens sure favour him alencon here cometh charles i marvel how he sped enter charles and la pucelle bastard tut holy joan was his defensive guard charles 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 pucelle 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 falln charles duke of alencon this was your default that being captain of the watch to night did look no better to that weighty charge alencon had all your quarters been as safely kept as that whereof i had the government we had not been thus shamefully surprisd bastard mine was secure reignier and so was mine my lord charles and for myself most part of all this night within her quarter and mine own precinct i was employd in passing to and fro about relieving of the sentinels then how or which way should they first break in pucelle 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 scatterd and dispersd and lay new platforms to endamage them alarum enter an english soldier crying a talbot a talbot they fly leaving their clothes behind soldier ill 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 exit scene orleans within the town enter talbot bedford burgundy a captain and others bedford the day begins to break and night is fled whose pitchy mantle over veild the earth here sound retreat and cease our hot pursuit retreat sounded talbot 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 happened in revenge of him within their chiefest temple ill erect a tomb wherein his corpse shall be interrd upon the which that every one may read shall be engravd 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 dauphins grace his new come champion virtuous joan of arc nor any of his false confederates bedford tis thought lord talbot when the fight began rousd on the sudden from their drowsy beds they did amongst the troops of armed men leap oer the walls for refuge in the field burgundy myself as far as i could well discern for smoke and dusky vapours of the night am sure i scard 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 well follow them with all the power we have enter a messenger messenger all hail my lords which of this princely train call ye the warlike talbot for his acts so much applauded through the realm of france talbot here is the talbot who would speak with him messenger 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 burgundy is it even so nay then i see our wars will turn into a peaceful comic sport when ladies crave to be encountred with you may not my lord despise her gentle suit talbot neer trust me then for when a world of men could not prevail with all their oratory yet hath a womans kindness overruld and therefore tell her i return great thanks and in submission will attend on her will not your honours bear me company bedford no truly tis more than manners will and i have heard it said unbidden guests are often welcomest when they are gone talbot well then alone since theres no remedy i mean to prove this ladys courtesy come hither captain whispers you perceive my mind captain i do my lord and mean accordingly exeunt scene auvergne the castle enter the countess and her porter countess porter remember what i gave in charge and when you have done so bring the keys to me porter madam i will countess 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 enter messenger and talbot messenger madam according as your ladyship desird by message cravd so is lord talbot come countess and he is welcome what is this the man messenger madam it is countess is this the scourge of france is this talbot so much feard 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 talbot madam i have been bold to trouble you but since your ladyship is not at leisure ill sort some other time to visit you going countess what means he now go ask him whither he goes messenger stay my lord talbot for my lady craves to know the cause of your abrupt departure talbot marry for that shes in a wrong belief i go to certify her talbots here re enter porter with keys countess if thou be he then art thou prisoner talbot prisoner to whom countess to me blood thirsty lord and for that cause i traind 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 talbot ha ha ha countess laughest thou wretch thy mirth shall turn to moan talbot i laugh to see your ladyship so fond to think that you have aught but talbots shadow whereon to practise your severity countess why art not thou the man talbot i am indeed countess then have i substance too talbot no no i am but shadow of myself you are deceivd 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 t countess this is a riddling merchant for the nonce he will be here and yet he is not here how can these contrarieties agree talbot that will i show you presently winds his horn drums strike up a peal of ordnance enter soldiers 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 countess victorious talbot pardon my abuse i find thou art no less than fame hath bruited and more than may be gathered 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 talbot be not dismayd 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 countess with all my heart and think me honoured to feast so great a warrior in my house exeunt scene london the temple garden enter the earls of somerset suffolk and warwick richard plantagenet vernon and another lawyer plantagenet great lords and gentlemen what means this silence dare no man answer in a case of truth suffolk within the temple hall we were too loud the garden here is more convenient plantagenet then say at once if i maintaind the truth or else was wrangling somerset in th error suffolk 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 somerset judge you my lord of warwick then between us warwick 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 plantagenet tut tut here is a mannerly forbearance the truth appears so naked on my side that any purblind eye may find it out somerset and on my side it is so well apparelld so clear so shining and so evident that it will glimmer through a blind mans eye plantagenet 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 somerset 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 warwick i love no colours and without all colour of base insinuating flattery i pluck this white rose with plantagenet suffolk i pluck this red rose with young somerset and say withal i think he held the right vernon stay lords and gentlemen and pluck no more till you conclude that he upon whose side the fewest roses are croppd from the tree shall yield the other in the right opinion somerset good master vernon it is well objected if i have fewest i subscribe in silence plantagenet and i vernon 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 somerset 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 vernon 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 somerset well well come on who else lawyer to somerset 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 plantagenet now somerset where is your argument somerset here in my scabbard meditating that shall dye your white rose in a bloody red plantagenet meantime your cheeks do counterfeit our roses for pale they look with fear as witnessing the truth on our side somerset 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 plantagenet hath not thy rose a canker somerset somerset hath not thy rose a thorn plantagenet plantagenet ay sharp and piercing to maintain his truth whiles thy consuming canker eats his falsehood somerset well ill find friends to wear my bleeding roses that shall maintain what i have said is true where false plantagenet dare not be seen plantagenet now by this maiden blossom in my hand i scorn thee and thy fashion peevish boy suffolk turn not thy scorns this way plantagenet plantagenet proud pole i will and scorn both him and thee suffolk ill turn my part thereof into thy throat somerset away away good william de la pole we grace the yeoman by conversing with him warwick now by gods will thou wrongst 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 plantagenet he bears him on the places privilege or durst not for his craven heart say thus somerset by him that made me ill maintain my words on any plot of ground in christendom was not thy father richard earl of cambridge for treason executed in our late kings days and by his treason standst not thou attainted corrupted and exempt from ancient gentry his trespass yet lives guilty in thy blood and till thou be restord thou art a yeoman plantagenet my father was attached not attainted condemnd to die for treason but no traitor and that ill prove on better men than somerset were growing time once ripened to my will for your partaker pole and you yourself ill note you in my book of memory to scourge you for this apprehension look to it well and say you are well warnd somerset ay 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 plantagenet 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 suffolk go forward and be chokd with thy ambition and so farewell until i meet thee next exit somerset have with thee pole farewell ambitious richard exit plantagenet how i am bravd and must perforce endure it warwick this blot that they object against your house shall be wipd out in the next parliament calld 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 plantagenet good master vernon i am bound to you that you on my behalf would pluck a flower vernon in your behalf still will i wear the same lawyer and so will i plantagenet thanks gentle sir come let us four to dinner i dare say this quarrel will drink blood another day exeunt scene the tower of london enter mortimer brought in a chair and gaolers mortimer 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 grey 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 withered 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 first keeper richard plantagenet my lord will come we sent unto the temple unto his chamber and answer was returnd that he will come mortimer 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 obscurd deprivd of honour and inheritance but now the arbitrator of despairs just death kind umpire of mens miseries with sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence i would his troubles likewise were expird that so he might recover what was lost enter richard plantagenet first keeper my lord your loving nephew now is come mortimer richard plantagenet my friend is he come plantagenet ay noble uncle thus ignobly usd your nephew late despised richard comes mortimer 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 yorks great stock why didst thou say of late thou wert despisd plantagenet first lean thine aged back against mine arm and in that ease ill tell thee my disease this day in argument upon a case some words there grew twixt somerset and me among which terms he usd his lavish tongue and did upbraid me with my fathers death which obloquy set bars before my tongue else with the like i had requited him therefore good uncle for my fathers sake in honour of a true plantagenet and for alliance sake declare the cause my father earl of cambridge lost his head mortimer that cause fair nephew that imprisond me and hath detaind me all my flowring youth within a loathsome dungeon there to pine was cursed instrument of his decease plantagenet discover more at large what cause that was for i am ignorant and cannot guess mortimer i will if that my fading breath permit and death approach not ere my tale be done henry the fourth grandfather to this king deposd his nephew richard edwards 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 endeavourd my advancement to the throne the reason movd these warlike lords to this was for that young richard thus removd 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 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 derivd 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 installd 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 suppressd plantagenet of which my lord your honour is the last mortimer 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 plantagenet thy grave admonishments prevail with me but yet methinks my fathers execution was nothing less than bloody tyranny mortimer with silence nephew be thou politic strong fixed is the house of lancaster and like a mountain not to be removd but now thy uncle is removing hence as princes do their courts when they are cloyd with long continuance in a settled place plantagenet o uncle would some part of my young years might but redeem the passage of your age mortimer thou dost then wrong me as that 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 dies plantagenet and peace no war befall thy parting soul in prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage and like a hermit overpassd 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 exeunt gaolers hearing out the body of mortimer here dies the dusky torch of mortimer chokd with ambition of the meaner sort and for those wrongs those bitter injuries which somerset hath offerd 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 th advantage of my good exit act iii scene london the parliament house flourish enter the king exeter gloucester warwick somerset and suffolk the bishop of winchester richard plantagenet and others gloucester offers to put up a bill winchester snatches it and tears it winchester comst thou with deep premeditated lines with written pamphlets studiously devisd humphrey of gloucester if thou canst accuse or aught intendst to lay unto my charge do it without invention suddenly i with sudden and extemporal speech purpose to answer what thou canst object gloucester presumptuous priest this place commands my patience or thou shouldst find thou hast dishonourd me think not although in writing i preferrd the manner of thy vile outrageous crimes that therefore i have forgd 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 whats more manifest in that thou laidst 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 sovereign is not quite exempt from envious malice of thy swelling heart winchester 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 provokd no my good lords it is not that offends it is not that that incensd hath incensd 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 gloucester as good thou bastard of my grandfather winchester ay lordly sir for what are you i pray but one imperious in anothers throne gloucester am i not protector saucy priest winchester and am not i a prelate of the church gloucester yes as an outlaw in a castle keeps and useth it to patronage his theft winchester unreverent gloucester gloucester thou art reverend touching thy spiritual function not thy life winchester rome shall remedy this warwick roam thither then somerset my lord it were your duty to forbear warwick ay see the bishop be not overborne somerset methinks my lord should be religious and know the office that belongs to such warwick methinks his lordship should be humbler it fitteth not a prelate so to plead somerset yes when his holy state is touchd so near warwick state holy or unhallowd what of that is not his grace protector to the king plantagenet aside 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 king henry 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 a noise within down with the tawny coats what tumults this warwick an uproar i dare warrant begun through malice of the bishops men a noise again stones stones enter the mayor of london attended mayor o my good lords and virtuous henry pity the city of london pity us the bishop and the duke of gloucesters men forbidden late to carry any weapon have filld their pockets full of pebble stones and banding themselves in contrary parts do pelt so fast at one anothers pate that many have their giddy brains knockd out our windows are broke down in every street and we for fear compelld to shut our shops enter in skirmish the retainers of gloucester and winchester with bloody pates king henry we charge you on allegiance to ourself to hold your slaughtring hands and keep the peace pray uncle gloucester mitigate this strife first serving man nay if we be forbidden stones well fall to it with our teeth second serving man do what ye dare we are as resolute skirmish again gloucester you of my household leave this peevish broil and set this unaccustomd fight aside third serving man 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 slaughtred by thy foes first serving man ay and the very parings of our nails shall pitch a field when we are dead begin again gloucester stay stay i say and if you love me as you say you do let me persuade you to forbear awhile king henry 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 warwick yield my lord protector yield winchester except you mean with obstinate repulse to slay your sovereign 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 winchester he shall submit or i will never yield gloucester compassion on the king commands me stoop or i would see his heart out ere the priest should ever get that privilege of me warwick behold my lord of winchester the duke hath banishd moody discontented fury as by his smoothed brows it doth appear why look you still so stem and tragical gloucester here winchester i offer thee my hand king henry 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 warwick sweet king the bishop hath a kindly gird for shame my lord of winchester relent what shall a child instruct you what to do winchester well duke of gloucester i will yield to thee love for thy love and hand for hand i give gloucester aside 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 winchester aside so help me god as i intend it not king henry 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 first serving man content ill to the surgeons second serving man and so will i third serving man and i will see what physic the tavern affords exeunt servants mayor etc warwick accept this scroll most gracious sovereign which in the right of richard plantagenet we do exhibit to your majesty gloucester well urgd 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 king henry and those occasions uncle were of force therefore my loving lords our pleasure is that richard be restored to his blood warwick let richard be restored to his blood so shall his fathers wrongs be recompensd winchester as will the rest so willeth winchester king henry 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 plantagenet thy humble servant vows obedience and humble service till the point of death king henry 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 plantagenet and so thrive richard as thy foes may fall and as my duty springs so perish they that grudge one thought against your majesty all welcome high prince the mighty duke of york somerset aside perish base prince ignoble duke of york gloucester now will it best avail your majesty to cross the seas and to be crownd in france the presence of a king engenders love amongst his subjects and his loyal friends as it disanimates his enemies king henry when gloucester says the word king henry goes for friendly counsel cuts off many foes gloucester your ships already are in readiness sennet flourish exeunt all but exeter exeter 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 forgd love and will at last break out into a flame as festred 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 namd 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 exit scene france before rouen enter la pucelle disguisd with four soldiers dressed like countrymen with sacks upon their backs pucelle these are the city gates the gates of rouen 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 ill by a sign give notice to our friends that charles the dauphin may encounter them first soldier our sacks shall be a mean to sack the city and we be lords and rulers over rouen therefore well knock knocks watch within qui est la pucelle paysans pauvres gens de france poor market folks that come to sell their corn watch enter go in the market bell is rung pucelle now rouen ill shake thy bulwarks to the ground la pucelle etc enter the town enter charles bastard alencon reignier and forces charles saint denis bless this happy stratagem and once again well sleep secure in rouen bastard here entred pucelle and her practisants now she is there how will she specify here is the best and safest passage in alencon by thrusting out a torch from yonder tower which once discernd shows that her meaning is no way to that for weakness which she entred enter la pucelle on the top thrusting out a torch burning pucelle behold this is the happy wedding torch that joineth rouen unto her countrymen but burning fatal to the talbotites exit bastard see noble charles the beacon of our friend the burning torch in yonder turret stands charles now shine it like a comet of revenge a prophet to the fall of all our foes alencon defer no time delays have dangerous ends enter and cry the dauphin presently and then do execution on the watch alarum exeunt an alarum enter talbot in an excursion talbot 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 escapd the pride of france exit an alarum excursions bedford brought in sick in a chair enter talbot and burgundy without within la pucelle charles bastard alencon and reignier on the walls pucelle good morrow gallants want ye corn for bread i think the duke of burgundy will fast before hell buy again at such a rate twas full of darnel do you like the taste burgundy 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 charles your grace may starve perhaps before that time bedford o let no words but deeds revenge this treason pucelle what you do good grey beard break a lance and run a tilt at death within a chair talbot foul fiend of france and hag of all despite encompassd with thy lustful paramours becomes it thee to taunt his valiant age and twit with cowardice a man half dead damsel ill have a bout with you again or else let talbot perish with this shame pucelle are ye so hot sir yet pucelle hold thy peace if talbot do but thunder rain will follow the english party whisper together in council god speed the parliament who shall be the speaker talbot dare ye come forth and meet us in the field pucelle belike your lordship takes us then for fools to try if that our own be ours or no talbot i speak not to that railing hecate but unto thee alencon and the rest will ye like soldiers come and fight it out alencon signior no talbot signior hang base muleteers of france like peasant foot boys do they keep the walls and dare not take up arms like gentlemen pucelle away captains lets get us from the walls for talbot means no goodness by his looks god buy my lord we came but to tell you that we are here exeunt from the walls talbot and there will we be too ere it be long or else reproach be talbots greatest fame vow burgundy by honour of thy house prickd on by public wrongs sustaind 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 coeur de lions heart was buried so sure i swear to get the town or die burgundy my vows are equal partners with thy vows talbot 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 bedford lord talbot do not so dishonour me here will i sit before the walls of rouen and will be partner of your weal or woe burgundy courageous bedford let us now persuade you bedford 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 talbot 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 exeunt against the town all but bedford and attendants an alarum excursions enter sir john fastolfe and a captain captain whither away sir john fastolfe in such haste fastolfe whither away to save myself by flight we are like to have the overthrow again captain what will you and leave lord talbot fastolfe ay all the talbots in the world to save my life exit captain cowardly knight ill fortune follow thee exit into the town retreat excursions la pucelle alencon and charles fly bedford 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 bedford dies and is carried in by two in his chair an alarum re enter talbot burgundy and the rest talbot lost and recovered in a day again this is a double honour burgundy yet heavens have glory for this victory burgundy warlike and martial talbot burgundy enshrines thee in his heart and there erects thy noble deeds as valours monuments talbot thanks gentle duke but where is pucelle now i think her old familiar is asleep now wheres the bastards braves and charles his gleeks what all amort rouen 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 burgundy what lord talbot pleaseth burgundy talbot but yet before we go lets not forget the noble duke of bedford late deceasd but see his exequies fulfilld in rouen a braver soldier never couched lance a gentler heart did never sway in court but kings and mightiest potentates must die for thats the end of human misery exeunt scene the plains near rouen enter charles the bastard alencon la pucelle and forces pucelle dismay not princes at this accident nor grieve that rouen 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 well pull his plumes and take away his train if dauphin and the rest will be but ruld charles we have guided by thee hitherto and of thy cunning had no diffidence one sudden foil shall never breed distrust bastard search out thy wit for secret policies and we will make thee famous through the world alencon well set thy statue in some holy place and have thee reverencd like a blessed saint employ thee then sweet virgin for our good pucelle then thus it must be this doth joan devise by fair persuasions mixd with sugred words we will entice the duke of burgundy to leave the talbot and to follow us charles ay marry sweeting if we could do that france were no place for henrys warriors nor should that nation boast it so with us but be extirped from our provinces alencon for ever should they be expulsd from france and not have tide of an earldom here pucelle your honours shall perceive how i will work to bring this matter to the wished end drum sounds afar off hark by the sound of drum you may perceive their powers are marching unto paris ward here sound an english march enter and pass over at a distance talbot and his forces there goes the talbot with his colours spread and all the troops of english after him french march enter the duke of burgundy and his forces now in the rearward comes the duke and his fortune in favour makes him lag behind summon a parley we will talk with him trumpets sound a parley charles a parley with the duke of burgundy burgundy who craves a parley with the burgundy pucelle the princely charles of france thy countryman burgundy what sayst thou charles for i am marching hence charles speak pucelle and enchant him with thy words pucelle brave burgundy undoubted hope of france stay let thy humble handmaid speak to thee burgundy speak on but be not over tedious pucelle look on thy country look on fertile france and see the cities and the towns defacd 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 given 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 countrys bosom should grieve thee more than streams of foreign gore return thee therefore with a flood of tears and wash away thy countrys stained spots burgundy either she hath bewitchd me with her words or nature makes me suddenly relent pucelle besides all french and france exclaims on thee doubting thy birth and lawful progeny who joinst thou with but with a lordly nation that will not trust thee but for profits sake when talbot hath set footing once in france and fashiond 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 fightst against thy countrymen and joinst with them will be thy slaughtermen come come return return thou wandering lord charles and the rest will take thee in their arms burgundy i am vanquished these haughty words of hers have battred 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 ill no longer trust thee pucelle done like a frenchman aside turn and turn again charles welcome brave duke thy friendship makes us fresh bastard and doth beget new courage in our breasts alencon pucelle hath bravely playd her part in this and doth deserve a coronet of gold charles now let us on my lords and join our powers and seek how we may prejudice the foe exeunt scene paris the palace enter the king gloucester winchester york suffolk somerset warwick exeter vernon basset and others to them with his soldiers talbot talbot my gracious prince and honourable peers hearing of your arrival in this realm i have awhile given truce unto my wars to do my duty to my sovereign in sign whereof this arm that hath reclaimd 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 kneels king henry is this the lord talbot uncle gloucester that hath so long been resident in france gloucester yes if it please your majesty my liege king henry 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 reguerdond 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 sennet flourish exeunt all but vernon and basset vernon 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 darst thou maintain the former words thou spakst basset yes sir as well as you dare patronage the envious barking of your saucy tongue against my lord the duke of somerset vernon sirrah thy lord i honour as he is basset why what is he as good a man as york vernon hark ye not so in witness take ye that strikes him basset villain thou knowest the law of arms is such that whoso draws a sword tis present death or else this blow should broach thy dearest blood but ill unto his majesty and crave i may have liberty to venge this wrong when thou shalt see ill meet thee to thy cost vernon well miscreant ill be there as soon as you and after meet you sooner than you would exeunt act iv scene park the palace enter the king gloucester winchester york suffolk somerset warwick talbot exeter the governor of paris and others gloucester lord bishop set the crown upon his head winchester god save king henry of that name the sixth gloucester now governor of paris take your oath governor kneels 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 exeunt governor and his train enter sir john fastolfe fastolfe my gracious sovereign as i rode from calais to haste unto your coronation a letter was deliverd to my hands writ to your grace from th duke of burgundy talbot shame to the duke of burgundy and thee i vowd base knight when i did meet thee next to tear the garter from thy cravens leg plucking it off 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 surprisd 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 gloucester to say the truth this fact was infamous and ill beseeming any common man much more a knight a captain and a leader talbot when first this order was ordaind 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 furnishd 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 king henry stain to thy countrymen thou hearst thy doom be packing therefore thou that wast a knight henceforth we banish thee on pain of death exit fastolfe and now my lord protector view the letter sent from our uncle duke of burgundy gloucester viewing the superscription what means his grace that he hath changd 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 whats here reads i have upon especial cause movd with compassion of my countrys wreck together with the pitiful complaints of such as your oppression feeds upon forsaken your pernicious faction and joind 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 king henry what doth my uncle burgundy revolt gloucester he doth my lord and is become your foe king henry is that the worst this letter doth contain gloucester it is the worst and all my lord he writes king henry 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 talbot content my liege yes but that i am prevented i should have beggd i might have been employd king henry 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 talbot i go my lord in heart desiring still you may behold confusion of your foes exit enter vernon and basset vernon grant me the combat gracious sovereign basset and me my lord grant me the combat too york this is my servant hear him noble prince somerset and this is mine sweet henry favour him king henry be patient lords and give them leave to speak say gentlemen what makes you thus exclaim and wherefore crave you combat or with whom vernon with him my lord for he hath done me wrong basset and i with him for he hath done me wrong king henry what is that wrong whereof you both complain first let me know and then ill answer you basset 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 masters blushing cheeks when stubbornly he did repugn the truth about a certain question in the law argud betwixt the duke of york and him with other vile and ignominious terms in confutation of which rude reproach and in defence of my lords worthiness i crave the benefit of law of arms vernon 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 provokd by him and he first took exceptions at this badge pronouncing that the paleness of this flower bewrayd the faintness of my masters heart york will not this malice somerset be left somerset your private grudge my lord of york will out though neer so cunningly you smother it king henry good lord what madness rules in brainsick 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 york let this dissension first be tried by fight and then your highness shall command a peace somerset the quarrel toucheth none but us alone betwixt ourselves let us decide it then york there is my pledge accept it somerset vernon nay let it rest where it began at first basset confirm it so mine honourable lord gloucester confirm it so confounded be your strife and perish ye with your audacious prate presumptuous vassals are you not ashamd 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 exeter it grieves his highness good my lords be friends king henry 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 wavering nation if they perceive dissension in our looks and that within ourselves we disagree how will their grudging stomachs be provokd 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 henrys peers and chief nobility destroyd themselves and lost the realm of france o think upon the conquest of my father my tender years and let us not forgo 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 putting on a red 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 crownd 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 alencon and that traitorous rout flourish exeunt all but york warwick exeter vernon warwick my lord of york i promise you the king prettily methought did play the orator york and so he did but yet i like it not in that he wears the badge of somerset warwick tush that was but his fancy blame him not i dare presume sweet prince he thought no harm york an if i wist he did but let it rest other affairs must now be managed exeunt all but exeter exeter well didst thou richard to suppress thy voice for had the passions of thy heart burst out i fear we should have seen decipherd there more rancorous spite more furious raging broils than yet can be imagind or supposd but howsoeer 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 childrens hands but more when envy breeds unkind division there comes the ruin there begins confusion exit scene france before bordeaux enter talbot with trump and drum talbot go to the gates of bordeaux trumpeter summon their general unto the wall trumpet sounds a parley enter aloft the general of the french and others 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 sovereignvours and do him homage as obedient subjects and ill withdraw me and my bloody power but if you frown upon this profferd 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 general of the french thou ominous and fearful owl of death our nations 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 pitchd 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 taen the sacrament to rive their dangerous artillery upon no christian soul but english talbot lo there thou standst a breathing valiant man of an invincible unconquerd 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 withered bloody pale and dead drum afar off hark hark the dauphins drum a warning bell sings heavy music to thy timorous soul and mine shall ring thy dire departure out exit talbot he fables not i hear the enemy out some light horsemen and peruse their wings o negligent and heedless discipline how are we parkd and bounded in a pale a little herd of englands timorous deer mazd 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 englands right prosper our colours in this dangerous fight exeunt scene plains in gascony enter york with trumpet and many soldiers a messenger meets him york are not the speedy scouts returnd again that doggd the mighty army of the dauphin messenger they are returnd my lord and give it out that he is marchd to bordeaux with his power to fight with talbot as he marchd along by your espials were discovered two mightier troops than that the dauphin led which joind with him and made their march for bordeaux york 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 enter sir william lucy lucy 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 hemmd about with grim destruction to bordeaux warlike duke to bordeaux york else farewell talbot france and englands honour york o god that somerset who in proud heart doth stop my cornets were in talbots place so should we save a valiant gentleman by forfeiting a traitor and a coward mad ire and wrathful fury makes me weep that thus we die while remiss traitors sleep lucy o send some succour to the distressd lord york he dies we lose i break my warlike word we mourn france smiles we lose they daily get all long of this vile traitor somerset lucy then god take mercy on brave talbots soul and on his son young john who two hours since i met in travel toward his warlike father this seven years did not talbot see his son and now they meet where both their lives are done york alas what joy shall noble talbot have to bid his young son welcome to his grave away vexation almost stops my breath that sundred 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 exit with forces lucy 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 exit scene other plains of gascony enter somerset with his forces an officer of talbots with him somerset 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 officer here is sir william lucy who with me set from our oer matchd forces forth for aid enter sir william lucy somerset how now sir william whither were you sent lucy whither my lord from bought and sold lord talbot who ringd 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 lingring looks for rescue you his false hopes the trust of englands 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 yield up his life unto a world of odds orleans the bastard charles burgundy alencon reignier compass him about and talbot perisheth by your default somerset york set him on york should have sent him aid lucy and york as fast upon your grace exclaims swearing that you withhold his levied host collected for this expedition somerset 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 lucy the fraud of england not the force of france hath now entrappd the noble minded talbot never to england shall he bear his life but dies betrayd to fortune by your strife somerset come go i will dispatch the horsemen straight within six hours they will be at his aid lucy too late comes rescue he is taen or slain for fly he could not if he would have fled and fly would talbot never though he might somerset if he be dead brave talbot then adieu lucy his fame lives in the world his shame in you exeunt scene the english camp near bordeaux enter talbot and john his son talbot o young john talbot i did send for thee to tutor thee in stratagems of war that talbots name might be in thee revivd 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 ill direct thee how thou shalt escape by sudden flight come dally not be gone john 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 talbots blood that basely fled when noble talbot stood talbot fly to revenge my death if i be slain john he that flies so will neer return again talbot if we both stay we both are sure to die john 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 every one will swear but if i bow theyll 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 preservd with infamy talbot shall all thy mothers hopes lie in one tomb john ay rather than ill shame my mothers womb talbot upon my blessing i command thee go john to fight i will but not to fly the foe talbot part of thy father may be savd in thee john no part of him but will be shame in me talbot thou never hadst renown nor canst not lose it john yes your renowned name shall flight abuse it talbot thy fathers charge shall clear thee from that stain john you cannot witness for me being slain if death be so apparent then both fly talbot and leave my followers here to fight and die my age was never tainted with such shame john and shall my youth be guilty of such blame no more can i be severed from your side than can yourself yourself yourself in twain divide stay go do what you will the like do i for live i will not if my father die talbot 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 exeunt scene a field of battle alarum excursions wherein john talbot is hemmd about and talbot rescues him talbot 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 rescud thee from death john o twice my father twice am i thy son the life thou gavst me first was lost and done till with thy warlike sword despite of fate to my determind time thou gavst new date talbot when from the dauphins crest thy sword struck fire it warmd thy fathers heart with proud desire of bold facd victory then leaden age quickend with youthful spleen and warlike rage beat down alencon orleans burgundy and from the pride of gallia rescued 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 fathers care art thou not weary john how dost thou fare wilt thou yet leave the battle boy and fly now thou art seald 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 frenchmens rage to morrow i shall die with mickle age by me they nothing gain an if i stay tis but the shortning of my life one day in thee thy mother dies our households name my deaths revenge thy youth and englands fame all these and more we hazard by thy stay all these are savd if thou wilt fly away john 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 shames scorn and subject of mischance surely by all the glory you have won an if i fly i am not talbots son then talk no more of flight it is no boot if son to talbot die at talbots foot talbot then follow thou thy desprate sire of crete thou icarus thy life to me is sweet if thou wilt fight fight by thy fathers side and commendable provd lets die in pride exeunt scene another part of the field alarum excursions enter old talbot led by a servant talbot where is my other life mine own is gone o wheres young talbot where is valiant john triumphant death smeard with captivity young talbots valour makes me smile at thee when he perceivd me shrink and on my knee his bloody sword he brandishd over me and like a hungry lion did commence rough deeds of rage and stern impatience but when my angry guardant stood alone tendring my ruin and assaild of none dizzy eyd fury and great rage of heart suddenly made him from my side to start into the clustring 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 enter soldiers bearing the body of john talbot servant o my dear lord lo where your son is borne talbot thou antic death which laughst 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 favoured death speak to thy father ere thou yield thy breath brave death by speaking whether 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 fathers arms my spirit can no longer bear these harms soldiers adieu i have what i would have now my old arms are young john talbots grave dies enter charles alencon burgundy bastard la pucelle and forces charles had york and somerset brought rescue in we should have found a bloody day of this bastard how the young whelp of talbots raging wood did flesh his puny sword in frenchmens blood pucelle once i encountred him and thus i said thou maiden youth be vanquishd by a maid but with a proud majestical high scorn he answerd 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 burgundy doubtless he would have made a noble knight see where he lies inhearsed in the arms of the most bloody nurser of his harms bastard hew them to pieces hack their bones asunder whose life was englands glory gallias wonder charles o no forbear for that which we have fled during the life let us not wrong it dead enter sir william lucy attended a french herald preceding lucy herald conduct me to the dauphins tent to know who hath obtaind the glory of the day charles on what submissive message art thou sent lucy submission dauphin tis a mere french word we english warriors wot not what it means i come to know what prisoners thou hast taen and to survey the bodies of the dead charles for prisoners askst thou hell our prison is but tell me whom thou seekst lucy but wheres 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 verdun 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 marshal to henry the sixth of all his wars within the realm of france pucelle heres a silly stately style indeed the turk that two and fifty kingdoms hath writes not so tedious a style as this him that thou magnifist with all these tides stinking and fly blown lies here at our feet lucy is talbot slain the frenchmens only scourge your kingdoms terror and black nemesis o were mine eye bans into bullets turnd that i in rage might shoot them at your faces o that i could but can these dead to life it were enough to fright the realm of france were but his picture left amongst 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 pucelle i think this upstart is old talbots ghost he speaks with such a proud commanding spirit for gods sake let him have them to keep them here they would but stink and putrefy the air charles go take their bodies hence lucy ill bear them hence but from their ashes shall be reard a phoenix that shall make all france afeard charles so we be rid of them do with them what thou wilt and now to paris in this conquering vein all will be ours now bloody talbots slain exeunt act v scene london the palace sennet enter the king gloucester and exeter king henry have you perusd the letters from the pope the emperor and the earl of armagnac gloucester 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 king henry how doth your grace affect their motion gloucester well my good lord and as the only means to stop effusion of our christian blood and stablish quietness on every side king henry 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 gloucester 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 king henry marriage uncle alas my years are young and fitter is my study and my books than wanton dalliance with a paramour yet call th ambassadors and as you please so let them have their answers every one i shall be well content with any choice tends to gods glory and my countrys weal enter in cardinals habit beaufort the papal legate and two ambassadors exeter what is my lord of winchester installd and calld unto a cardinals degree then i perceive that will be verified henry the fifth did sometime prophesy if once he come to be a cardinal hell make his cap co equal with the crown king henry my lords ambassadors your several suits have been considerd and debated on your purpose is both good and reasonable and therefore are we certainly resolvd to draw conditions of a friendly peace which by my lord of winchester we mean shall be transported presently to france gloucester and for the proffer of my lord your master i have informd his highness so at large as liking of the ladys virtuous gifts her beauty and the value of her dower he doth intend she shall be englands queen king henry to ambassador 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 inshippd commit them to the fortune of the sea exeunt all but winchester and the legate winchester stay my lord legate you shall first receive the sum of money which i promised should be delivered to his holiness for clothing me in these grave ornaments legate i will attend upon your lordships leisure winchester aside 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 ill either make thee stoop and bend thy knee or sack this country with a mutiny exeunt scene france plains in anjou enter charles burgundy alencon bastard reignier la pucelle and forces charles these news my lords may cheer our drooping spirits tis said the stout parisians do revolt and turn again unto the warlike french alencon then march to paris royal charles of france and keep not back your powers in dalliance pucelle peace be amongst them if they turn to us else ruin combat with their palaces enter a scout scout success unto our valiant general and happiness to his accomplices charles what tidings send our scouts i prithee speak scout the english army that divided was into two parties is now conjoind in one and means to give you battle presently charles somewhat too sudden sirs the warning is but we will presently provide for them burgundy i trust the ghost of talbot is not there now he is gone my lord you need not fear pucelle of all base passions fear is most accursd command the conquest charles it shall be thine let henry fret and all the world repine charles then on my lords and france be fortunate exeunt scene before angiers alarum excursions enter la pucelle pucelle 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 thunder you speedy helpers that are substitutes under the lordly monarch of the north appear and aid me in this enterprise enter fiends this speedy and quick appearance argues proof of your accustomd diligence to me now ye familiar spirits that are culld out of the powerful regions under earth help me this once that france may get the field they walk and speak not o hold me not with silence over long where i was wont to feed you with my blood ill lop a member off and give it you in earnest of a further benefit so you do condescend to help me now they hang their heads no hope to have redress my body shall pay recompense if you will grant my suit they shake their heads 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 they depart see they forsake me now the time is come that france must vail her lofty plumed crest and let her head fall into englands lap my ancient incantations are too weak and hell too strong for me to buckle with now france thy glory droopeth to the dust exit excursions enter french and english fighting la pucelle and york fight hand to hand la pucelle is taken the french fly york 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 devils grace see how the ugly witch doth bend her brows as if with circe she would change my shape pucelle changd to a worser shape thou canst not be york o charles the dauphin is a proper man no shape but his can please your dainty eye pucelle a plaguing mischief fight on charles and thee and may ye both be suddenly surprisd by bloody hands in sleeping on your beds york fell banning hag enchantress hold thy tongue pucelle i prithee give me leave to curse awhile york curse miscreant when thou comest to the stake exeunt alarum enter suffolk with margaret in his hand suffolk be what thou wilt thou art my prisoner gazes on her 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 who art thou say that i may honour thee margaret margaret my name and daughter to a king the king of naples whosoeer thou art suffolk an earl i am and suffolk am i calld be not offended natures miracle thou art allotted to be taen by me so doth the swan her downy cygnets save keeping them prisoner underneath her wings yet if this servile usage once offend go and be free again as suffolks friend she is going o stay aside 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 ill 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 womans sight ay beautys princely majesty is such confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough margaret say earl of suffolk if thy name be so what ransom must i pay before i pass for i perceive i am thy prisoner suffolk aside how canst thou tell she will deny thy suit before thou make a trial of her love margaret why speakst thou not what ransom must i pay suffolk aside shes beautiful and therefore to be wood she is a woman therefore to be won margaret wilt thou accept of ransom yea or no suffolk aside fond man remember that thou hast a wife then how can margaret be thy paramour margaret i were best leave him for he will not hear suffolk aside there all is marrd there lies a cooling card margaret he talks at random sure the man is mad suffolk aside and yet a dispensation may be had margaret and yet i would that you would answer me suffolk aside ill win this lady margaret for whom why for my king tush thats a wooden thing margaret he talks of wood it is some carpenter suffolk aside 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 margaret hear ye captain are you not at leisure suffolk aside it shall be so disdain they neer so much henry is youthful and will quickly yield madam i have a secret to reveal margaret aside what though i be enthralld he seems a knight and will not any way dishonour me suffolk lady vouchsafe to listen what i say margaret aside perhaps i shall be rescud by the french and then i need not crave his courtesy suffolk sweet madam give me hearing in a cause margaret aside tush women have been captivate ere now suffolk lady wherefore talk you so margaret i cry you mercy tis but quid for quo suffolk say gentle princess would you not suppose your bondage happy to be made a queen margaret to be a queen in bondage is more vile than is a slave in base servility for princes should be free suffolk and so shall you if happy englands royal king be free margaret why what concerns his freedom unto me suffolk ill undertake to make thee henrys queen to put a golden sceptre in thy hand and set a precious crown upon thy head if thou wilt condescend to be my margaret what suffolk his love margaret i am unworthy to be henrys wife suffolk 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 ye so content margaret an if my father please i am content suffolk then call our captains and our colours forth and madam at your fathers castle walls well crave a parley to confer with him sound a parley enter reignier on the walls see reignier see thy daughter prisoner reignier to whom suffolk to me reignier suffolk what remedy i am a soldier and unapt to weep or to exclaim on fortunes fickleness suffolk 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 wood and won thereto and this her easy held imprisonment hath gaind thy daughter princely liberty reignier speaks suffolk as he thinks suffolk fair margaret knows that suffolk doth not flatter face or feign reignier upon thy princely warrant i descend to give thee answer of thy just demand exit reignier from the walls suffolk and here i will expect thy coming trumpets sound enter reignier below reignier welcome brave earl into our territories command in anjou what your honour pleases suffolk thanks reignier happy for so sweet a child fit to be made companion with a king what answer makes your grace unto my suit reignier 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 country maine and anjou free from oppression or the stroke of war my daughter shall be henrys if he please suffolk that is her ransom i deliver her and those two counties i will undertake your grace shall well and quietly enjoy reignier and i again in henrys royal name as deputy unto that gracious king give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith suffolk reignier of france i give thee kingly thanks because this is in traffic of a king aside and yet methinks i could be well content to be mine own attorney in this case ill over then to england with this news and make this marriage to be solemnizd so farewell reignier set this diamond safe in golden palaces as it becomes reignier i do embrace thee as i would embrace the christian prince king henry were he here margaret farewell my lord good wishes praise and prayers shall suffolk ever have of margaret she is going suffolk farewell sweet madam but hark you margaret no princely commendations to my king margaret such commendations as becomes a maid a virgin and his servant say to him suffolk words sweetly placd and modestly directed but madam i must trouble you again no loving token to his majesty margaret yes my good lord a pure unspotted heart never yet taint with love i send the king suffolk and this withal kisses her margaret that for thyself i will not so presume to send such peevish tokens to a king exeunt reignier and margaret suffolk 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 comst to kneel at henrys feet thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder exit scene camp of the duke of york in anjou enter york warwick and others york bring forth that sorceress condemnd to burn enter la pucelle guarded and a shepherd shepherd ah joan this kills thy fathers 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 ill die with thee pucelle decrepit miser base ignoble wretch i am descended of a gentler blood thou art no father nor no friend of mine shepherd 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 bachlorship warwick graceless wilt thou deny thy parentage york this argues what her kind of life hath been wicked and vile and so her death concludes shepherd 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 pucelle peasant avaunt you have subornd this man of purpose to obscure my noble birth shepherd 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 suckdst her breast had been a little ratsbane for thy sake or else when thou didst keep my lambs afield i wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee dost thou deny thy father cursed drab o burn her burn her hanging is too good exit york take her away for she hath livd too long to fill the world with vicious qualities pucelle first let me tell you whom you have condemnd not me begotten of a shepherd swain but issued 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 staind 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 effusd will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven york ay ay away with her to execution warwick 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 pucelle 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 york now heaven forfend the holy maid with child warwick the greatest miracle that eer ye wrought is all your strict preciseness come to this york she and the dauphin have been juggling i did imagine what would be her refuge warwick well go to well have no bastards live especially since charles must father it pucelle you are deceivd my child is none of his it was alencon that enjoyd my love york alencon that notorious machiavel it dies an if it had a thousand lives pucelle o give me leave i have deluded you twas neither charles nor yet the duke i namd but reignier king of naples that prevaild warwick a married man thats most intolerable york why heres a girl i think she knows not well there were so many whom she may accuse warwick its sign she hath been liberal and free york and yet forsooth she is a virgin pure strumpet thy words condemn thy brat and thee use no entreaty for it is in vain pucelle 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 exit guarded york break thou in pieces and consume to ashes thou foul accursed minister of hell enter cardinal beaufort attended cardinal lord regent i do greet your excellence with letters of commission from the king for know my lords the states of christendom movd with remorse of these outrageous broils have earnestly implord 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 york is all our travail turnd 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 countrys 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 warwick be patient york if we conclude a peace it shall be with such strict and severe covenants as little shall the frenchmen gain thereby enter charles alencon bastard reignier and others charles since lords of england it is thus agreed that peaceful truce shall be proclaimd in france we come to be informed by yourselves what the conditions of that league must be york speak winchester for boiling choler chokes the hollow passage of my poisond voice by sight of these our baleful enemies cardinal 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 an 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 placd as viceroy under him and still enjoy thy regal dignity alencon 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 charles tis known already that i am possessd with more than half the gallian territories and therein reverencd for their lawful king shall i for lucre of the rest unvanquishd detract so much from that prerogative as to be calld but viceroy of the whole no lord ambassador ill rather keep that which i have than coveting for more be cast from possibility of all york insulting charles hast thou by secret means usd intercession to obtain a league and now the matter grows to compromise standst thou aloof upon comparison either accept the title thou usurpst of benefit proceeding from our king and not of any challenge of desert or we will plague thee with incessant wars reignier to charles 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 alencon to charles 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 warwick how sayst thou charles shall our condition stand charles it shall only reservd you claim no interest in any of our towns of garrison york 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 charles and the rest give tokens of fealty so now dismiss your army when ye please hang up your ensigns let your drums be still for here we entertain a solemn peace exeunt scene london the palace enter suffolk in conference with the king gloucester and exeter king henry your wondrous rare description noble earl of beauteous margaret hath astonishd me her virtues graced with external gifts do breed loves 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 shipwreck or arrive where i may have fruition of her love suffolk 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 intents to love and honour henry as her lord king henry and otherwise will henry neer presume therefore my lord protector give consent that margaret may be englands royal queen gloucester so should i give consent to flatter sin you know my lord your highness is betrothd unto another lady of esteem how shall we then dispense with that contract and not deface your honour with reproach suffolk as doth a ruler with unlawful oaths or one that at a triumph having vowd to try his strength forsaketh yet the lists by reason of his adversarys odds a poor earls daughter is unequal odds and therefore may be broke without offence gloucester why what i pray is margaret more than that her father is no better than an earl although in glorious titles he excel suffolk yes my 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 gloucester and so the earl of armagnac may do because he is near kinsman unto charles exeter beside his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower where reignier sooner will receive than give suffolk a dowr 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 preferrd 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 linkd in love then yield my lords and here conclude with me that margaret shall be queen and none but she king henry 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 assurd 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 crownd king henrys 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 exit gloucester ay grief i fear me both at first and last exeunt gloucester and exeter suffolk thus suffolk hath prevaild 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 troyan did margaret shall now be queen and rule the king but i will rule both her the king and realm exit the end the second part of king henry the sixth dramatis personae king henry the sixth humphrey duke of gloucester his uncle cardinal beaufort bishop of winchester great uncle to the king richard plantagenet duke of york edward and richard his sons duke of somerset duke of suffolk duke of buckingham lord clifford young clifford his son earl of salisbury earl of warwick lord scales lord say sir humphrey stafford william stafford his brother sir john stanley vaux matthew goffe a lieutenant a shipmaster a masters mate and walter whitmore two gentlemen prisoners with suffolk john hume and john southwell two priests roger bolingbroke a conjurer a spirit raised by him thomas horner an armourer peter his man clerk of chatham mayor of saint albans saunder simpcox an impostor alexander iden a kentish gentleman jack cade a rebel george bevis john holland dick the butcher smith the weaver michael etc followers of cade two murderers margaret queen to king henry eleanor duchess of gloucester margery jourdain a witch wife to simpcox lords ladies and attendants petitioners aldermen a herald a beadle a sheriff officers citizens prentices falconers guards soldiers messengers etc scene england act i scene i london the palace flourish of trumpets then hautboys enter the king duke humphrey of gloucester salisbury warwick and cardinal beaufort on the one side the queen suffolk york somerset and buckingham on the other suffolk 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 bretagne and alencon seven earls twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops i have performd my task and was espousd 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 marquis gave the fairest queen that ever king receivd king henry 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 queen 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 alder liefest sovereign makes me the bolder to salute my king with ruder terms such as my wit affords and over joy of heart doth minister king henry her sight did ravish but her grace in speech her words y clad with wisdoms majesty makes me from wondring fall to weeping joys such is the fulness of my hearts content lords with one cheerful voice welcome my love all kneeling long live queen margaret englands happiness queen we thank you all flourish suffolk 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 gloucester reads 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 lets the paper fall king henry uncle how now gloucester pardon me gracious lord some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart and dimmd mine eyes that i can read no further king henry uncle of winchester i pray read on cardinal reads 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 englands own proper cost and charges without having any dowry king henry 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 th parts of france till term of eighteen months be full expird 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 performd exeunt king queen and suffolk gloucester 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 winters cold and summers 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 receivd 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 had his highness in his infancy crowned in paris in despite of foes and shall these labours and these honours die shall henrys conquest bedfords 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 conquerd france undoing all as all had never been cardinal nephew what means this passionate discourse this peroration with such circumstance for france tis ours and we will keep it still gloucester 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 duchy of anjou and maine unto the poor king reignier whose large style agrees not with the leanness of his purse salisbury now by the death of him that died for all these counties were the keys of normandy but wherefore weeps warwick my valiant son warwick 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 deliverd up again with peaceful words mort dieu york for suffolks duke may he be suffocate that dims the honour of this warlike isle france should have torn and rent my very heart before i would have yielded to this league i never read but englands 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 gloucester a proper jest and never heard before that suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth for costs and charges in transporting her she should have stayd in france and starvd in france before cardinal my lord of gloucester now ye grow too hot it was the pleasure of my lord the king gloucester 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 exit cardinal 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 theres reason he should be displeasd 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 buckingham 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 well quickly hoise duke humphrey from his seat cardinal this weighty business will not brook delay ill to the duke of suffolk presently exit somerset cousin of buckingham though humphreys 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 displacd hell be protector buckingham or thou or i somerset will be protector despite duke humphrey or the cardinal exeunt buckingham and somerset salisbury 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 th 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 housekeeping hath 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 feard and honourd 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 somersets and buckinghams ambition and as we may cherish duke humphreys deeds while they do tend the profit of the land warwick so god help warwick as he loves the land and common profit of his country york and so says york aside for he hath greatest cause salisbury then lets make haste away and look unto the main warwick 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 exeunt warwick and salisbury york 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 pleasd to changes two dukedoms for a dukes fair daughter i cannot blame them all what ist 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 shard 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 bargaind for and sold methinks the realms of england france and ireland bear that proportion to my flesh and blood as did the fatal brand althaea burnt unto the princes 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 englands 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 thats 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 fits 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 englands dear bought queen and humphrey with the peers be falln at jars then will i raise aloft the milk white rose with whose sweet smell the air shall be perfumd and in my standard bear the arms of york to grapple with the house of lancaster and force perforce ill make him yield the crown whose bookish rule hath pulld fair england down exit scene ii the duke of gloucesters house enter duke and his wife eleanor duchess why droops my lord like over ripend 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 fixd to the sullen earth gazing on that which seems to dim thy sight what seest thou there king henrys diadem enchasd 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 ist too short ill lengthen it with mine and having both together heavd it up well both together lift our heads to heaven and never more abase our sight so low as to vouchsafe one glance unto the ground gloucester 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 dreams this night doth make me sad duchess what dreamd my lord tell me and ill requite it with sweet rehearsal of my mornings dream gloucester methought this staff mine office badge in court was broke in twain by whom i have forgot but as i think it was by th cardinal and on the pieces of the broken wand were placd 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 duchess tut this was nothing but an argument that he that breaks a stick of gloucesters 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 were crownd where henry and dame margaret kneeld to me and on my head did set the diadem gloucester nay eleanor then must i chide outright presumptuous dame ill nurturd eleanor art thou not second woman in the realm and the protectors wife belovd 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 disgraces feet away from me and let me hear no more duchess what what my lord are you so choleric with eleanor for telling but her dream next time ill keep my dreams unto myself and not be checkd gloucester nay be not angry i am pleasd again enter a messenger messenger my lord protector tis his highness pleasure you do prepare to ride unto saint albans where as the king and queen do mean to hawk gloucester i go come nell thou wilt ride with us duchess yes my good lord ill follow presently exeunt gloucester and messenger 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 fortunes pageant where are you there sir john nay fear not man we are alone heres none but thee and i enter hume hume jesus preserve your royal majesty duchess what sayst thou majesty i am but grace hume but by the grace of god and humes advice your graces title shall be multiplied duchess what sayst thou man hast thou as yet conferrd with margery jourdain the cunning witch of eie with roger bolingbroke the conjurer and will they undertake to do me good hume this they have promised to show your highness a spirit raisd from depth of underground that shall make answer to such questions as by your grace shall be propounded him duchess it is enough ill think upon the questions when from saint albans we do make return well see these things effected to the full here hume take this reward make merry man with thy confederates in this weighty cause exit hume 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 eleanors 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 cardinals broker hume if you take not heed you shall go near to call them both a pair of crafty knaves well so its stands and thus i fear at last humes knavery will be the duchess wreck and her attainture will be humphreys fall sort how it will i shall have gold for all exit scene iii london the palace enter three or four petitioners peter the armourers man being one first petitioner my masters lets stand close my lord protector will come this way by and by and then we may deliver our supplications in the quill second petitioner marry the lord protect him for hes a good man jesu bless him enter suffolk and queen first petitioner here a comes methinks and the queen with him ill be the first sure second petitioner come back fool this is the duke of suffolk and not my lord protector suffolk how now fellow wouldst anything with me first petitioner i pray my lord pardon me i took ye for my lord protector queen reads to my lord protector are your supplications to his lordship let me see them what is thine first petitioner mine is ant please your grace against john goodman my lord cardinals man for keeping my house and lands and wife and all from me suffolk thy wife too thats some wrong indeed whats yours whats here reads against the duke of suffolk for enclosing the commons of melford how now sir knave second petitioner alas sir i am but a poor petitioner of our whole township peter presenting his petition against my master thomas horner for saying that the duke of york was rightful heir to the crown queen what sayst thou did the duke of york say he was rightful heir to the crown peter that my master was no forsooth my master said that he was and that the king was an usurper suffolk who is there enter servant take this fellow in and send for his master with a pursuivant presently well hear more of your matter before the king exit servant with peter queen and as for you that love to be protected under the wings of our protectors grace begin your suits anew and sue to him tears the supplications away base cullions suffolk let them go all come lets be gone exeunt queen my lord of suffolk say is this the guise is this the fashions in the court of england is this the government of britains isle and this the royalty of albions king what shall king henry be a pupil still under the surly gloucesters 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 ranst a tilt in honour of my love and stolst 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 canonized 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 suffolk madam be patient as i was cause your highness came to england so will i in england work your graces full content queen beside the haughty 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 suffolk 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 queen not all these lords do vex me half so much as that proud dame the lord protectors wife she sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies more like an empress than duke humphreys wife strangers in court do take her for the queen she bears a dukes revenues on her back and in her heart she scorns our poverty shall i not live to be avengd on her contemptuous base born callet 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 fathers lands till suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter suffolk madam myself have limd a bush for her and placd 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 well weed them all at last and you yourself shall steer the happy helm sound a sennet enter the king duke humphrey cardinal beaufort buckingham york somerset salisbury warwick and the duchess of gloucester king henry for my part noble lords i care not which or somerset or york alls one to me york if york have ill demeand himself in france then let him be denayd the regentship somerset if somerset be unworthy of the place let york be regent i will yield to him warwick whether your grace be worthy yea or no dispute not that york is the worthier cardinal ambitious warwick let thy betters speak warwick the cardinals not my better in the field buckingham all in this presence are thy betters warwick warwick warwick may live to be the best of all salisbury peace son and show some reason buckingham why somerset should be preferrd in this queen because the king forsooth will have it so gloucester madam the king is old enough himself to give his censure these are no womens matters queen if he be old enough what needs your grace to be protector of his excellence gloucester madam i am protector of the realm and at his pleasure will resign my place suffolk resign it then and leave thine insolence since thou wert king as who is king but thou the commonwealth hath daily run to wrack the dauphin hath prevaild beyond the seas and all the peers and nobles of the realm have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty cardinal the commons hast thou rackd the clergys bags are lank and lean with thy extortions somerset thy sumptuous buildings and thy wifes attire have cost a mass of public treasury buckingham thy cruelty in execution upon offenders hath exceeded law and left thee to the mercy of the law queen 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 exit gloucester the queen drops queen her fan give me my fan what minion can ye not she gives the duchess a box on the ear i cry your mercy madam was it you duchess wast i yea i it was proud frenchwoman could i come near your beauty with my nails i could set my ten commandments in your face king henry sweet aunt be quiet twas against her will duchess against her will good king look to t in time shell hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby though in this place most master wear no breeches she shall not strike dame eleanor unrevengd exit buckingham lord cardinal i will follow eleanor and listen after humphrey how he proceeds shes tickled now her fume needs no spurs shell gallop far enough to her destruction exit re enter gloucester gloucester now lords my choler being overblown 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 sovereign york is meetest man to be your regent in the realm of france suffolk before we make election give me leave to show some reason of no little force that york is most unmeet of any man york ill 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 dauphins hands last time i dancd attendance on his will till paris was besiegd famishd and lost warwick that can i witness and a fouler fact did never traitor in the land commit suffolk peace headstrong warwick warwick image of pride why should i hold my peace enter horner the armourer and his man peter guarded suffolk because here is a man accusd of treason pray god the duke of york excuse himself york doth any one accuse york for a traitor king henry what meanst thou suffolk tell me what are these suffolk 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 an usurper king henry say man were these thy words horner ant shall please your majesty i never said nor thought any such matter god is my witness i am falsely accusd by the villain peter holding up his hands by these ten bones my lords he did speak them to me in the garret one night as we were scouring my lord of yorks armour york base dunghill villain and mechanical ill have thy head for this thy traitors speech i do beseech your royal majesty let him have all the rigour of the law horner 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 villains accusation king henry uncle what shall we say to this in law gloucester this doom my lord if i may judge let somerset be regent oer 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 servants malice this is the law and this duke humphreys doom somerset i humbly thank your royal majesty horner and i accept the combat willingly peter alas my lord i cannot fight for gods 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 gloucester sirrah or you must fight or else be hangd king henry away with them to prison and the day of combat shall be the last of the next month come somerset well see thee sent away flourish exeunt scene iv london the duke of gloucesters garden enter margery jourdain the witch the two priests hume and southwell and bolingbroke hume come my masters the duchess i tell you expects performance of your promises bolingbroke master hume we are therefore provided will her ladyship behold and hear our exorcisms hume ay what else fear you not her courage bolingbroke i have heard her reported to be a woman of an 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 gods name and leave us exit hume mother jourdain be you prostrate and grovel on the earth john southwell read you and let us to our work enter duchess aloft followed by hume duchess well said my masters and welcome all to this gear the sooner the better bolingbroke 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 hallowd verge here they do the ceremonies belonging and make the circle bolingbroke or southwell reads conjuro te etc it thunders and lightens terribly then the spirit riseth spirit adsum margery jourdain 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 spirit ask what thou wilt that i had said and done bolingbroke reads first of the king what shall of him become spirit the duke yet lives that henry shall depose but him outlive and die a violent death as the spirit speaks southwell writes the answer bolingbroke what fates await the duke of suffolk spirit by water shall he die and take his end bolingbroke what shall befall the duke of somerset spirit 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 bolingbroke descend to darkness and the burning lake false fiend avoid thunder and lightning exit spirit enter the duke of york and the duke of buckingham with guard and break in york lay hands upon these traitors and their trash beldam i think we watchd 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 guerdond for these good deserts duchess not half so bad as thine to englands king injurious duke that threatest wheres no cause buckingham true madam none at all what can you this away with them let them be clappd up close and kept asunder you madam shall with us stafford take her to thee well see your trinkets here all forthcoming all away exeunt above duchess and hume guarded below witch southwell and bolingbroke guarded york lord buckingham methinks you watchd her well a pretty plot well chosen to build upon now pray my lord lets see the devils writ what have we here reads the duke yet lives that henry shall depose but him outlive and die a violent death why this is just aio te aeacida 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 attaind and hardly understood the king is now in progress towards saint albans 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 buckingham your grace shall give me leave my lord of york to be the post in hope of his reward york at your pleasure my good lord whos within there ho enter a serving man invite my lords of salisbury and warwick to sup with me to morrow night away exeunt act ii scene i saint albans enter the king queen gloucester cardinal and suffolk with falconers halloing queen 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 king henry 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 suffolk no marvel an it like your majesty my lord protectors hawks do towr so well they know their master loves to be aloft and bears his thoughts above his falcons pitch gloucester my lord tis but a base ignoble mind that mounts no higher than a bird can soar cardinal i thought as much he would be above the clouds gloucester ay my lord cardinal how think you by that were it not good your grace could fly to heaven king henry the treasury of everlasting joy cardinal thy heaven is on earth thine eyes and thoughts beat on a crown the treasure of thy heart pernicious protector dangerous peer that smoothst it so with king and commonweal gloucester what cardinal is your priesthood grown peremptory tantaene animis coelestibus irae churchmen so hot good uncle hide such malice with such holiness can you do it suffolk no malice sir no more than well becomes so good a quarrel and so bad a peer gloucester as who my lord suffolk why as you my lord ant like your lordly lords protectorship gloucester why suffolk england knows thine insolence queen and thy ambition gloucester king henry i prithee peace good queen and whet not on these furious peers for blessed are the peacemakers on earth cardinal let me be blessed for the peace i make against this proud protector with my sword gloucester aside to cardinal faith holy uncle would twere come to that cardinal aside to gloucester marry when thou darst gloucester aside to cardinal make up no factious numbers for the matter in thine own person answer thy abuse cardinal aside to gloucester ay where thou darst not peep an if thou darst this evening on the east side of the grove king henry how now my lords cardinal believe me cousin gloucester had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly we had had more sport aside to gloucester come with thy two hand sword gloucester true uncle cardinal aside to gloucester are ye advisd the east side of the grove gloucester aside to cardinal cardinal i am with you king henry why how now uncle gloucester gloucester talking of hawking nothing else my lord aside to cardinal now by gods mother priest ill shave your crown for this or all my fence shall fail cardinal aside to gloucester medice teipsum protector see tot well protect yourself king henry 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 enter a townsman of saint albans crying a miracle gloucester what means this noise fellow what miracle dost thou proclaim townsman a miracle a miracle suffolk come to the king and tell him what miracle townsman forsooth a blind man at saint albans shrine within this half hour hath receivd his sight a man that neer saw in his life before king henry now god be praisd that to believing souls gives light in darkness comfort in despair enter the mayor of saint albans and his brethren bearing simpcox between two in a chair his wife and a multitude following cardinal here comes the townsmen on procession to present your highness with the man king henry great is his comfort in this earthly vale although by his sight his sin be multiplied gloucester stand by my masters bring him near the king his highness pleasure is to talk with him king henry good fellow tell us here the circumstance that we for thee may glorify the lord what hast thou been long blind and now restord simpcox born blind ant please your grace wife ay indeed was he suffolk what woman is this wife his wife ant like your worship gloucester hadst thou been his mother thou couldst have better told king henry where wert thou born simpcox at berwick in the north ant like your grace king henry poor soul gods goodness hath been great to thee let never day nor night unhallowed pass but still remember what the lord hath done queen tell me good fellow camst thou here by chance or of devotion to this holy shrine simpcox god knows of pure devotion being calld a hundred times and oftner in my sleep by good saint alban who said simpcox come come offer at my shrine and i will help thee wife most true forsooth and many time and oft myself have heard a voice to call him so cardinal what art thou lame simpcox ay god almighty help me suffolk how camst thou so simpcox a fall off of a tree wife a plum tree master gloucester how long hast thou been blind simpcox o born so master gloucester what and wouldst climb a tree simpcox but that in all my life when i was a youth wife too true and bought his climbing very dear gloucester mass thou lovdst plums well that wouldst venture so simpcox alas good master my wife desird some damsons and made me climb with danger of my life gloucester 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 simpcox yes master clear as day i thank god and saint alban gloucester sayst thou me so what colour is this cloak of simpcox red master red as blood gloucester why thats well said what colour is my gown of simpcox black forsooth coal black as jet king henry why then thou knowst what colour jet is of suffolk and yet i think jet did he never see gloucester but cloaks and gowns before this day a many wife never before this day in all his life gloucester tell me sirrah whats my name simpcox alas master i know not gloucester whats his name simpcox i know not gloucester nor his simpcox no indeed master gloucester whats thine own name simpcox saunder simpcox an if it please you master gloucester then saunder sit there the lyingst 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 his cunning to be great that could restore this cripple to his legs again simpcox o master that you could gloucester my masters of saint albans have you not beadles in your town and things calld whips mayor yes my lord if it please your grace gloucester then send for one presently mayor sirrah go fetch the beadle hither straight exit an attendant gloucester now fetch me a stool hither by and by a stool brought now sirrah if you mean to save yourself from whipping leap me over this stool and run away simpcox alas master i am not able to stand alone you go about to torture me in vain enter a beadle with whips gloucester well sir we must have you find your legs sirrah beadle whip him till he leap over that same stool beadle i will my lord come on sirrah off with your doublet quickly simpcox alas master what shall i do i am not able to stand after the beadle hath hit him once he leaps over the stool and runs away and they follow and cry a miracle king henry o god seest thou this and bearest so long queen it made me laugh to see the villain run gloucester follow the knave and take this drab away wife alas sir we did it for pure need gloucester let them be whippd through every market town till they come to berwick from whence they came exeunt mayor beadle wife etc cardinal duke humphrey has done a miracle to day suffolk true made the lame to leap and fly away gloucester but you have done more miracles than i you made in a day my lord whole towns to fly enter buckingham king henry what tidings with our cousin buckingham 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 protectors wife the ringleader and head of all this rout have practisd 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 henrys life and death and other of your highness privy council as more at large your grace shall understand cardinal and so my lord protector by this means your lady is forthcoming yet at london this news i think hath turnd your weapons edge tis like my lord you will not keep your hour gloucester ambitious churchman leave to afflict my heart sorrow and grief have vanquishd all my powers and vanquishd as i am i yield to the or to the meanest groom king henry o god what mischiefs work the wicked ones heaping confusion on their own heads thereby queen gloucester see here the tainture of thy nest and look thyself be faultless thou wert best gloucester madam for myself to heaven i do appeal how i have lovd 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 conversd 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 dishonoured gloucesters honest name king henry 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 flourish exeunt scene ii london the duke of yorks garden enter york salisbury and warwick york 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 tide which is infallible to englands crown salisbury my lord i long to hear it at full warwick sweet york begin and if thy claim be good the nevils are thy subjects to command york 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 thirds death reignd as king till henry bolingbroke duke of lancaster the eldest son and heir of john of gaunt crownd by the name of henry the fourth seizd on the realm deposd 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 murdered traitorously warwick father the duke hath told the truth thus got the house of lancaster the crown york which now they hold by force and not by right for richard the first sons heir being dead the issue of the next son should have reignd salisbury but william of hatfield died without an heir york 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 salisbury 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 york his eldest sister anne my mother being heir unto the crown married richard earl of cambridge who was to edmund langley edward the thirds fifth son 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 elder son succeed before the younger i am king warwick what plain proceedings is more plain than this henry doth claim the crown from john of gaunt the fourth son york claims it from the third till lionels 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 both long live our sovereign richard englands king york we thank you lords but i am not your king till i be crownd and that my sword be staind with heart blood of the house of lancaster and thats not suddenly to be performd but with advice and silent secrecy do you as i do in these dangerous days wink at the duke of suffolks insolence at beauforts pride at somersets ambition at buckingham and all the crew of them till they have snard 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 salisbury my lord break we off we know your mind at full warwick my heart assures me that the earl of warwick shall one day make the duke of york a king york and nevil this i do assure myself richard shall live to make the earl of warwick the greatest man in england but the king exeunt scene iii london a hall of justice sound trumpets enter the king and state the queen gloucester york suffolk and salisbury with guard to banish the duchess enter guarded the duchess of gloucester margery jourdain hume southwell and bolingbroke king henry stand forth dame eleanor cobham gloucesters wife in sight of god and us your guilt is great receive the sentence of the law for sins such as by gods book are adjudgd to death you four from hence to prison back again from thence unto the place of execution the witch in smithfield shall be burnt 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 duchess welcome is banishment welcome were my death gloucester eleanor the law thou seest hath judged thee i cannot justify whom the law condemns exeunt the duchess and the other prisoners guarded 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 king henry 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 belovd than when thou wert protector to thy king queen i see no reason why a king of years should be to be protected like a child god and king henry govern englands realm give up your staff sir and the king his realm gloucester my staff here noble henry is my staff as willingly do i the same resign as ere 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 exit queen 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 banishd and a limb loppd off this staff of honour raught there let it stand where it best fits to be in henrys hand suffolk thus droops this lofty pine and hangs his sprays thus eleanors pride dies in her youngest days york 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 queen ay good my lord for purposely therefore left i the court to see this quarrel tried king henry a gods name see the lists and all things fit here let them end it and god defend the right york i never saw a fellow worse bested or more afraid to fight than is the appellant the servant of his armourer my lords enter at one door horner the armourer and his neighbours drinking to him so much that he is drunk and he enters with a drum before him and his staff with a sand bag fastened to it and at the other door peter his man with a drum and sandbag and prentices drinking to him first neighbour here neighbour horner i drink to you in a cup of sack and fear not neighbour you shall do well enough second neighbour and here neighbour heres a cup of charneco third neighbour and heres a pot of good double beer neighbour drink and fear not your man horner let it come i faith and ill pledge you all and a fig for peter first prentice here peter i drink to thee and be not afraid second prentice be merry peter and fear not thy master fight for credit of the prentices peter 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 salisbury come leave your drinking and fall to blows sirrah whats thy name peter peter forsooth salisbury peter what more peter thump salisbury thump then see thou thump thy master well horner masters i am come hither as it were upon my mans 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 down right blow york dispatch this knaves tongue begins to double sound trumpets alarum to the combatants alarum they fight and peter strikes him down horner hold peter hold i confess i confess treason dies york take away his weapon fellow thank god and the good wine in thy masters way peter o god have i overcome mine enemies in this presence o peter thou hast prevaild in right king henry go take hence that traitor from our sight for by his death we do perceive his guilt and god in justice hath reveald to us the truth and innocence of this poor fellow which he had thought to have murderd wrongfully come fellow follow us for thy reward sound a flourish exeunt scene iv london a street enter duke humphrey and his men in mourning cloaks gloucester 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 whats oclock serving man ten my lord gloucester ten is the hour that was appointed me to watch the coming of my punishd 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 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 ill prepare my tear staind eyes to see her miseries enter the duchess of gloucester in a white sheet and a taper burning in her hand with sir john stanley the sheriff and officers serving man so please your grace well take her from the sheriff gloucester no stir not for your lives let her pass by duchess 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 gloucester be patient gentle nell forget this grief duchess ah gloucester teach me to forget myself for whilst i think i am thy married wife and thou a prince protector of this land methinks i should not thus be led along maild up in shame with papers on my back and followd 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 trowest thou that eer ill 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 sometimes ill say i am duke humphreys wife and he a prince and ruler of the land yet so he ruld 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 limd bushes to betray thy wings and fly thou how thou canst theyll tangle thee but fear not thou until thy foot be snard nor never seek prevention of thy foes gloucester 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 scathe so long as i am loyal true and crimeless wouldst have me rescue thee from this reproach why yet thy scandal were not wipd 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 enter a herald herald i summon your grace to his majestys parliament holden at bury the first of this next month gloucester and my consent neer askd herein before this is close dealing well i will be there exit herald my nell i take my leave and master sheriff let not her penance exceed the kings commission sheriff ant please your grace here my commission stays and sir john stanley is appointed now to take her with him to the isle of man gloucester must you sir john protect my lady here stanley so am i given in charge mayt please your grace gloucester 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 duchess what gone my lord and bid me not farewell gloucester witness my tears i cannot stay to speak exeunt gloucester and servants duchess 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 afeard because i wishd this worlds 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 stanley why madam that is to the isle of man there to be usd according to your state duchess thats bad enough for i am but reproach and shall i then be usd reproachfully stanley like to a duchess and duke humphreys lady according to that state you shall be usd duchess sheriff farewell and better than i fare although thou hast been conduct of my shame sheriff it is my office and madam pardon me duchess ay ay farewell thy office is dischargd come stanley shall we go stanley madam your penance done throw off this sheet and go we to attire you for our journey duchess 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 exeunt act iii scene i the abbey at bury st edmunds sound a sennet enter the king the queen cardinal suffolk york buckingham salisbury and warwick to the parliament king henry i muse my lord of gloucester is not come tis not his wont to be the hindmost man whateer occasion keeps him from us now queen can you not see or will ye not observe the strangeness of his alterd 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 and if we did but glance a far off look immediately he was upon his knee that all the court admird him for submission but meet him now and be it in the morn when every one 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 feard they all will follow him now tis the spring and weeds are shallow rooted suffer them now and theyll oergrow 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 can it a womans fear which fear if better reasons can supplant i will subscribe and say i wrongd the duke my lord of suffolk buckingham and york reprove my allegation if you can or else conclude my words effectual suffolk 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 graces 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 brainsick duchess by wicked means to frame our sovereigns 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 sovereign gloucester is a man unsounded yet and full of deep deceit cardinal did he not contrary to form of law devise strange deaths for small offences done york 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 buckingham tut these are petty faults to faults unknown which time will bring to light in smooth duke humphrey king henry 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 queen ah whats more dangerous than this fond affiance seems he a dove his feathers are but borrowd for hes disposed as the hateful raven is he a lamb his skin is surely lent him for hes inclind 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 enter somerset somerset all health unto my gracious sovereign king henry welcome lord somerset what news from france somerset that all your interest in those territories is utterly bereft you all is lost king henry cold news lord somerset but gods will be done york aside 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 enter gloucester gloucester all happiness unto my lord the king pardon my liege that i have stayd so long suffolk 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 gloucester well suffolk 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 york tis thought my lord that you took bribes of france and being protector stayd the soldiers pay by means whereof his highness hath lost france gloucester is it but thought so what are they that think it i never robbd the soldiers of their pay nor ever had one penny bribe from france so help me god as i have watchd the night ay night by night in studying good for england that doit that eer 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 dispursed to the garrisons and never askd for restitution cardinal it serves you well my lord to say so much gloucester i say no more than truth so help me god york in your protectorship you did devise strange tortures for offenders never heard of that england was defamd by tyranny gloucester why tis well known that whiles i was protector pity was all the fault that was in me for i should melt at an offenders tears and lowly words were ransom for their fault unless it were a bloody murderer or foul felonious thief that fleecd poor passengers i never gave them condign punishment murder indeed that bloody sin i torturd above the felon or what trespass else suffolk my lord these faults are easy quickly answerd 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 king henry my lord of gloucester tis my special hope that you will clear yourself from all suspense my conscience tells me you are innocent gloucester ah gracious lord these days are dangerous virtue is chokd with foul ambition and charity chasd hence by rancours hand foul subornation is predominant and equity exild 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 beauforts red sparkling eyes blab his hearts malice and suffolks 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 pluckd back by false accuse doth level at my life and you my sovereign lady with the rest causeless have laid disgraces on my head and with your best endeavour have stirrd 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 cardinal my liege his railing is intolerable if those that care to keep your royal person from treasons secret knife and traitors rage be thus upbraided chid and rated at and the offender granted scope of speech twill make them cool in zeal unto your grace suffolk hath he not twit our sovereign lady here with ignominious words though clerkly couchd as if she had suborned some to swear false allegations to oerthrow his state queen but i can give the loser leave to chide gloucester far truer spoke than meant i lose indeed beshrew the winners for they playd me false and well such losers may have leave to speak buckingham hell wrest the sense and hold us here all day lord cardinal he is your prisoner cardinal sirs take away the duke and guard him sure gloucester 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 exit guarded king henry my lords what to your wisdoms seemeth best do or undo as if ourself were here queen what will your highness leave the parliament king henry ay margaret my heart is drownd with grief whose flood begins to flow within mine eyes my body round engirt with misery for whats 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 eer i provd thee false or feard thy faith what louring 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 darlings loss even so myself bewails good gloucesters case with sad unhelpful tears and with dimmd 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 whos a traitor gloucester he is none exit queen free lords cold snow melts with the suns hot beams henry my lord is cold in great affairs too full of foolish pity and gloucesters show beguiles him as the mournful crocodile with sorrow snares relenting passengers or as the snake rolld in a flowring bank with shining checkerd 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 cardinal that he should die is worthy policy but yet we want a colour for his death tis meet he be condemnd by course of law suffolk 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 york so that by this you would not have him die suffolk ah york no man alive so fain as i york 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 weret not all one an empty eagle were set to guard the chicken from a hungry kite as place duke humphrey for the kings protector queen so the poor chicken should be sure of death suffolk madam tis true and weret not madness then to make the fox surveyor of the fold who being accusd 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 provd an enemy to the flock before his chaps be staind with crimson blood as humphrey provd by reasons to my liege and do not stand on quillets how to slay him be it by gins by snares by subtlety sleeping or waking tis no matter how so he be dead for that is good deceit which mates him first that first intends deceit queen thrice noble suffolk tis resolutely spoke suffolk 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 cardinal 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 ill provide his executioner i tender so the safety of my liege suffolk here is my hand the deed is worthy doing queen and so say i york and i and now we three have spoke it it skills not greatly who impugns our doom enter a post post 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 cardinal a breach that craves a quick expedient stop what counsel give you in this weighty cause york that somerset be sent as regent thither tis meet that lucky ruler be employd witness the fortune he hath had in france somerset if york with all his far fet policy had been the regent there instead of me he never would have stayd in france so long york 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 characterd on thy skin mens flesh preservd so whole do seldom win queen 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 provd far worse than his york what worse than nought nay then a shame take all somerset and in the number thee that wishest shame cardinal my lord of york try what your fortune is th 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 york i will my lord so please his majesty suffolk why our authority is his consent and what we do establish he confirms then noble york take thou this task in hand york i am content provide me soldiers lords whiles i take order for mine own affairs suffolk a charge lord york that i will see performd but now return we to the false duke humphrey cardinal 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 york my lord of suffolk within fourteen days at bristol i expect my soldiers for there ill ship them all for ireland suffolk ill see it truly done my lord of york exeunt all but york york now york or never steel thy fearful thoughts and change misdoubt to resolution be that thou hopst to be or what thou art resign to death it is not worth th enjoying let pale facd fear keep with the mean born man and find no harbour in a royal heart faster than spring time showrs 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 an host of men i fear me you but warm the starved snake who cherishd in your breasts will sting your hearts twas men i lackd and you will give them me i take it kindly yet be well assurd you put sharp weapons in a madmans 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 suns transparent beams do calm the fury of this mad bred flaw and for a minister of my intent i have seducd a headstrong kentishman john cade of ashford to make commotion as full well he can under the tide of john mortimer in ireland have i seen this stubborn cade oppose himself against a troop of kerns and fought so long tiff that his thighs with darts were almost like a sharp quilld porpentine and in the end being rescud i have seen him caper upright like a wild morisco shaking the bloody darts as he his bells full often like a shag haird crafty kern hath he conversed with the enemy and undiscoverd come to me again and given me notice of their villainies 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 rackd and tortured i know no pain they can inflict upon him will make him say i movd 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 sowd for humphrey being dead as he shall be and henry put apart the next for me exit scene ii bury st edmunds a room of state enter two or three murderers running over the stage from the murder of duke humphrey first murderer run to my lord of suffolk let him know we have dispatchd the duke as he commanded second murderer o that it were to do what have we done didst ever hear a man so penitent enter suffolk first murderer here comes my lord suffolk now sirs have you dispatchd this thing first murderer ay my good lord hes dead suffolk why thats 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 first murderer tis my good lord suffolk away be gone exeunt murderers sound trumpets enter the king the queen cardinal somerset with attendants king henry go call our uncle to our presence straight say we intend to try his grace to day if he be guilty as tis published suffolk ill call him presently my noble lord exit king henry 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 approvd in practice culpable queen god forbid any malice should prevail that faultless may condemn a nobleman pray god he may acquit him of suspicion king henry i thank thee meg these words content me much re enter suffolk how now why lookst thou pale why tremblest thou where is our uncle whats the matter suffolk suffolk dead in his bed my lord gloucester is dead queen marry god forfend cardinal gods secret judgment i did dream to night the duke was dumb and could not speak a word the king swoons queen how fares my lord help lords the king is dead somerset rear up his body wring him by the nose queen run go help help o henry ope thine eyes suffolk he doth revive again madam be patient king o heavenly god queen how fares my gracious lord suffolk comfort my sovereign gracious henry comfort king henry what doth my lord of suffolk comfort me came he right now to sing a ravens note whose dismal tune bereft my vital powrs 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 sugred words lay not thy hands on me forbear i say their touch affrights me as a serpents sting thou baleful messenger out of my sight upon thy eye balls 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 gloucesters dead queen 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 judgd i made the duke away so shall my name with slanders tongue be wounded and princes courts be filld with my reproach this get i by his death ay me unhappy to be a queen and crownd with infamy king henry ah woe is me for gloucester wretched man queen 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 gloucesters tomb why then dame margaret was neer thy joy erect his statue and worship it and make my image but an alehouse sign was i for this nigh wreckd upon the sea and twice by awkward wind from englands bank drove back again unto my native clime what boded this but well forewarning wind did seem to say seek not a scorpions nest nor set no footing on this unkind shore what did i then but cursd the gentle gusts and he that loosd them forth their brazen caves and bid them blow towards englands blessed shore or turn our stern upon a dreadful rock yet aeolus would not be a murderer but left that hateful office unto thee the pretty vaulting sea refusd to drown me knowing that thou wouldst have me drownd on shore with tears as salt as sea through thy unkindness the splitting rocks cowrd 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 lands 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 receivd it and so i wishd thy body might my heart and even with this i lost fair englands view and bid mine eyes be packing with my heart and calld them blind and dusky spectacles for losing ken of albions wished coast how often have i tempted suffolks tongue the agent of thy foul inconstancy to sit and witch me as ascanius did when he to madding dido would unfold his fathers acts commencd in burning troy am i not witchd 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 noise within enter warwick salisbury and many commons warwick it is reported mighty sovereign that good duke humphrey traitorously is murdred by suffolk and the cardinal beauforts 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 calmd their spleenful mutiny until they hear the order of his death king henry 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 warwick that shall i do my liege stay salisbury with the rude multitude till i return exit exit salisbury with the commons king henry o thou that judgest all things stay my thoughts my thoughts that labour to persuade my soul some violent hands were laid on humphreys 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 dumb deaf trunk and with my fingers feel his hand un feeling but all in vain are these mean obsequies and to survey his dead and earthy image what were it but to make my sorrow greater bed put forth with the body enter warwick warwick come hither gracious sovereign view this body king henry 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 warwick as surely as my soul intends to live with that dread king that took our state upon him to free us from his fathers wrathful curse i do believe that violent hands were laid upon the life of this thrice famed duke suffolk a dreadful oath sworn with a solemn tongue what instance gives lord warwick for his vow warwick 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 neer returneth to blush and beautify the cheek again but see his face is black and full of blood his eye balls further out than when he livd staring full ghastly like a strangled man his hair upreard his nostrils stretchd with struggling his hands abroad displayd as one that graspd and tuggd for life and was by strength subdud look on the sheets his hair you see is sticking his well proportiond beard made rough and rugged like to the summers corn by tempest lodged it cannot be but he was murdred here the least of all these signs were probable suffolk why warwick who should do the duke to death myself and beaufort had him in protection and we i hope sir are no murderers warwick but both of you were vowd duke humphreys 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 queen then you belike suspect these noblemen as guilty of duke humphreys timeless death warwick 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 puttocks nest but may imagine how the bird was dead although the kite soar with unbloodied beak even so suspicious is this tragedy queen are you the butcher suffolk wheres your knife is beaufort termd a kite where are his talons suffolk i wear no knife to slaughter sleeping men but heres a vengeful sword rusted with ease that shall be scoured in his rancorous heart that slanders me with murders crimson badge say if thou darst proud lord of warwickshire that i am faulty in duke humphreys death exeunt cardinal somerset and others warwick what dares not warwick if false suffolk dare him queen he dares not calm his contumelious spirit nor cease to be an arrogant controller though suffolk dare him twenty thousand times warwick madam be still with reverence may i say for every word you speak in his behalf is slander to your royal dignity suffolk blunt witted lord ignoble in demeanour if ever lady wrongd her lord so much thy mother took into her blameful bed some stern untutord churl and noble stock was graft with crab tree slip whose fruit thou art and never of the nevils noble race warwick 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 sovereigns presence makes me mild i would false murdrous coward on thy knee make thee beg pardon for thy passed speech and say it was thy mother that thou meantst that thou thyself was 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 suffolk thou shalt be waking while i shed thy blood if from this presence thou darst go with me warwick away even now or i will drag thee hence unworthy though thou art ill cope with thee and do some service to duke humphreys ghost exeunt suffolk and warwick king henry what stronger breastplate than a heart untainted thrice is he armd that hath his quarrel just and he but naked though lockd up in steel whose conscience with injustice is corrupted a noise within queen what noise is this re enter suffolk and warwick with their weapons drawn king why how now lords your wrathful weapons drawn here in our presence dare you be so bold why what tumultuous clamour have we here suffolk the traitrous warwick with the men of bury set all upon me mighty sovereign re enter salisbury salisbury to the commons within sirs stand apart the king shall know your mind dread lord the commons send you word by me unless lord suffolk straight be done to death or banished fair englands territories they will by violence tear him from your palace and torture him with grievous lingring 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 wakd lest being sufferd 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 wheer 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 commons within an answer from the king my lord of salisbury suffolk tis like the commons rude unpolishd hinds could send such message to their sovereign but you my lord were glad to be employd 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 commons within an answer from the king or we will all break in king henry 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 suffolks 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 exit salisbury queen o henry let me plead for gentle suffolk king henry 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 best 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 exeunt all but queen and suffolk queen mischance and sorrow go along with you hearts discontent and sour affliction be playfellows to keep you company theres two of you the devil make a third and threefold vengeance tend upon your steps suffolk cease gentle queen these execrations and let thy suffolk take his heavy leave queen fie coward woman and soft hearted wretch has thou not spirit to curse thine enemy suffolk a plague upon them wherefore should i curse them would curses kill as doth the mandrakes groan i would invent as bitter searching terms as curst as harsh and horrible to hear deliverd strongly through my fixed teeth with full as many signs of deadly hate as lean facd envy in her loathsome cave my tongue should stumble in mine earnest words mine eyes should sparkle like the beaten flint mine hair be fixd an end as one distract ay every joint should seem to curse and ban and even now my burdend 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 murdring basilisks their softest touch as smart as lizards stings their music frightful as the serpents hiss and boding screech owls make the consort full all the foul terrors in dark seated hell queen enough sweet suffolk thou tormentst thyself and these dread curses like the sun gainst glass or like an overcharged gun recoil and turns the force of them upon thyself suffolk you bade me ban and will you bid me leave now by the ground that i am banishd from well could i curse away a winters 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 queen 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 breathd for thee so get thee gone that i may know my grief tis but surmisd whiles thou art standing by as one that surfeits thinking on a want i will repeal thee or be well assurd 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 condemnd embrace and kiss and take ten thousand leaves loather a hundred times to part than die yet now farewell and farewell life with thee suffolk 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 no joy in nought but that thou livst enter vaux queen whither goes vaux so fast what news i prithee vaux 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 humphreys 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 queen go tell this heavy message to the king exit vaux ay me what is this world what news are these but wherefore grieve i at an hours poor loss omitting suffolks exile my souls treasure why only suffolk mourn i not for thee and with the southern clouds contend in tears theirs for the earths increase mine for my sorrows now get thee hence the king thou knowst is coming if thou be found by me thou art but dead suffolk 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 mothers 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 livd 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 queen away though parting be a fretful corrosive it is applied to a deathful wound to france sweet suffolk let me hear from thee for wheresoer thou art in this worlds globe ill have an iris that shall find thee out suffolk i go queen and take my heart with thee she kisses him suffolk a jewel lockd into the woefullst cask that ever did contain a thing of worth even as a splitted bark so sunder we this way fall i to death queen this way for me exeunt severally scene iii london cardinal beauforts bedchamber enter the king salisbury and warwick to the cardinal in bed king henry how fares my lord speak beaufort to thy sovereign cardinal if thou best death ill give thee englands treasure enough to purchase such another island so thou wilt let me live and feel no pain king henry ah what a sign it is of evil life where deaths approach is seen so terrible warwick beaufort it is thy sovereign speaks to thee cardinal bring me unto my trial when you will died he not in his bed where should he die can i make men live wheer they will or no o torture me no more i will confess alive again then show me where he is ill 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 king henry 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 wretchs soul and from his bosom purge this black despair warwick see how the pangs of death do make him grin salisbury disturb him not let him pass peaceably king henry peace to his soul if gods good pleasure be lord cardnal if thou thinkst on heavens bliss hold up thy hand make signal of thy hope he dies and makes no sign o god forgive him warwick so bad a death argues a monstrous life king henry forbear to judge for we are sinners all close up his eyes and draw the curtain close and let us all to meditation exeunt act iv scene i the coast of kent alarum fight at sea ordnance goes off enter a lieutenant a shipmaster and his mate and walter whitmore with sailors suffolk and other gentlemen as prisoners lieutenant 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 mens 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 discoloured 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 first gentleman what is my ransom master let me know master a thousand crowns or else lay down your head mate and so much shall you give or off goes yours lieutenant 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 be counterpoisd with such a petty sum first gentleman ill give it sir and therefore spare my life second gentleman and so will i and write home for it straight whitmore i lost mine eye in laying the prize aboard to suffolk and therefore to revenge it shalt thou die and so should these if i might have my will lieutenant be not so rash take ransom let him live suffolk look on my george i am a gentleman rate me at what thou wilt thou shalt be paid whitmore and so am i my name is walter whitmore how now why startst thou what doth death affright suffolk 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 gualtier being rightly sounded whitmore gualtier or walter which it is i care not never yet did base dishonour blur our name but with our sword we wipd away the blot therefore when merchant like i sell revenge broke be my sword my arms torn and defacd and i proclaimd a coward through the world suffolk stay whitmore for thy prisoner is a prince the duke of suffolk william de la pole whitmore the duke of suffolk muffled up in rags suffolk ay but these rags are no part of the duke jove sometime went disguisd and why not i lieutenant but jove was never slain as thou shalt be suffolk obscure and lowly swain king henrys blood the honourable blood of lancaster must not be shed by such a jaded groom hast thou not kissd thy hand and held my stirrup bareheaded 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 kneeld down at the board when i have feasted with queen margaret remember it and let it make thee crestfalln ay and allay thus 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 whitmore speak captain shall i stab the forlorn swain lieutenant first let my words stab him as he hath me suffolk base slave thy words are blunt and so art thou lieutenant convey him hence and on our longboats side strike off his head suffolk thou darst not for thy own lieutenant poole suffolk poole lieutenant 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 kissd the queen shall sweep the ground and thou that smildst at good duke humphreys death against the senseless winds shalt 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 overgorgd with gobbets of thy mothers 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 surprisd 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 facd 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 suffolk 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 lieutenant walter whitmore come suffolk i must waft thee to thy death suffolk gelidus timor occupat artus it is thee i fear whitmore thou shalt have cause to fear before i leave thee what are ye daunted now now will ye stoop first gentleman my gracious lord entreat him speak him fair suffolk suffolks imperial tongue is stem and rough usd 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 uncoverd to the vulgar groom true nobility is exempt from fear more can i bear than you dare execute lieutenant hale him away and let him talk no more suffolk 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 murderd sweet tully brutus bastard hand stabbd julius caesar savage islanders pompey the great and suffolk dies by pirates exit walter with suffolk lieutenant 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 exeunt all but the first gentleman re enter whitmore with suffolks body whitmore there let his head and lifeless body lie until the queen his mistress bury it exit first gentleman 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 exit with the body scene ii blackheath enter george bevis and john holland george come and get thee a sword though made of a lath they have been up these two days john they have the more need to sleep now then george i tell thee jack cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth and turn it and set a new nap upon it john so he had need for tis threadbare well i say it was never merry world in england since gentlemen came up george o miserable age virtue is not regarded in handicraftsmen john the nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons george nay more the kings council are no good workmen john 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 george thou hast hit it for theres no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand john i see them i see them theres bests son the tanner of wingham george he shall have the skins of our enemies to make dogs leather of john and dick the butcher george then is sin struck down like an ox and iniquitys throat cut like a calf john and smith the weaver george argo their thread of life is spun john come come lets fall in with them drum enter cade dick the butcher smith the weaver and a sawyer with infinite numbers cade we john cade so termd of our supposed father dick aside or rather of stealing a cade of herrings cade for our enemies shall fall before us inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes command silence dick silence cade my father was a mortimer dick aside he was an honest man and a good bricklayer cade my mother a plantagenet dick aside i knew her well she was a midwife cade my wife descended of the lacies dick aside she was indeed a pedlars daughter and sold many laces smith aside but now of late not able to travel with her furrd pack she washes bucks here at home cade therefore am i of an honourable house dick aside 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 cade valiant i am smith aside a must needs for beggary is valiant cade i am able to endure much dick aside no question of that for i have seen him whipt three market days together cade i fear neither sword nor fire smith aside he need not fear the sword for his coat is of proof dick aside but methinks he should stand in fear of fire being burnt i th hand for stealing of sheep cade 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 hoopd 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 all god save your majesty cade 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 dick the first thing we do lets kill all the lawyers cade 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 scribbld oer should undo a man some say the bee stings but i say tis the bees wax for i did but seal once to a thing and i was never mine own man since how now whos there enter some bringing in the clerk of chatham smith the clerk of chatham he can write and read and cast accompt cade o monstrous smith we took him setting of boys copies cade heres a villain smith has a book in his pocket with red letters int cade nay then he is a conjurer dick nay he can make obligations and write court hand cade i am sorry fort 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 clerk emmanuel dick they use to write it on the top of letters twill go hard with you cade let me alone dost thou use to write thy name or hast thou a mark to thyself like a honest plain dealing man clerk sir i thank god i have been so well brought up that i can write my name all he hath confessd away with him hes a villain and a traitor cade away with him i say hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck exit one with the clerk enter michael michael wheres our general cade here i am thou particular fellow michael fly fly fly sir humphrey stafford and his brother are hard by with the kings forces cade stand villain stand or ill fell thee down he shall be encountred with a man as good as himself he is but a knight is a michael no cade to equal him i will make myself a knight presently kneels rise up sir john mortimer rises now have at him enter sir humphrey stafford and william his brother with drum and soldiers stafford rebellious hinds the filth and scum of kent markd for the gallows lay your weapons down home to your cottages forsake this groom the king is merciful if you revolt william stafford but angry wrathful and inclind to blood if you go forward therefore yield or die cade as for these silken coated slaves i pass not it is to you good people that i speak oer whom in time to come i hope to reign for i am rightful heir unto the crown stafford villain thy father was a plasterer and thou thyself a shearman art thou not cade and adam was a gardener william stafford and what of that cade marry this edmund mortimer earl of march married the duke of clarence daughter did he not stafford ay sir cade by her he had two children at one birth william stafford thats false cade ay theres the question but i say tis true the elder of them being put to nurse was by a beggar woman stoln 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 dick nay tis too true therefore he shall be king smith sir he made a chimney in my fathers house and the bricks are alive at this day to testify it therefore deny it not stafford and will you credit this base drudges words that speaks he knows not what all ay marry will we therefore get ye gone william stafford jack cade the duke of york hath taught you this cade aside he lies for i invented it myself go to sirrah tell the king from me that for his fathers sake henry the fifth in whose time boys went to span counter for french crowns i am content he shall reign but ill be protector over him dick and furthermore well have the lord says head for selling the dukedom of maine cade and good reason for thereby is england maind 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 an eunuch and more than that he can speak french and therefore he is a traitor stafford o gross and miserable ignorance cade 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 all no no and therefore well have his head william stafford well seeing gentle words will not prevail assail them with the army of the king stafford 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 wivesand childrens sight be hangd up for example at their doors and you that be the kings friends follow me exeunt the two staffords and soldiers cade 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 dick they are all in order and march toward us cade but then are we in order when we are most out of order come march forward exeunt scene iii another part of blackheath alarums to the fight wherein both the staffords are slain enter cade and the rest cade wheres dick the butcher of ashford dick here sir cade 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 dick i desire no more cade and to speak truth thou deservst no less putting on sir humphreys brigandine 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 mayors sword borne before us dick if we mean to thrive and do good break open the gaols and let out the prisoners cade fear not that i warrant thee come lets march towards london exeunt scene iv london the palace enter the king with a supplication and the queen with suffolks head the duke of buckingham and the lord say queen 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 wheres the body that i should embrace buckingham what answer makes your grace to the rebels supplication king henry ill 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 ill read it over once again queen ah barbarous villains hath this lovely face ruld like a wandering planet over me and could it not enforce them to relent that were unworthy to behold the same king henry lord say jack cade hath sworn to have thy head say ay but i hope your highness shall have his king henry how now madam still lamenting and mourning for suffolks death i fear me love if that i had been dead thou wouldst not have mournd so much for me queen no my love i should not mourn but die for thee enter a messenger king henry how now what news why comst thou in such haste messenger 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 brothers death hath given them heart and courage to proceed all scholars lawyers courtiers gentlemen they call false caterpillars and intend their death king henry o graceless men they know not what they do buckingham my gracious lord retire to killingworth until a power be raisd to put them down queen ah were the duke of suffolk now alive these kentish rebels would be soon appeasd king henry lord say the traitors hate thee therefore away with us to killingworth say so might your graces 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 enter another messenger second messenger 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 buckingham then linger not my lord away take horse king henry come margaret god our hope will succour us queen my hope is gone now suffolk is deceasd king henry to lord say farewell my lord trust not the kentish rebels buckingham trust nobody for fear you be betrayd say the trust i have is in mine innocence and therefore am i bold and resolute exeunt scene v london the tower enter lord scales upon the tower walking then enter two or three citizens below scales how now is jack cade slain first citizen 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 scales such aid as i can spare you shall command but i am troubled here with them myself the rebels have assayd 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 exeunt scene vi london cannon street enter jack cade and the rest and strikes his staff on london stone cade now is mortimer lord of this city and here sitting upon london stone i charge and command that of the citys 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 enter a soldier running soldier jack cade jack cade cade knock him down there they kill him smith if this fellow be wise hell never call ye jack cade more i think he hath a very fair warning dick my lord theres an army gathered together in smithfield cade come then lets go fight with them but first go and set london bridge on fire and if you can burn down the tower too come lets away exeunt scene vii london smithfield alarums matthew goffe is slain and all the rest then enter jack cade with his company cade so sirs now go some and pull down the savoy others to th inns of court down with them all dick i have a suit unto your lordship cade be it a lordship thou shalt have it for that word dick only that the laws of england may come out of your mouth john aside mass twill be sore law then for he was thrust in the mouth with a spear and tis not whole yet smith aside nay john it will be stinking law for his breath stinks with eating toasted cheese cade 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 john aside then we are like to have biting statutes unless his teeth be pulld out cade and henceforward all things shall be in common enter a messenger messenger my lord a prize a prize heres the lord say which sold the towns in france he that made us pay one and twenty fifteens and one shining to the pound the last subsidy enter george bevis with the lord say cade well he shall be beheaded for it ten times ah thou say thou serge nay thou buckram lord now art thou within point blank of our jurisdiction regal what canst thou answer to my majesty for giving up of normandy unto mounsieur 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 forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally thou hast caused printing to be usd 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 ear 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 hangd them when indeed only for that cause they have been most worthy to live thou dost ride in a foot cloth dost thou not say what of that cade marry thou oughtst not to let thy horse wear a cloak when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets dick and work in their shirt too as myself for example that am a butcher say you men of kent dick what say you of kent say nothing but this tis bona terra mala gens cade away with him away with him he speaks latin say hear me but speak and bear me where you will kent in the commentaries caesar writ is termd the civilst 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 prayrs and tears have movd 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 bestowd on learned clerks because my book preferrd me to the king and seeing ignorance is the curse of god knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven unless you be possessd with devilish spirits you cannot but forbear to murder me this tongue hath parleyd unto foreign kings for your behoof cade tut when struckst 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 george o monstrous coward what to come behind folks say these cheeks are pale for watching for your good cade give him a box o th ear and that will make em red again say long sitting to determine poor mens causes hath made me full of sickness and diseases cade ye shall have a hempen caudle then and the help of hatchet dick why dost thou quiver man say the palsy and not fear provokes me cade nay he nods at us as who should say ill be even with you ill see if his head will stand steadier on a pole or no take him away and behead him say tell me wherein have i offended most have i affected wealth or honour speak are my chests filld up with extorted gold is my apparel sumptuous to behold whom have i injurd that ye seek my death these hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding this breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts o let me live cade aside i feel remorse in myself with his words but ill 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 gods name go take him away i say and strike off his head presently and then break into his son in laws house sir james cromer and strike off his head and bring them both upon two poles hither all it shall be done say ah countrymen if when you make your prayrs god should be so obdurate as yourselves how would it fare with your departed souls and therefore yet relent and save my life cade away with him and do as i command ye exeunt some with lord say 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 dick my lord when shall we go to cheapside and take up commodities upon our bills cade marry presently all o brave re enter one with the heads cade but is not this braver let them kiss one another for they lovd 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 exeunt scene viii southwark alarum and retreat enter again cade and all his rabblement cade up fish street down saint magnus corner kill and knock down throw them into thames sound a parley what noise is this i hear dare any be so bold to sound retreat or parley when i command them kill enter buckingham and old clifford attended buckingham ay here they be that dare and will disturb thee and therefore yet relent and save my life 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 clifford what say ye countrymen will ye relent and yield to mercy whilst tis offerd 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 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 hangd with your 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 gods curse light upon you all all well follow cade well follow cade clifford is cade the son of henry the fifth that thus you do exclaim youll 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 weret not a shame that whilst you live at jar the fearful french whom you late vanquished should make a start oer 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 frenchmans 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 all a clifford a clifford well 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 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 exit buckingham 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 exeunt some of them follow me soldiers well devise a mean to reconcile you all unto the king exeunt scene ix killing worth castle sound trumpets enter king queen and somerset on the terrace king henry was ever king that joyd 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 longd to be a king as i do long and wish to be a subject enter buckingham and old clifford buckingham health and glad tidings to your majesty king henry why buckingham is the traitor cade surprisd or is he but retird to make him strong enter below multitudes with halters about their necks clifford he is 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 king henry then heaven set ope thy everlasting gates to entertain my vows of thanks and praise soldiers this day have you redeemd your lives and showd 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 all god save the king god save the king enter a messenger messenger 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 king henry thus stands my state twixt cade and york distressd like to a ship that having scapd a tempest is straightway calmd and boarded with a pirate but now is cade driven back his men dispersd and now is york in arms to second him i pray thee buckingham go and meet him and ask him whats the reason of these arms tell him ill send duke edmund to the tower and somerset we will commit thee thither until his army be dismissd from him somerset my lord ill yield myself to prison willingly or unto death to do my country good king henry in any case be not too rough in terms for he is fierce and cannot brook hard language buckingham i will my lord and doubt not so to deal as all things shall redound unto your good king henry come wife lets in and learn to govern better for yet may england curse my wretched reign flourish exeunt scene x kent idens garden enter cade cade fie on ambitions 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 have i climbd into this garden to see if i can eat grass or pick a sallet another while which is not amiss to cool a mans 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 pain had been cleft with a brown bill and many a time when i have been dry and bravely marching it hath servd 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 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 cade heres 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 ill make thee eat iron like an ostrich and swallow my sword like a great pin ere thou and i part iden why rude companion whatsoeer thou be i know thee not why then should i betray thee ist 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 cade brave thee ay by the best blood that ever was broachd 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 neer be said while england stands that alexander iden an esquire of kent took odds to combat a poor famishd 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 diggd already in the earth as for words whose greatness answers words let this my sword report what speech forbears cade by my valour the most complete champion that ever i heard steel if thou turn the edge or cut not out the burly bond clown in chines of beef ere thou sleep in thy sheath i beseech god on my knees thou mayst be turnd to hobnails here they fight cade falls 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 id 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 ist cade that i have slain that monstrous traitor sword i will hallow thee for this thy deed and hang thee oer my tomb when i am dead neer shall this blood be wiped from thy point but thou shalt wear it as a heralds 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 dies iden how much thou wrongst 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 exit act v scene i fields between dartford and blackheath enter york and his army of irish with drum and colours york from ireland thus comes york to claim his right and pluck the crown from feeble henrys head ring bells aloud burn bonfires clear and bright to entertain great englands lawful king ah sancta majestas who would not buy thee dear let them obey that knows 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 ill toss the flower de luce of france enter 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 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 york 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 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 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 york upon thine honour is he prisoner buckingham upon mine honour he is prisoner york then buckingham i do dismiss my powrs soldiers i thank you all disperse yourselves meet me to morrow in saint georges field you shall have pay and everything you wish and let my sovereign virtuous henry command my eldest son nay all my sons as pledges of my fealty and love ill 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 enter the king and attendants king henry buckingham doth york intend no harm to us that thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm york in all submission and humility 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 enter iden with cades head iden if one so rude and of so mean condition may pass into the presence of a king lo i present your grace a traitors 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 iden i was ant like your majesty king henry how art thou calld and what is thy degree iden alexander iden thats my name a poor esquire of kent that loves his king buckingham so please it you my lord twere not amiss he were created knight for his good service king henry iden kneel down he kneels rise up a knight we give thee for reward a thousand marks and will that thou thenceforth attend on us iden may iden live to merit such a bounty and never live but true unto his liege enter the queen and somerset king henry see buckingham somerset comes with th queen go bid her 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 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 darst not no nor canst not rule a traitor that head of thine doth not become a crown thy hand is made to grasp a palmers 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 oer 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 york 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 exit attendant i know ere thy will have me go to ward theyll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement queen call hither clifford bid him come amain to say if that the bastard boys of york shall be the surety for their traitor father exit buckingham york o blood bespotted neapolitan outcast of naples englands bloody scourge the sons of york thy betters in their birth shall be their fathers bail and bane to those that for my surety will refuse the boys enter edward and richard plantagenet see where they come ill warrant theyll make it good enter clifford and his son queen and here comes clifford to deny their bail clifford 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 clifford this is my king york i do not mistake but thou mistakes me much to think i do 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 clifford 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 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 bid salisbury and warwick come to me enter the earls of warwick and salisbury clifford are these thy bears well bait thy bears to death and manacle the berard in their chains if thou darst bring them to the baiting place richard oft have i seen a hot oer weening cur run back and bite because he was withheld who being sufferd with the bears fell paw hath clappd his tail between his legs and cried and such a piece of service will you do if you oppose yourselves to match lord warwick clifford hence heap of wrath foul indigested lump as crooked in thy manners as thy shape york nay we shall heat you thoroughly anon clifford take heed lest by your heat you burn yourselves king henry why warwick hath thy knee forgot to bow old salisbury shame to thy silver hair thou mad misleader of thy brainsick 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 banishd 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 wantst 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 salisbury my lord i have considered with myself the tide of this most renowned duke and in my conscience do repute his grace the rightful heir to englands royal seat king henry hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me salisbury i have king henry canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath salisbury 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 murdrous deed to rob a man to force a spotless virgins chastity to reave the orphan of his patrimony to wring the widow from her customd right and have no other reason for this wrong but that he was bound by a solemn oath queen a subtle traitor needs no sophister king henry call buckingham and bid him arm himself york call buckingham and all the friends thou hast i am resolvd for death or dignity clifford the first i warrant thee if dreams prove true warwick you were best to go to bed and dream again to keep thee from the tempest of the field clifford i am resolvd to bear a greater storm than any thou canst conjure up to day and that ill write upon thy burgonet might i but know thee by thy household badge warwick now by my fathers badge old nevils crest the rampant bear chaind to the ragged staff this day ill 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 clifford and from thy burgonet ill rend thy bear and tread it under foot with all contempt despite the berard that protects the bear young clifford and so to arms victorious father to quell the rebels and their complices richard fie charity for shame speak not in spite for you shall sup with jesu christ to night young clifford foul stigmatic thats more than thou canst tell richard if not in heaven youll surely sup in hell exeunt severally scene ii saint albans alarums to the battle enter warwick warwick 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 mens 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 enter york how now my noble lord what all a foot york the deadly handed clifford slew my steed but match to match i have encountred him and made a prey for carrion kites and crows even of the bonny beast he lovd so well enter old clifford warwick of one or both of us the time is come york hold warwick seek thee out some other chase for i myself must hunt this deer to death warwick then nobly york tis for a crown thou fightst as i intend clifford to thrive to day it grieves my soul to leave thee unassaild exit clifford what seest thou in me york why dost thou pause york with thy brave bearing should i be in love but that thou art so fast mine enemy clifford nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem but that tis shown ignobly and in treason york so let it help me now against thy sword as i in justice and true right express it clifford my soul and body on the action both york a dreadful lay address thee instantly they fight and clifford falls clifford la fin couronne les oeuvres dies york thus war hath given thee peace for thou art still peace with his soul heaven if it be thy will exit enter young clifford young clifford 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 sees his fathers body o let the vile world end and the premised flames of the last day knit earth and heaven together now let the general trumpet blow his blast particularities and petty sounds to cease wast thou ordaind 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 turnd 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 cliffords house as did aeneas old anchises bear so bear i thee upon my manly shoulders but then aeneas bare a living load nothing so heavy as these woes of mine exit with the body enter richard and somerset to fight somerset is killed richard so lie thou there for underneath an alehouse paltry sign the castle in saint albans somerset hath made the wizard famous in his death sword hold thy temper heart be wrathful still priests pray for enemies but princes kill exit fight excursions enter king queen and others queen away my lord you are slow for shame away king henry can we outrun the heavens good margaret stay queen what are you made of youll 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 alarum afar off if you be taen 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 lovd and where this breach now in our fortunes made may readily be stoppd re enter young clifford young clifford but that my hearts 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 exeunt scene iii fields near saint albans alarum retreat enter york richard warwick and soldiers with drum and colours york 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 richard 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 enter salisbury salisbury now by my sword well hast thou fought to day by th mass so did we all i thank you richard god knows how long it is i have to live and it hath pleasd 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 york 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 warwick after them nay before them if we can now by my faith lords twas a glorious day saint albans battle won by famous york shall be eternizd in all age to come sound drum and trumpets and to london all and more such days as these to us befall exeunt the end the third part of king henry the sixth dramatis personae king henry the sixth edward prince of wales his son lewis xi king of france duke of somerset duke of exeter earl of oxford earl of northumberland earl of westmoreland lord clifford richard plantagenet duke of york edward earl of march afterwards king edward iv his son edmund earl of rutland his son george afterwards duke of clarence his son richard afterwards duke of gloucester his son duke of norfolk marquis of montague earl of warwick earl of pembroke lord hastings lord stafford sir john mortimer uncle to the duke of york sir hugh mortimer uncle to the duke of york henry earl of richmond a youth lord rivers brother to lady grey sir william stanley sir john montgomery sir john somerville tutor to rutland mayor of york lieutenant of the tower a nobleman two keepers a huntsman a son that has killed his father a father that has killed his son queen margaret lady grey afterwards queen to edward iv bona sister to the french queen soldiers attendants messengers watchmen etc scene england and france act i scene i london the parliament house alarum enter duke of york edward richard norfolk montague warwick and soldiers with white roses in their hats warwick i wonder how the king escapd our hands york while we pursud 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 cheerd up the drooping army and himself lord clifford and lord stafford all abreast chargd our main battles front and breaking in were by the swords of common soldiers slain edward lord staffords father duke of buckingham is either slain or wounded dangerous i cleft his beaver with a downright blow that this is true father behold his blood montague and brother heres the earl of wiltshires blood whom i encountred as the battles joind richard speak thou for me and tell them what i did throwing down somersets head york richard hath best deservd of all my sons but is your grace dead my lord of somerset norfolk such hope have all the line of john of gaunt richard thus do i hope to shake king henrys head warwick 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 henrys heirs york assist me then sweet warwick and i will for hither we have broken in by force norfolk well all assist you he that flies shall die york thanks gentle norfolk stay by me my lords and soldiers stay and lodge by me this night they go up warwick and when the king comes offer him no violence unless he seek to thrust you out perforce york 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 richard armd as we are lets stay within this house warwick the bloody parliament shall this be calld unless plantagenet duke of york be king and bashful henry deposd whose cowardice hath made us by words to our enemies york then leave me not my lords be resolute i mean to take possession of my right warwick 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 ill plant plantagenet root him up who dares resolve thee richard claim the english crown york occupies the throne flourish enter king henry clifford northumberland westmoreland exeter and others with red roses in their hats king henry my lords look where the sturdy rebel sits even in the chair of state belike he means backd 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 vowd revenge on him his sons his favourites and his friends northumberland if i be not heavens be revengd on me clifford the hope thereof makes clifford mourn in steel westmoreland what shall we suffer this lets pluck him down my heart for anger burns i cannot brook it king henry be patient gentle earl of westmoreland clifford patience is for poltroons such as he he durst not sit there had your father livd my gracious lord here in the parliament let us assail the family of york northumberland well hast thou spoken cousin be it so king henry ah know you not the city favours them and they have troops of soldiers at their beck exeter but when the duke is slain theyll quickly fly king henry far be the thought of this from henrys 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 york i am thine exeter for shame come down he made thee duke of york york twas my inheritance as the earldom was exeter thy father was a traitor to the crown warwick exeter thou art a traitor to the crown in following this usurping henry clifford whom should he follow but his natural king warwick true clifford and thats richard duke of york king henry and shall i stand and thou sit in my throne york it must and shall be so content thyself warwick be duke of lancaster let him be king westmoreland he is both king and duke of lancaster and that the lord of westmoreland shall maintain warwick and warwick shall disprove it you forget that we are those which chasd you from the field and slew your fathers and with colours spread marchd through the city to the palace gates northumberland yes warwick i remember it to my grief and by his soul thou and thy house shall rue it westmoreland plantagenet of thee and these thy sons thy kinsmen and thy friends ill have more lives than drops of blood were in my fathers veins clifford urge it no more lest that instead of words i send thee warwick such a messenger as shall revenge his death before i stir warwick poor clifford how i scorn his worthless threats york will you we show our title to the crown if not our swords shall plead it in the field king henry 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 seizd upon their towns and provinces warwick talk not of france sith thou hast lost it all king henry the lord protector lost it and not i when i was crownd i was but nine months old richard you are old enough now and yet methinks you lose father tear the crown from the usurpers head edward sweet father do so set it on your head montague good brother as thou lovst and honourest arms lets fight it out and not stand cavilling thus richard sound drums and trumpets and the king will fly york sons peace king henry peace thou and give king henry leave to speak warwick plantagenet shall speak first hear him lords and be you silent and attentive too for he that interrupts him shall not live king henry thinkst 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 hearts great sorrow shall be my winding sheet why faint you lords my titles good and better far than his warwick prove it henry and thou shalt be king king henry henry the fourth by conquest got the crown york twas by rebellion against his king king henry aside i know not what to say my titles weak tell me may not a king adopt an heir york what then king henry an if he may then am i lawful king for richard in the view of many lords resignd the crown to henry the fourth whose heir my father was and i am his york he rose against him being his sovereign and made him to resign his crown perforce warwick suppose my lords he did it unconstraind think you twere prejudicial to his crown exeter no for he could not so resign his crown but that the next heir should succeed and reign king henry art thou against us duke of exeter exeter his is the right and therefore pardon me york why whisper you my lords and answer not exeter my conscience tells me he is lawful king king henry aside all will revolt from me and turn to him northumberland plantagenet for all the claim thou layst think not that henry shall be so deposd warwick deposd he shall be in despite of all northumberland thou art deceivd 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 clifford 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 king henry o clifford how thy words revive my heart york henry of lancaster resign thy crown what mutter you or what conspire you lords warwick do right unto this princely duke of york or i will fill the house with armed men and over the chair of state where now he sits write up his title with usurping blood he stamps with his foot and the soldiers show themselves king henry my lord of warwick hear but one word let me for this my life time reign as king york confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs and thou shalt reign in quiet while thou livst king henry i am content richard plantagenet enjoy the kingdom after my decease clifford what wrong is this unto the prince your son warwick what good is this to england and himself westmoreland base fearful and despairing henry clifford how hast thou injurd both thyself and or us westmoreland i cannot stay to hear these articles northumberland nor i clifford come cousin let us tell the queen these news westmoreland farewell faint hearted and degenerate king in whose cold blood no spark of honour bides northumberland be thou a prey unto the house of york and die in bands for this unmanly deed clifford in dreadful war mayst thou be overcome or live in peace abandond and despisd exeunt northumberland clifford and westmoreland warwick turn this way henry and regard them not exeter they seek revenge and therefore will not yield king henry ah exeter warwick why should you sigh my lord king henry not for myself lord warwick but my son whom i unnaturally shall disinherit but be it as it may to york 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 york this oath i willingly take and will perform coming from the throne warwick long live king henry plantagenet embrace him king henry and long live thou and these thy forward sons york now york and lancaster are reconcild exeter accursd be he that seeks to make them foes sennet here they come down york farewell my gracious lord ill to my castle warwick and ill keep london with my soldiers norfolk and i to norfolk with my followers montague and i unto the sea from whence i came exeunt the yorkists king henry and i with grief and sorrow to the court enter queen margaret and the prince of wales exeter here comes the queen whose looks bewray her anger ill steal away king henry exeter so will i queen margaret nay go not from me i will follow thee king henry be patient gentle queen and i will stay queen margaret 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 provd so unnatural a father hath he deservd to lose his birthright thus hadst thou but lovd him half so well as i or felt that pain which i did for him once or nourishd 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 prince of wales father you cannot disinherit me if you be king why should not i succeed king henry pardon me margaret pardon me sweet son the earl of warwick and the duke enforcd me queen margaret enforcd thee art thou king and wilt be forcd i shame to hear thee speak ah timorous wretch thou hast undone thyself thy son and me and givn 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 falconbridge 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 tossd me on their pikes before i would have granted to that act but thou preferst 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 repeald 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 lets away our army is ready come well after them king henry stay gentle margaret and hear me speak queen margaret thou hast spoke too much already get thee gone king henry gentle son edward thou wilt stay with me queen margaret ay to be murderd by his enemies prince of wales when i return with victory from the field ill see your grace till then ill follow her queen margaret come son away we may not linger thus exeunt queen margaret and the prince king henry poor queen how love to me and to her son hath made her break out into terms of rage revengd 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 ill write unto them and entreat them fair come cousin you shall be the messenger exeter and i i hope shall reconcile them all exeunt scene ii sandal castle near wakefield in yorkshire flourish enter edward richard and montague richard brother though i be youngest give me leave edward no i can better play the orator montague but i have reasons strong and forcible enter the duke of york york why how now sons and brother at a strife what is your quarrel how began it first edward no quarrel but a slight contention york about what richard about that which concerns your grace and us the crown of england father which is yours york mine boy not till king henry be dead richard your right depends not on his life or death edward 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 york i took an oath that he should quietly reign edward but for a kingdom any oath may be broken i would break a thousand oaths to reign one year richard no god forbid your grace should be forsworn york i shall be if i claim by open war richard ill prove the contrary if youll hear me speak york thou canst not son it is impossible richard 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 dyd even in the lukewarm blood of henrys heart york richard enough i will be king or die brother thou shalt to london presently and whet on warwick to this enterprise thou richard shalt to 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 employd 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 enter a messenger but stay what news why comst thou in such post messenger 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 york ay with my sword what thinkst 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 powrful policy strengthen themselves and trust not simple henry nor his oaths montague brother i go ill win them fear it not and thus most humbly i do take my leave exit enter sir john and sir hugh mortimer york 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 sir john she shall not need well meet her in the field york what with five thousand men richard ay with five hundred father for a need a womans general what should we fear a march afar off edward i hear their drums lets set our men in order and issue forth and bid them battle straight york 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 exeunt scene iii field of battle between sandal castle and wakefield alarum enter rutland and his tutor rutland ah whither shall i fly to scape their hands ah tutor look where bloody clifford comes enter clifford and soldiers clifford chaplain away thy priesthood saves thy life as for the brat of this accursed duke whose father slew my father he shall die tutor and i my lord will bear him company clifford soldiers away with him tutor ah clifford murder not this innocent child lest thou be hated both of god and man exit forced off by soldiers clifford how now is he dead already or is it fear that makes him close his eyes ill open them rutland so looks the pent up lion oer the wretch that trembles under his devouring paws and so he walks insulting oer 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 threatning look sweet clifford hear me speak before i die i am too mean a subject for thy wrath be thou revengd on men and let me live clifford in vain thou speakst poor boy my fathers blood hath stoppd the passage where thy words should enter rutland then let my fathers blood open it again he is a man and clifford cope with him clifford had i thy brethren here their lives and thine were not revenge sufficient for me no if i diggd 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 rutland o let me pray before i take my death to thee i pray sweet clifford pity me clifford such pity as my rapiers point affords rutland i never did thee harm why wilt thou slay me clifford thy father hath rutland 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 clifford no cause thy father slew my father therefore die stabs him rutland di faciant laudis summa sit ista tuae dies clifford plantagenet i come plantagenet and this thy sons blood cleaving to my blade shall rust upon my weapon till thy blood congeald with this do make me wipe off both exit scene iv another part of the field alarum enter the duke of york york 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 pursud by hunger starved wolves my sons god knows what hath bechanced them but this i know they have demeand 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 encountred 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 chargd again but out alas we bodgd again as i have seen a swan with bootless labour swim against the tide and spend her strength with over matching waves a short alarum within 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 numbred that make up my life here must i stay and here my life must end enter queen margaret clifford northumberland the prince of wales and soldiers come bloody clifford rough northumberland i dare your quenchless fury to more rage i am your butt and i abide your shot northumberland yield to our mercy proud plantagenet clifford ay to such mercy as his ruthless arm with downright payment showd unto my father now phaethon hath tumbled from his car and made an evening at the noontide prick york my ashes as the phoenix may bring forth a bird that will revenge upon you all and in that hope i throw mine eyes to heaven scorning whateer you can afflict me with why come you not what multitudes and fear clifford so cowards fight when they can fly no further so doves do peck the falcons piercing talons so desperate thieves all hopeless of their lives breathe out invectives gainst the officers york o clifford but bethink thee once again and in thy thought oerrun 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 clifford i will not bandy with thee word for word but buckler with thee blows twice two for one queen margaret hold valiant clifford for a thousand causes i would prolong awhile the traitors life wrath makes him deaf speak thou northumberland 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 wars prize to take all vantages and ten to one is no impeach of valour they lay hands on york who struggles clifford ay ay so strives the woodcock with the gin northumberland so doth the cony struggle in the net york so triumph thieves upon their conquerd booty so true men yield with robbers so oer matchd northumberland what would your grace have done unto him now queen margaret 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 englands king wast you that revelld 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 wheres 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 staind this napkin with the blood that valiant clifford with his rapiers 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 parchd thine entrails that not a tear can fall for rutlands 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 feed 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 putting a paper crown on his head ay marry sir now looks he like a king ay this is he that took king henrys chair and this is he was his adopted heir but how is it that great plantagenet is crownd 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 henrys glory and rob his temples of the diadem now in his life against your holy oath o tis a fault too too off with the crown and with the crown his head and whilst we breathe take time to do him dead clifford that is my office for my fathers sake queen margaret nay stay lets hear the orisons he makes york she wolf of france but worse than wolves of france whose tongue more poisons than the adders 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 visard like unchanging made impudent with use of evil deeds i would assay proud queen to make thee blush to tell thee whence thou camst of whom derivd 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 admird the contrary doth make thee wondred 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 tigers heart wrappd in a womans 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 womans face women are soft mild pitiful and flexible thou stern obdurate flinty rough remorseless bidst 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 rutlands obsequies and every drop cries vengeance for his death gainst thee fell clifford and thee false frenchwoman northumberland beshrew me but his passions move me so that hardly can i check my eyes from tears york that face of his the hungry cannibals would not have touchd would not have staind with blood but you are more inhuman more inexorable o ten times more than tigers of hyrcania see ruthless queen a hapless fathers tears this cloth thou dippdst 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 tellst 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 northumberland 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 queen margaret what weeping ripe my lord northumberland think but upon the wrong he did us all and that will quickly dry thy melting tears clifford heres for my oath heres for my fathers death stabbing him queen margaret and heres to right our gentle hearted king stabbing him york open thy gate of mercy gracious god my soul flies through these wounds to seek out thee dies queen margaret off with his head and set it on york gates so york may overlook the town of york flourish exeunt act ii scene i a plain near mortimers cross in herefordshire a march enter edward richard and their power edward i wonder how our princely father scapd or whether he be scapd away or no from cliffords and northumberlands pursuit had he been taen we should have heard the news had he been slain we should have heard the news or had he scapd methinks we should have heard the happy tidings of his good escape how fares my brother why is he so sad richard i cannot joy until i be resolvd where our right valiant father is become i saw him in the battle range about and watchd 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 encompassd round with dogs who having pinchd a few and made them cry the rest stand all aloof and bark at him so fard our father with his enemies so fled his enemies my warlike 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 trimmd like a younker prancing to his love edward dazzle mine eyes or do i see three suns richard three glorious suns each one a perfect sun not separated with the racking clouds but severd in a pale clear shining sky see see they join embrace and seem to kiss as if they vowd some league inviolable now are they but one lamp one light one sun in this the heaven figures some event edward 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 overshine the earth as this the world whateer it bodes henceforward will i bear upon my target three fair shining suns richard nay bear three daughters by your leave i speak it you love the breeder better than the male enter a messenger blowing but what art thou whose heavy looks foretell some dreadful story hanging on thy tongue messenger ah one that was a woeful looker on when as the noble duke of york was slain your princely father and my loving lord edward o speak no more for i have heard too much richard say how he died for i will hear it all messenger environed he was with many foes and stood against them as the hope of troy against the greeks that would have entred troy but hercules himself must yield to odds and many strokes though with a little axe hews down and fells the hardest timberd oak by many hands your father was subdud but only slaughtred by the ireful arm of unrelenting clifford and the queen who crownd the gracious duke in high despite laughd 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 eer i viewd edward sweet duke of york our prop to lean upon now thou art gone we have no staff no stay o clifford boistrous clifford thou hast slain the flowr of europe for his chivalry and treacherously hast thou vanquishd him for hand to hand he would have vanquishd thee now my souls 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 richard i cannot weep for all my bodys moisture scarce serves to quench my furnace burning heart nor can my tongue unload my hearts great burden for self same wind that i should speak withal is kindling coals that fires all my breast and burns 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 ill venge thy death or die renowned by attempting it edward his name that valiant duke hath left with thee his dukedom and his chair with me is left richard nay if thou be that princely eagles 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 march enter warwick montague and their army warwick how now fair lords what fare what news abroad richard great lord of warwick if we should recount our baleful news and at each words deliverance stab poinards 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 edward o warwick warwick that plantagenet which held thee dearly as his souls redemption is by the stern lord clifford done to death warwick ten days ago i drownd these news in tears and now to add more measure to your woes i come to tell you things sith then befalln after the bloody fray at wakefield fought where your brave father breathd 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 musterd my soldiers gathered flocks of friends and very well appointed as i thought marchd toward saint albans 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 henrys oath and your succession short tale to make we at saint albans met our battles joind and both sides fiercely fought but whether twas the coldness of the king who lookd full gently on his warlike queen that robbd my soldiers of their heated spleen or whether twas report of her success or more than common fear of cliffords 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 owls lazy flight or like an idle thresher with a flail fell gently down as if they struck their friends i cheerd 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 edward where is the duke of norfolk gentle warwick and when came george from burgundy to england warwick 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 richard twas odds belike when valiant warwick fled oft have i heard his praises in pursuit but neer till now his scandal of retire warwick nor now my scandal richard dost thou hear for thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine can pluck the diadem from faint henrys head and wring the awful sceptre from his fist were he as famous and as bold in war as he is famd for mildness peace and prayer richard i know it well lord warwick blame me not tis love i bear thy glories makes me speak but in this troublous time whats to be done shall we go throw away our coats of steel and wrap our bodies in black mourning gowns numbering 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 warwick 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 moe 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 richard ay now methinks i hear great warwick speak neer may he live to see a sunshine day that cries retire if warwick bid him stay edward lord warwick on thy shoulder will i lean and when thou failst as god forbid the hour must edward fall which peril heaven forfend warwick no longer earl of march but duke of york the next degree is englands royal throne for king of england shalt thou be proclaimd 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 richard 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 edward then strike up drums god and saint george for us enter a messenger warwick how now what news messenger the duke of norfolk sends you word by me the queen is coming with a puissant host and craves your company for speedy counsel warwick why then it sorts brave warriors lets away exeunt scene ii before york flourish enter king henry queen margaret the prince of wales clifford northumberland with drum and trumpets queen margaret welcome my lord to this brave town of york yonders the head of that arch enemy that sought to be encompassd with your crown doth not the object cheer your heart my lord king henry ay as the rocks cheer them that fear their wreck to see this sight it irks my very soul withhold revenge dear god tis not my fault nor wittingly have i infringd my vow clifford 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 serpents 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 blessd with a goodly son didst yield consent to disinherit him which argued thee a most unloving father unreasonable creatures feed their young and though mans 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 usd with fearful flight make war with him that climbd unto their nest offering their own lives in their youngs defence for shame my liege make them your precedent were it not pity that this goodly boy should lose his birthright by his fathers 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 king henry full well hath clifford playd 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 ill 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 queen margaret my lord cheer up your spirits our foes are nigh and this soft courage makes your followers faint you promisd knighthood to our forward son unsheathe your sword and dub him presently edward kneel down king henry edward plantagenet arise a knight and learn this lesson draw thy sword in right prince of wales my gracious father by your kingly leave ill draw it as apparent to the crown and in that quarrel use it to the death clifford why that is spoken like a toward prince enter a messenger messenger 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 clifford i would your highness would depart the field the queen hath best success when you are absent queen margaret ay good my lord and leave us to our fortune king henry why thats my fortune too therefore ill stay northumberland be it with resolution then to fight prince of wales my royal father cheer these noble lords and hearten those that fight in your defence unsheathe your sword good father cry saint george march enter edward george richard warwick norfolk montague and soldiers edward now perjurd henry wilt thou kneel for grace and set thy diadem upon my head or bide the mortal fortune of the field queen margaret go rate thy minions proud insulting boy becomes it thee to be thus bold in terms before thy sovereign and thy lawful king edward 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 causd him by new act of parliament to blot out me and put his own son in clifford and reason too who should succeed the father but the son richard are you there butcher o i cannot speak clifford ay crook back here i stand to answer thee or any he the proudest of thy sort richard twas you that killd young rutland was it not clifford ay and old york and yet not satisfied richard for gods sake lords give signal to the fight warwick what sayst thou henry wilt thou yield the crown queen margaret why how now long tongud warwick dare you speak when you and i met at saint albans last your legs did better service than your hands warwick then twas my turn to fly and now tis thine clifford you said so much before and yet you fled warwick twas not your valour clifford drove me thence northumberland no nor your manhood that durst make you stay richard 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 clifford i slew thy father callst thou him a child richard ay like a dastard and a treacherous coward as thou didst kill our tender brother rutland but ere sunset ill make thee curse the deed king henry have done with words my lords and hear me speak queen margaret defy them then or else hold close thy lips king henry i prithee give no limits to my tongue i am a king and privilegd to speak clifford my liege the wound that bred this meeting here cannot be curd by words therefore be still richard then executioner unsheathe thy sword by him that made us all i am resolvd that cliffords manhood lies upon his tongue edward say henry shall i have my right or no a thousand men have broke their fasts to day that neer shall dine unless thou yield the crown warwick if thou deny their blood upon thy head for york in justice puts his armour on prince of wales if that be right which warwick says is right there is no wrong but every thing is right richard whoever got thee there thy mother stands for well i wot thou hast thy mothers tongue queen margaret but thou art neither like thy sire nor dam but like a foul misshapen stigmatic markd by the destinies to be avoided as venom toads or lizards dreadful stings richard iron of naples hid with english gilt whose father bears the title of a king as if a channel should be calld the sea shamst thou not knowing whence thou art extraught to let thy tongue detect thy base born heart edward 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 neer was agamemmons brother wrongd by that false woman as this king by thee his father revelld in the heart of france and tamd the king and made the dauphin stoop and had he matchd according to his state he might have kept that glory to this day but when he took a beggar to his bed and gracd thy poor sire with his bridal day even then that sunshine brewd a showr for him that washd his fathers fortunes forth of france and heapd sedition on his crown at home for what hath broachd this tumult but thy pride hadst thou been meek our title still had slept and we in pity of the gentle king had slippd our claim until another age george 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 well never leave till we have hewn thee down or bathd thy growing with our heated bloods edward and in this resolution i defy thee not willing any longer conference since thou deniest the gentle king to speak sound trumpets let our bloody colours wave and either victory or else a grave queen margaret stay edward edward no wrangling woman well no longer stay these words will cost ten thousand lives this day exeunt scene iii a field of battle between towton and saxton in yorkshire alarum excursions enter warwick warwick forspent with toil as runners with a race i lay me down a little while to breathe for strokes receivd and many blows repaid have robbd my strong knit sinews of their strength and spite of spite needs must i rest awhile enter edward running edward smile gentle heaven or strike ungentle death for this world frowns and edwards sun is clouded warwick how now my lord what hap what hope of good enter george george our hap is lost our hope but sad despair our ranks are broke and ruin follows us what counsel give you whither shall we fly edward bootless is flight they follow us with wings and weak we are and cannot shun pursuit enter richard richard ah warwick why hast thou withdrawn thyself thy brothers blood the thirsty earth hath drunk broachd with the steely point of cliffords 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 staind their fetlocks in his smoking blood the noble gentleman gave up the ghost warwick then let the earth be drunken with our blood ill 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 playd in jest by counterfeiting actors here on my knee i vow to god above ill never pause again never stand still till either death hath closd these eyes of mine or fortune given me measure of revenge edward 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 earths 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 whereer it be in heaven or in earth richard 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 warwick away away once more sweet lords farewell george 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 exeunt scene iv another part of the field excursions enter richard and clifford richard 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 environd with a brazen wall clifford now richard i am with thee here alone this is the hand that stabbed thy father york and this the hand that slew thy brother rutland and heres 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 they fight enter warwick clifford flies richard nay warwick single out some other chase for i myself will hunt this wolf to death exeunt scene v another part of the field alarum enter king henry alone king henry this battle fares like to the mornings 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 forcd by the tide to combat with the wind now sways it that way like the selfsame sea forcd 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 gods 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 makes the hour full complete how many hours brings 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 can so many years ere i shall shear the fleece so minutes hours days months and years passd 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 embroiderd canopy to kings that fear their subjects treachery o yes it doth a thousand fold it doth and to conclude the shepherds homely curds his cold thin drink out of his leather bottle his wonted sleep under a fresh trees shade all which secure and sweetly he enjoys is far beyond a princes delicates his viands sparkling in a golden cup his body couched in a curious bed when care mistrust and treason waits on him alarum enter a son that hath killd his father at one door and a father that hath killd his son at another door son 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 whos this o god it is my fathers face whom in this conflict i unwares have killd o heavy times begetting such events from london by the king was i pressd forth my father being the earl of warwicks man came on the part of york pressd by his master and i who at his hands receivd 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 flowd their fill king henry o piteous spectacle o bloody times whiles lions war and battle for their dens poor harmless lambs abide their enmity weep wretched man ill aid thee tear for tear and let our hearts and eyes like civil war be blind with tears and break oerchargd with grief enter father bearing of his son father thou that so stoutly hath resisted me give me thy gold if thou hast any gold for i have bought it with an hundred blows but let me see is this our foemans face ah no no no no it is mine only son ah boy if any life be left in thee throw up thine eye see see what showrs arise blown with the windy tempest of my heart upon thy wounds that kills 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 king henry 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 perish son how will my mother for a fathers death take on with me and neer be satisfied father how will my wife for slaughter of my son shed seas of tears and neer be satisfied king henry how will the country for these woeful chances misthink the king and not be satisfied son was ever son so rued a fathers death father was ever father so bemoand his son king henry was ever king so grievd for subjects woe much is your sorrow mine ten times so much son ill bear thee hence where i may weep my fill exit with the body father these arms of mine shall be thy winding sheet my heart sweet boy shall be thy sepulchre for from my heart thine image neer shall go my sighing breast shall be thy funeral bell and so obsequious will thy father be even for the loss of thee having no more as priam was for all his valiant sons ill bear thee hence and let them fight that will for i have murdered where i should not kill exit with the body king henry sad hearted men much overgone with care here sits a king more woeful than you are alarums excursions enter queen margaret prince of wales and exeter prince of wales fly father fly for all your friends are fled and warwick rages like a chafed bull away for death doth hold us in pursuit queen margaret 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 graspd in their ireful hands are at our backs and therefore hence amain exeter away for vengeance comes along with them nay stay not to expostulate make speed or else come after ill away before king henry nay take me with thee good sweet exeter not that i fear to stay but love to go whither the queen intends forward away exeunt scene vi another part of the field a loud alarum enter clifford wounded clifford here burns my candle out ay here it dies which whiles it lasted gave king henry light o lancaster i fear thy overthrow more than my bodys parting with my soul my love and fear glud many friends to thee and now i fall thy tough commixture melts impairing henry strengthning misproud york the common people swarm like summer flies and whither fly the gnats but to the sun and who shines now but henrys enemies o phoebus hadst thou never given consent that phaethon should check thy fiery steeds thy burning car never had scorchd the earth and henry hadst thou swayd 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 deservd 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 stabbd your fathers bosoms split my breast he faints alarum and retreat enter edward george richard montague warwick and soldiers edward 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 filld with a fretting gust command an argosy to stern the waves but think you lords that clifford fled with them warwick no tis impossible he should escape for though before his face i speak the words your brother richard markd him for the grave and wheresoer he is hes surely dead clifford groans and dies richard whose soul is that which takes her heavy leave a deadly groan like life and deaths departing see who it is edward and now the battles ended if friend or foe let him be gently used richard revoke that doom of mercy for tis clifford who not contented that he loppd the branch in hewing rutland when his leaves put forth but set his murdring knife unto the root from whence that tender spray did sweetly spring i mean our princely father duke of york warwick from off the gates of york fetch down the head your fathers head which clifford placed there instead whereof let this supply the room measure for measure must be answered edward bring forth that fatal screech owl to our house that nothing sung but death to us and ours now death shall stop his dismal threatning sound and his ill boding tongue no more shall speak warwick i think his understanding is bereft speak clifford dost thou know who speaks to thee dark cloudy death oershades his beams of life and he nor sees nor hears us what we say richard 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 george if so thou thinkst vex him with eager words richard clifford ask mercy and obtain no grace edward clifford repent in bootless penitence warwick clifford devise excuses for thy faults george while we devise fell tortures for thy faults richard thou didst love york and i am son to york edward thou pitiedst rutland i will pity thee george wheres captain margaret to fence you now warwick they mock thee clifford swear as thou wast wont richard what not an oath nay then the world goes hard when clifford cannot spare his friends an oath i know by that hes 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 unstanched thirst york and young rutland could not satisfy warwick ay but hes dead off with the traitors head and rear it in the place your fathers stands and now to london with triumphant march there to be crowned englands 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 scattred 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 ill cross the sea to effect this marriage so it please my lord edward even as thou wilt sweet warwick let it be for in 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 richard let me be duke of clarence george of gloucester for gloucesters dukedom is too ominous warwick tut thats a foolish observation richard be duke of gloucester now to london to see these honours in possession exeunt act iii scene i a chase in the north of england enter two keepers with cross bows in their hands first keeper under this thick grown brake well 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 second keeper ill stay above the hill so both may shoot first keeper 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 ill tell thee what befell me on a day in this self place where now we mean to stand second keeper here comes a man lets stay till he be past enter king henry disguised with a prayer book king henry from scotland am i stoln even of pure love to greet mine own land with my wishful sight no harry harry tis no land of thine thy place is filld thy sceptre wrung from thee thy balm washd off wherewith thou wast anointed no bending knee will call thee caesar 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 first keeper ay heres a deer whose skins a keepers fee this is the quondam king lets seize upon him king henry let me embrace thee sour adversity for wise men say it is the wisest course second keeper why linger we let us lay hands upon him first keeper forbear awhile well hear a little more king henry 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 kings 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 shes a woman to be pitied much her sighs will make a battry 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 shes 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 deposd he smiles and says his edward is installd 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 edwards place o margaret thus twill be and thou poor soul art then forsaken as thou wentst forlorn second keeper say what art thou that talkst of kings and queens king henry 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 second keeper ay but thou talkst as if thou wert a king king henry why so i am in mind and thats enough second keeper but if thou be a king where is thy crown king henry my crown is in my heart not on my head not deckd with diamonds and indian stones not to be seen my crown is calld content a crown it is that seldom kings enjoy second keeper well if you be a king crownd 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 deposd and we his subjects sworn in all allegiance will apprehend you as his enemy king henry but did you never swear and break an oath second keeper no never such an oath nor will not now king henry where did you dwell when i was king of england second keeper here in this country where we now remain king henry 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 first keeper no for we were subjects but while you were king king henry 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 ill obey first keeper we are true subjects to the king king edward king henry so would you be again to henry if he were seated as king edward is first keeper we charge you in gods name and the kings to go with us unto the officers king henry in gods name lead your kings name be obeyd and what god will that let your king perform and what he will i humbly yield unto exeunt scene ii london the palace enter king edward gloucester clarence and lady grey king edward brother of gloucester at saint albans field this ladys husband sir richard grey was slain his land then seizd 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 gloucester your highness shall do well to grant her suit it were dishonour to deny it her king edward it were no less but yet ill make a pause gloucester aside to clarence yea is it so i see the lady hath a thing to grant before the king will grant her humble suit clarence aside to gloucester he knows the game how true he keeps the wind gloucester aside to clarence silence king edward widow we will consider of your suit and come some other time to know our mind lady grey right gracious lord i cannot brook delay may it please your highness to resolve me now and what your pleasure is shall satisfy me gloucester aside ay widow then ill warrant you all your lands an if what pleases him shall pleasure you fight closer or good faith youll catch a blow clarence aside to gloucester i fear her not unless she chance to fall gloucester aside to clarence god forbid that for hell take vantages king edward how many children hast thou widow tell me clarence aside to gloucester i think he means to beg a child of her gloucester aside to clarence nay then whip me hell rather give her two lady grey three my most gracious lord gloucester aside you shall have four if youll be ruld by him king edward twere pity they should lose their fathers lands lady grey be pitiful dread lord and grant it then king edward lords give us leave ill try this widows wit gloucester aside ay good leave have you for you will have leave till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch gloucester and clarence withdraw king edward now tell me madam do you love your children lady grey ay full as dearly as i love myself king edward and would you not do much to do them good lady grey to do them good i would sustain some harm king edward then get your husbands lands to do them good lady grey therefore i came unto your majesty king edward ill tell you how these lands are to be got lady grey so shall you bind me to your highness service king edward what service wilt thou do me if i give them lady grey what you command that rests in me to do king edward but you will take exceptions to my boon lady grey no gracious lord except i cannot do it king edward ay but thou canst do what i mean to ask lady grey why then i will do what your grace commands gloucester he plies her hard and much rain wears the marble clarence as red as fire nay then her wax must melt lady grey why stops my lord shall i not hear my task king edward an easy task tis but to love a king lady grey thats soon performd because i am a subject king edward why then thy husbands lands i freely give thee lady grey i take my leave with many thousand thanks gloucester the match is made she seals it with a curtsy king edward but stay thee tis the fruits of love i mean lady grey the fruits of love i mean my loving liege king edward ay but i fear me in another sense what love thinkst thou i sue so much to get lady grey my love till death my humble thanks my prayers that love which virtue begs and virtue grants king edward no by my troth i did not mean such love lady grey why then you mean not as i thought you did king edward but now you partly may perceive my mind lady grey my mind will never grant what i perceive your highness aims at if i aim aright king edward to tell thee plain i aim to lie with thee lady grey to tell you plain i had rather lie in prison king edward why then thou shalt not have thy husbands lands lady grey why then mine honesty shall be my dower for by that loss i will not purchase them king edward therein thou wrongst thy children mightily lady grey 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 king edward ay if thou wilt say ay to my request no if thou dost say no to my demand lady grey then no my lord my suit is at an end gloucester the widow likes him not she knits her brows clarence he is the bluntest wooer in christendom king edward aside her looks doth argue her replete with modesty her words doth 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 lady grey tis better said than done my gracious lord i am a subject fit to jest withal but far unfit to be a sovereign king edward 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 lady grey 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 king edward you cavil widow i did mean my queen lady grey twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father king edward no more than when my daughters call thee mother thou art a widow and thou hast some children and by gods 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 gloucester the ghostly father now hath done his shrift clarence when he was made a shriver twas for shrift king edward brothers you muse what chat we two have had gloucester the widow likes it not for she looks very sad king edward youd think it strange if i should marry her clarence to who my lord king edward why clarence to myself gloucester that would be ten days wonder at the least clarence thats a day longer than a wonder lasts gloucester by so much is the wonder in extremes king edward well jest on brothers i can tell you both her suit is granted for her husbands lands enter a nobleman nobleman my gracious lord henry your foe is taken and brought your prisoner to your palace gate king edward see that he be conveyd 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 exeunt all but gloucester gloucester 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 souls desire and me the lustful edwards title buried is clarence henry and his son young edward and all the unlookd 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 hell lade it dry to have his way so do i wish the crown being so far off and so i chide the means that keeps me from it and so i say ill cut the causes off flattering me with impossibilities my eyes too quick my heart oerweens 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 ill make my heaven in a ladys 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 mothers 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 witherd 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 unlickd bear whelp that carries no impression like the dam and am i then a man to be belovd o monstrous fault to harbour such a thought then since this earth affords no joy to me but to command to check to oerbear such as are of better person than myself ill make my heaven to dream upon the crown and whiles i live t account this world but hell until my misshapd trunk that bear 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 whiles 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 ill drown more sailors than the mermaid shall ill slay more gazers than the basilisk ill 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 protheus for advantages and set the murderous machiavel to school can i do this and cannot get a crown tut were it farther off ill pluck it down exit scene iii france the kings palace flourish enter lewis the french king his sister bona his admiral calld bourbon prince edward queen margaret and the earl of oxford lewis sits and riseth up again lewis 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 queen margaret 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 albions 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 lewis why say fair queen whence springs this deep despair queen margaret from such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears and stops my tongue while heart is drownd in cares lewis whateer it be be thou still like thyself and sit thee by our side seats her by him yield not thy neck to fortunes yoke but let thy dauntless mind still ride in triumph over all mischance be plain queen margaret and tell thy grief it shall be easd if france can yield relief queen margaret 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 banishd man and forcd to live in scotland a forlorn while proud ambitious edward duke of york usurps the regal title and the seat of englands true anointed lawful king this is the cause that i poor margaret with this my son prince edward henrys 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 seizd our soldiers put to flight and as thou seest ourselves in heavy plight lewis renowned queen with patience calm the storm while we bethink a means to break it off queen margaret the more we stay the stronger grows our foe lewis the more i stay the more ill succour thee queen margaret o but impatience waiteth on true sorrow and see where comes the breeder of my sorrow enter warwick lewis whats he approacheth boldly to our presence queen margaret our earl of warwick edwards greatest friend lewis welcome brave warwick what brings thee to france he descends she ariseth queen margaret ay now begins a second storm to rise for this is he that moves both wind and tide warwick 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 englands king in lawful marriage queen margaret aside if that go forward henrys hope is done warwick to bona and gracious madam in our kings behalf i am commanded with your leave and favour humbly to kiss your hand and with my tongue to tell the passion of my sovereigns heart where fame late entring at his heedful ears hath placd thy beautys image and thy virtue queen margaret king lewis and lady bona hear me speak before you answer warwick his demand springs not from edwards 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 henrys son look therefore lewis that by this league and marriage thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour for though usurpers sway the rule a while yet heavns are just and time suppresseth wrongs warwick injurious margaret prince of wales and why not queen warwick because thy father henry did usurp and thou no more art prince than she is queen oxford 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 warwick 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 kingdoms worth oxford why warwick canst thou speak against thy liege whom thou obeyedst thirty and six years and not betray thy treason with a blush warwick can oxford that did ever fence the right now buckler falsehood with a pedigree for shame leave henry and call edward king oxford 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 mellowd 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 warwick and i the house of york lewis queen margaret prince edward and oxford vouchsafe at our request to stand aside while i use further conference with warwick they stand aloof queen margaret heavens grant that warwicks words bewitch him not lewis 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 warwick thereon i pawn my credit and mine honour lewis but is he gracious in the peoples eye warwick the more that henry was unfortunate lewis then further all dissembling set aside tell me for truth the measure of his love unto our sister bona warwick 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 fixd in virtues ground the leaves and fruit maintaind with beautys sun exempt from envy but not from disdain unless the lady bona quit his pain lewis now sister let us hear your firm resolve bona your grant or your denial shall be mine to warwick yet i confess that often ere this day when i have heard your kings desert recounted mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire lewis then warwick thus our sister shall be edwards and now forthwith shall articles be drawn touching the jointure that your king must make which with her dowry shall be counterpoisd draw near queen margaret and be a witness that bona shall be wife to the english king prince of wales to edward but not to the english king queen margaret deceitful warwick it was thy device by this alliance to make void my suit before thy coming lewis was henrys friend lewis and still is friend to him and margaret but if your title to the crown be weak as may appear by edwards good success then tis but reason that i be releasd from giving aid which late i promised yet shall you have all kindness at my hand that your estate requires and mine can yield warwick henry now lives in scotland at his case 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 queen margaret peace impudent and shameless warwick 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 lords false love for both of you are birds of self same feather post blowing a horn within lewis warwick this is some post to us or thee enter the post post my lord ambassador these letters are for you sent from your brother marquis montague these from our king unto your majesty and madam these for you from whom i know not they all read their letters oxford i like it well that our fair queen and mistress smiles at her news while warwick frowns at his prince of wales nay mark how lewis stamps as he were nettled i hope alls for the best lewis warwick what are thy news and yours fair queen queen margaret mine such as fill my heart with unhopd joys warwick mine full of sorrow and hearts discontent lewis 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 th alliance that he seeks with france dare he presume to scorn us in this manner queen margaret i told your majesty as much before this proveth edwards love and warwicks honesty warwick 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 edwards 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 th abuse done to my niece did i impale him with the regal crown did i put henry from his native right and am i guerdond 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 queen margaret warwick these words have turnd my hate to love and i forgive and quite forget old faults and joy that thou becomst king henrys friend warwick so much his friend ay his unfeigned friend that if king lewis vouchsafe to furnish us with some few bands of chosen soldiers ill 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 hes very likely now to fall from him for matching more for wanton lust than honour or than for strength and safety of our country bona dear brother how shall bona be revengd but by thy help to this distressed queen queen margaret renowned prince how shall poor henry live unless thou rescue him from foul despair bona my quarrel and this english queens are one warwick and mine fair lady bona joins with yours lewis and mine with hers and thine and margarets therefore at last i firmly am resolvd you shall have aid queen margaret let me give humble thanks for all at once lewis then englands 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 whats past go fear thy king withal bona tell him in hope hell prove a widower shortly ill wear the willow garland for his sake queen margaret tell him my mourning weeds are laid aside and i am ready to put armour on warwick tell him from me that he hath done me wrong and therefore ill uncrown him eret be long theres thy reward be gone exit post lewis 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 warwick this shall assure my constant loyalty that if our queen and this young prince agree ill join mine eldest daughter and my joy to him forthwith in holy wedlock bands queen margaret 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 warwicks daughter shall be thine prince of wales yes i accept her for she well deserves it and here to pledge my vow i give my hand he gives his hand to warwick lewis 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 wars mischance for mocking marriage with a dame of france exeunt all but warwick warwick 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 raisd him to the crown and ill be chief to bring him down again not that i pity henrys misery but seek revenge on edwards mockery exit act iv scene i london the palace enter gloucester clarence somerset and montague gloucester now tell me brother clarence what think you of this new marriage with the lady grey hath not our brother made a worthy choice clarence alas you know tis far from hence to france how could he stay till warwick made return somerset my lords forbear this talk here comes the king flourish enter king edward attended lady grey as queen pembroke stafford hastings and others four stand on one side and four on the other gloucester and his well chosen bride clarence i mind to tell him plainly what i think king edward now brother of clarence how like you our choice that you stand pensive as half malcontent clarence as well as lewis of france or the earl of warwick which are so weak of courage and in judgment that theyll take no offence at our abuse king edward suppose they take offence without a cause they are but lewis and warwick i am edward your king and warwicks and must have my will gloucester and shall have your will because our king yet hasty marriage seldom proveth well king edward yea brother richard are you offended too gloucester not i no god forbid that i should wish them severd whom god hath joind together ay and twere pity to sunder them that yoke so well together king edward setting your scorns and your mislike aside tell me some reason why the lady grey should not become my wife and englands queen and you too somerset and montague speak freely what you think clarence then this is mine opinion that king lewis becomes your enemy for mocking him about the marriage of the lady bona gloucester and warwick doing what you gave in charge is now dishonoured by this new marriage king edward what if both lewis and warwick be appeasd by such invention as i can devise montague yet to have joind with france in such alliance would more have strengthned this our commonwealth gainst foreign storms than any home bred marriage hastings why knows not montague that of itself england is safe if true within itself montague but the safer when tis backd with france hastings tis better using france than trusting france let us be backd with god and with the seas which he hath givn for fence impregnable and with their helps only defend ourselves in them and in ourselves our safety lies clarence for this one speech lord hastings well deserves to have the heir of the lord hungerford king edward ay what of that it was my will and grant and for this once my will shall stand for law gloucester 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 clarence or else you would not have bestowd the heir of the lord bonville on your new wifes son and leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere king edward alas poor clarence is it for a wife that thou art malcontent i will provide thee clarence in choosing for yourself you showd your judgment which being shallow you shall give me leave to play the broker in mine own behalf and to that end i shortly mind to leave you king edward leave me or tarry edward will be king and not be tied unto his brothers will queen elizabeth my lords before it pleasd 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 doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow king edward 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 gloucester aside i hear yet say not much but think the more enter a post king edward now messenger what letters or what news from france messenger my sovereign liege no letters and few words but such as i without your special pardon dare not relate king edward 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 messenger at my depart these were his very words go tell false edward the supposed king that lewis of france is sending over masquers to revel it with him and his new bride king edward is lewis so brave belike he thinks me henry but what said lady bona to my marriage messenger these were her words uttred with mild disdain tell him in hope hell prove a widower shortly ill wear the willow garland for his sake king edward i blame not her she could say little less she had the wrong but what said henrys queen for i have heard that she was there in place messenger tell him quoth she my mourning weeds are done and i am ready to put armour on king edward belike she minds to play the amazon but what said warwick to these injuries messenger he more incensd against your majesty than all the rest dischargd me with these words tell him from me that he hath done me wrong and therefore ill uncrown him eret be long king edward ha durst the traitor breathe out so proud words well i will arm me being thus forewarnd they shall have wars and pay for their presumption but say is warwick friends with margaret messenger ay gracious sovereign they are so linkd in friendship that young prince edward marries warwicks daughter clarence belike the elder clarence will have the younger now brother king farewell and sit you fast for i will hence to warwicks 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 exit and somerset follows gloucester aside not i my thoughts aim at a further matter i stay not for the love of edward but the crown king edward clarence and somerset both gone to warwick yet am i armd against the worst can happen and haste is needful in this desprate 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 exeunt pembroke and stafford 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 montague so god help montague as he proves true hastings and hastings as he favours edwards cause king edward now brother richard will you stand by us gloucester ay in despite of all that shall withstand you king edward why so then am i sure of victory now therefore let us hence and lose no hour till we meet warwick with his foreign powr exeunt scene ii a plain in warwickshire enter warwick and oxford with french soldiers warwick trust me my lord all hitherto goes well the common people by numbers swarm to us enter clarence and somerset but see where somerset and clarence comes speak suddenly my lords are we all friends clarence fear not that my lord warwick then gentle clarence welcome unto warwick and welcome somerset i hold it cowardice to rest mistrustful where a noble heart hath pawnd an open hand in sign of love else might i think that clarence edwards brother were but a feigned friend to our proceedings but welcome sweet clarence my daughter shall be thine and now what rests but in nights coverture thy brother being carelessly encampd 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 coverd with the nights black mantle at unawares may beat down edwards 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 they all cry henry why then lets on our way in silent sort for warwick and his friends god and saint george exeunt scene iii edwards camp near warwick enter three watchmen to guard the kings tent first watchman come on my masters each man take his stand the king by this is set him down to sleep second watchman what will he not to bed first watchman why no for he hath made a solemn vow never to lie and take his natural rest till warwick or himself be quite suppressd second watchman to morrow then belike shall be the day if warwick be so near as men report third watchman but say i pray what nobleman is that that with the king here resteth in his tent first watchman tis the lord hastings the kings chiefest friend third watchman 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 second watchman tis the more honour because more dangerous third watchman ay but give me worship and quietness i like it better than dangerous honour if warwick knew in what estate he stands tis to be doubted he would waken him first watchman unless our halberds did shut up his passage second watchman ay wherefore else guard we his royal tent but to defend his person from night foes enter warwick clarence oxford somerset and french soldiers silent all warwick 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 first watchman who goes there second watchman stay or thou diest warwick and the rest cry all warwick warwick and set upon the guard who fly crying arm arm warwick and the rest following them the drum playing and trumpet sounding re enter warwick and the rest bringing the king out in his gown sitting in a chair gloucester and hastings fly over the stage somerset what are they that fly there warwick richard and hastings let them go here is the duke king edward the duke why warwick when we parted thou calldst me king warwick ay but the case is alterd when you disgracd 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 peoples welfare nor how to shroud yourself from enemies king edward 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 fortunes malice overthrow my state my mind exceeds the compass of her wheel warwick then for his mind be edward englands king takes off his crown 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 conveyd unto my brother archbishop of york when i have fought with pembroke and his fellows ill follow you and tell what answer lewis and the lady bona send to him now for a while farewell good duke of york king edward what fates impose that men must needs abide it boots not to resist both wind and tide they lead him out forcibly oxford what now remains my lords for us to do but march to london with our soldiers warwick ay thats the first thing that we have to do to free king henry from imprisonment and see him seated in the regal throne exeunt scene iv london the palace enter queen elizabeth and rivers rivers madam what makes you in this sudden change queen elizabeth why brother rivers are you yet to learn what late misfortune is befalln king edward rivers what loss of some pitchd battle against warwick queen elizabeth no but the loss of his own royal person rivers then is my sovereign slain queen elizabeth ay almost slain for he is taken prisoner either betrayd by falsehood of his guard or by his foe surprisd at unawares and as i further have to understand is new committed to the bishop of york fell warwicks brother and by that our foe rivers 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 queen elizabeth till then fair hope must hinder lifes decay and i the rather wean me from despair for love of edwards offspring in my womb this is it that makes me bridle passion and bear with mildness my misfortunes 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 edwards fruit true heir to th english crown rivers but madam where is warwick then become queen elizabeth i am informd that he comes towards london to set the crown once more on henrys head guess thou the rest king edwards friends must down but to prevent the tyrants violence for trust not him that hath once broken faith ill hence forthwith unto the sanctuary to save at least the heir of edwards 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 exeunt scene v a park near middleham castle in yorkshire enter gloucester lord hastings sir william stanley and others gloucester 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 advertisd 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 enter king edward and a huntsman with him huntsman this way my lord for this way lies the game king edward 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 bishops deer gloucester brother the time and case requireth haste your horse stands ready at the park corner king edward but whither shall we then hastings to lynn my lord and shipt from thence to flanders gloucester well guessd believe me for that was my meaning king edward stanley i will requite thy forwardness gloucester but wherefore stay we tis no time to talk king edward huntsman what sayst thou wilt thou go along huntsman better do so than tarry and be hangd gloucester come then away lets ha no more ado king edward bishop farewell shield thee from warwicks frown and pray that i may repossess the crown exeunt scene vi london the tower flourish enter king henry clarence warwick somerset young henry earl of richmond oxford montague lieutenant of the tower and attendants king henry master lieutenant now that god and friends have shaken edward from the regal seat and turnd my captive state to liberty my fear to hope my sorrows unto joys at our enlargement what are thy due fees lieutenant subjects may challenge nothing of their sovreigns but if an humble prayer may prevail i then crave pardon of your majesty king henry for what lieutenant for well using me nay be thou sure ill well requite thy kindness for that it made my imprisonment a pleasure ay such a pleasure as incaged 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 setst me free and chiefly therefore i thank god and thee he was the author thou the instrument therefore that i may conquer fortunes spite by living low where fortune cannot hurt me and that the people of this blessed land may not be punishd 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 warwick your grace hath still been famd for virtuous and now may seem as wise as virtuous by spying and avoiding fortunes 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 clarence no warwick thou art worthy of the sway to whom the heavns in thy nativity adjudgd an olive branch and laurel crown as likely to be blest in peace and war and therefore i yield thee my free consent warwick and i choose clarence only for protector king henry 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 sins rebuke and my creators praise warwick what answers clarence to his sovereigns will clarence that he consents if warwick yield consent for on thy fortune i repose myself warwick why then though loath yet must i be content well yoke together like a double shadow to henrys 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 pronouncd a traitor and all his lands and goods confiscated clarence what else and that succession be determind warwick ay therein clarence shall not want his part king henry 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 eclipsd clarence it shall be done my sovereign with all speed king henry my lord of somerset what youth is that of whom you seem to have so tender care somerset my liege it is young henry earl of richmond king henry come hither englands hope lays his hand on his head if secret powers suggest but truth to my divining thoughts this pretty lad will prove our countrys bliss his looks are full of peaceful majesty his head by nature framd 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 enter a post warwick what news my friend post that edward is escaped from your brother and fled as he hears since to burgundy warwick unsavoury news but how made he escape post he was conveyd by richard duke of gloucester and the lord hastings who attended him in secret ambush on the forest side and from the bishops huntsmen rescud him for hunting was his daily exercise warwick my brother was too careless of his charge but let us hence my sovereign to provide a salve for any sore that may betide exeunt all but somerset richmond and oxford somerset my lord i like not of this flight of edwards for doubtless burgundy will yield him help and we shall have more wars befort be long as henrys 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 well send him hence to brittany till storms be past of civil enmity oxford ay for if edward repossess the crown tis like that richmond with the rest shall down somerset it shall be so he shall to brittany come therefore lets about it speedily exeunt scene vii before york flourish enter king edward gloucester hastings and soldiers king edward 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 henrys regal crown well have we passd and now repassd the seas and brought desired help from burgundy what then remains we being thus arrivd from ravenspurgh haven before the gates of york but that we enter as into our dukedom gloucester the gates made fast brother i like not this for many men that stumble at the threshold are well foretold that danger lurks within king edward 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 hastings my liege ill knock once more to summon them enter on the walls the mayor of york and his brethren mayor my lords we were forewarned of your coming and shut the gates for safety of ourselves for now we owe allegiance unto henry king edward but master mayor if henry be your king yet edward at the least is duke of york mayor true my good lord i know you for no less king edward why and i challenge nothing but my dukedom as being well content with that alone gloucester aside but when the fox hath once got in his nose hell soon find means to make the body follow hastings why master mayor why stand you in a doubt open the gates we are king henrys friends mayor ay say you so the gates shall then be opend he descends gloucester a wise stout captain and soon persuaded hastings the good old man would fain that all were well so twere not long of him but being entred i doubt not i but we shall soon persuade both him and all his brothers unto reason enter below the mayor and two aldermen king edward 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 takes his keys for edward will defend the town and thee and all those friends that deign to follow me march enter montgomery with drum and soldiers gloucester brother this is sir john montgomery our trusty friend unless i be deceivd king edward welcome sir john but why come you in arms montgomery to help king edward in his time of storm as every loyal subject ought to do king edward thanks good montgomery but we now forget our title to the crown and only claim our dukedom till god please to send the rest montgomery 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 the drum begins to march king edward nay stay sir john a while and well debate by what safe means the crown may be recoverd montgomery what talk you of debating in few words if youll not here proclaim yourself our king ill 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 gloucester why brother wherefore stand you on nice points king edward when we grow stronger then well make our claim till then tis wisdom to conceal our meaning hastings away with scrupulous wit now arms must rule gloucester and fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns brother we will proclaim you out of hand the bruit thereof will bring you many friends king edward then be it as you will for tis my right and henry but usurps the diadem montgomery ay now my sovereign speaketh like himself and now will i be edwards champion hastings sound trumpet edward shall be here proclaimd come fellow soldier make thou proclamation gives him a paper flourish soldier reads edward the fourth by the grace of god king of england and france and lord of ireland etc montgomery and whosoer gainsays king edwards right by this i challenge him to single fight throws down gauntlet all long live edward the fourth king edward thanks brave montgomery and thanks unto you all if fortune serve me ill requite this kindness now for this night lets harbour here in york and when the morning sun shall raise his car above the border of this horizon well forward towards warwick and his mates for well i wot that henry is no soldier ah froward clarence how evil it beseems the to flatter henry and forsake thy brother yet as we may well meet both thee and warwick come on brave soldiers doubt not of the day and that once gotten doubt not of large pay exeunt scene viii london the palace flourish enter king henry warwick montague clarence oxford and exeter warwick what counsel lords edward from belgia with hasty germans and blunt hollanders hath passd in safety through the narrow seas and with his troops doth march amain to london and many giddy people flock to him king henry lets levy men and beat him back again clarence a little fire is quickly trodden out which being sufferd rivers cannot quench warwick 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 inclind to hear what thou commandst and thou brave oxford wondrous well belovd in oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends my sovereign 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 king henry farewell my hector and my troys true hope clarence in sign of truth i kiss your highness hand king henry well minded clarence be thou fortunate montague comfort my lord and so i take my leave oxford kissing the kings band and thus i seal my truth and bid adieu king henry sweet oxford and my loving montague and all at once once more a happy farewell warwick farewell sweet lords lets meet at coventry exeunt all but the king and exeter king henry here at the palace will i rest a while cousin of exeter what thinks your lordship methinks the power that edward hath in field should not be able to encounter mine exeter the doubt is that he will seduce the rest king henry thats not my fear my meed hath got me fame i have not stoppd 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 allayd their swelling griefs my mercy dried their water flowing tears i have not been desirous of their wealth nor much oppressd them with great subsidies nor forward of revenge though they much errd 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 shout within a lancaster a lancaster exeter hark hark my lord what shouts are these enter king edward gloucester and soldiers king edward seize on the shame facd 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 exeunt some with king henry 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 hopd for hay gloucester away betimes before his forces join and take the great grown traitor unawares brave warriors march amain towards coventry exeunt act v scene i coventry enter warwick the mayor of coventry two messengers and others upon the walls warwick where is the post that came from valiant oxford how far hence is thy lord mine honest fellow first messenger by this at dunsmore marching hitherward warwick how far off is our brother montague where is the post that came from montague second messenger by this at daintry with a puissant troop enter sir john somerville warwick say somerville what says my loving son and by thy guess how nigh is clarence now somerville at southam i did leave him with his forces and do expect him here some two hours hence drum heard warwick then clarence is at hand i hear his drum somerville it is not his my lord here southam lies the drum your honour hears marcheth from warwick warwick who should that be belike unlookd for friends somerville they are at hand and you shall quickly know march flourish enter king edward gloucester and soldiers king edward go trumpet to the walls and sound a parle gloucester see how the surly warwick mans the wall warwick o unbid spite is sportful edward come where slept our scouts or how are they seducd that we could hear no news of his repair king edward 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 warwick nay rather wilt thou draw thy forces hence confess who set thee up and pluckd thee down call warwick patron and be penitent and thou shalt still remain the duke of york gloucester i thought at least he would have said the king or did he make the jest against his will warwick is not a dukedom sir a goodly gift gloucester ay by my faith for a poor earl to give ill do thee service for so good a gift warwick twas i that gave the kingdom to thy brother king edward why then tis mine if but by warwicks gift warwick thou art no atlas for so great a weight and weakling warwick takes his gift again and henry is my king warwick his subject king edward but warwicks king is edwards prisoner and gallant warwick do but answer this what is the body when the head is off gloucester alas that warwick had no more forecast but whiles he thought to steal the single ten the king was slily fingerd from the deck you left poor henry at the bishops palace and ten to one youll meet him in the tower king edward tis even so yet you are warwick still gloucester come warwick take the time kneel down kneel down nay when strike now or else the iron cools warwick 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 king edward 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 enter oxford with drum and colours warwick o cheerful colours see where oxford comes oxford oxford oxford for lancaster he and his forces enter the city gloucester the gates are open let us enter too king edward 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 well quietly rouse the traitors in the same warwick o welcome oxford for we want thy help enter montague with drum and colours montague montague montague for lancaster he and his forces enter the city gloucester thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason even with the dearest blood your bodies bear king edward the harder matchd the greater victory my mind presageth happy gain and conquest enter somerset with drum and colours somerset somerset somerset for lancaster he and his forces enter the city gloucester 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 enter clarence with drum and colours warwick 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 brothers love clarence clarence clarence for lancaster king edward et tu brute wilt thou stab caesar too a parley sirrah to george of clarence sound a parley richard and clarence whisper warwick come clarence come thou wilt if warwick call clarence taking the red rose from his hat and throwing it at warwick father of warwick know you what this means look here i throw my infamy at thee i will not ruinate my fathers house who gave his blood to lime the stones together and set up lancaster why trowest 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 jephtha when he sacrificd his daughter i am so sorry for my trespass made that to deserve well at my brothers hands i here proclaim myself thy mortal foe with resolution wheresoer 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 king edward now welcome more and ten times more belovd than if thou never hadst deservd our hate gloucester welcome good clarence this is brother like warwick o passing traitor perjurd and unjust king edward what warwick wilt thou leave die town and fight or shall we beat the stones about thine ears warwick alas i am not coopd here for defence i will away towards barnet presently and bid thee battle edward if thou darst king edward yes warwick edward dares and leads the way lords to the field saint george and victory exeunt yorkists march warwick and his company follow scene ii a field of battle near barnet alarum and excursions enter king edward bringing forth warwick wounded king edward so lie thou there die thou and die our fear for warwick was a bug that feard us all now montague sit fast i seek for thee that warwicks bones may keep thine company exit warwick 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 axes edge whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle under whose shade the ramping lion slept whose top branch overpeerd joves spreading tree and kept low shrubs from winters powrful wind these eyes that now are dimmd with deaths 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 filld with blood were likned oft to kingly sepulchres for who livd king but i could dig his grave and who durst smile when warwick bent his brow lo now my glory smeard 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 bodys length what is pomp rule reign but earth and dust and live we how we can yet die we must enter oxford and somerset somerset 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 warwick 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 a while thou lovst 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 somerset ah warwick montague hath breathd 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 distinguishd but at last i well might hear delivered with a groan o farewell warwick warwick sweet rest his soul fly lords and save yourselves for warwick bids you all farewell to meet in heaven dies oxford away away to meet the queens great power here they bear away his body scene iii another part of the field flourish enter king in triumph with gloucester clarence and the rest king edward thus far our fortune keeps an upward course and we are gracd with wreaths of victory but in the midst of this bright shining day i spy a black suspicious threatning 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 raisd in gallia have arrivd our coast and as we hear march on to fight with us clarence 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 gloucester the queen is valued thirty thousand strong and somerset with oxford fled to her if she have time to breathe be well assurd her faction will be full as strong as ours king edward are advertisd 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 exeunt scene iv plains wear tewksbury flourish march enter queen margaret prince edward somerset oxford and soldiers queen margaret great lords wise men neer sit and wail their loss but cheerly seek how to redress their harms what though the mast be now blown overboard the cable broke the holding anchor lost and half our sailors swallowd in the flood yet lives our pilot still ist 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 savd 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 slaughtred 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 allowd the skilful pilots 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 wreck 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 these 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 thats a threefold death this speak i lords to let you understand if case some one of you would fly from us that theres no hopd 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 prince of wales methinks a woman of this valiant spirit should if a coward hear 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 the like spirit to himself if any such be here as god forbid let him depart before we need his help oxford 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 eve to bear his image and renew his glories somerset and he that will not fight for such a hope go home to bed and like the owl by day if he arise be mockd and wondred at queen margaret thanks gentle somerset sweet oxford thanks prince of wales and take his thanks that yet hath nothing else enter a messenger messenger prepare you lords for edward is at hand ready to fight therefore be resolute oxford i thought no less it is his policy to haste thus fast to find us unprovided somerset but hes deceivd we are in readiness queen margaret this cheers my heart to see your forwardness oxford here pitch our battle hence we will not budge flourish and march enter at a distance king edward gloucester clarence and soldiers king edward 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 queen margaret lords knights and gentlemen what i should say my tears gainsay for every word i speak ye see i drink the water of my eye therefore no more but this henry your sovereign is prisoner to the foe his state usurpd his realm a slaughter house his subjects slain his statutes cancelld and his treasure spent and yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil you fight in justice then in gods name lords be valiant and give signal to the fight alarum retreat excursions exeunt scene v another part of the field flourish enter king edward gloucester clarence and forces with queen margaret oxford and somerset prisoners king edward 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 oxford for my part ill not trouble thee with words somerset nor i but stoop with patience to my fortune exeunt oxford and somerset guarded queen margaret so part we sadly in this troublous world to meet with joy in sweet jerusalem king edward is proclamation made that who finds edward shall have a high reward and he his life gloucester it is and lo where youthful edward comes enter soldiers with prince edward king edward bring forth the gallant let us hear him speak what can so young a man begin to prick edward what satisfaction canst thou make for bearing arms for stirring up my subjects and all the trouble thou hast turnd me to prince of wales speak like a subject proud ambitious york suppose that i am now my fathers mouth resign thy chair and where i stand kneel thou whilst i propose the self same words to the which traitor thou wouldst have me answer to queen margaret ah that thy father had been so resolvd gloucester that you might still have worn the petticoat and neer have stoln the breech from lancaster prince of wales let aesop fable in a winters night his currish riddle sorts not with this place gloucester by heaven brat ill plague ye for that word queen margaret ay thou wast born to be a plague to men gloucester for gods sake take away this captive scold prince of wales nay take away this scolding crookback rather king edward peace wilful boy or i will charm your tongue clarence untutord lad thou art too malapert prince of wales i know my duty you are all undutiful lascivious edward and thou perjurd george and thou misshapen dick i tell ye all i am your better traitors as ye are and thou usurpst my fathers right and mine king edward take that the likeness of this railer here stabs him gloucester sprawlst thou take that to end thy agony stabs him clarence and theres for twitting me with perjury stabs him queen margaret o kill me too gloucester marry and shall offers to kill her king edward hold richard hold for we have done to much gloucester why should she live to fill the world with words king edward what doth she swoon use means for her recovery gloucester clarence excuse me to the king my brother ill hence to london on a serious matter ere ye come there be sure to hear some news clarence what what gloucester the tower the tower exit queen margaret o ned sweet ned speak to thy mother boy canst thou not speak o traitors murderers they that stabbd caesar 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 neer spend their fury on a child whats 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 croppd you have no children butchers if you had the thought of them would have stirrd 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 king edward away with her go bear her hence perforce queen margaret nay never bear me hence dispatch me here here sheathe thy sword ill pardon thee my death what wilt thou not then clarence do it thou clarence by heaven i will not do thee so much ease queen margaret good clarence do sweet clarence do thou do it clarence didst thou not hear me swear i would not do it queen margaret ay but thou usest to forswear thyself twas sin before but now tis charity what wilt thou not where is that devils butcher hard favourd richard richard where art thou thou art not here murder is thy alms deed petitioners for blood thou neer putst back king edward away i say i charge ye bear her hence queen margaret so come to you and yours as to this prince exit led out forcibly king edward wheres richard gone clarence to london all in post and as i guess to make a bloody supper in the tower king edward hes sudden if a thing comes in his head now march we hence discharge the common sort with pay and thanks and lets away to london and see our gentle queen how well she fares by this i hope she hath a son for me exeunt scene vi london the tower enter king henry and gloucester with the lieutenant on the walls gloucester good day my lord what at your book so hard king henry 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 gloucester sirrah leave us to ourselves we must confer exit lieutenant king henry so flies the reckless shepherd from the wolf so first the harmless sheep doth yield his fleece and next his throat unto the butchers knife what scene of death hath roscius now to act gloucester suspicion always haunts the guilty mind the thief doth fear each bush an officer king henry 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 limd was caught and killd gloucester 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 drownd king henry i daedalus my poor boy icarus thy father minos that denied our course the sun that seard 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 daggers point than can my ears that tragic history but wherefore dost thou come ist for my life gloucester thinkst thou i am an executioner king henry a persecutor i am sure thou art if murdering innocents be executing why then thou are an executioner gloucester thy son i killd for his presumption king henry hadst thou been killd when first thou didst presume thou hadst not livd 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 mans sigh and many a widows and many an orphans water standing eye men for their sons wives for their husbands orphans for their parents timeless death shall rue the hour that ever thou wast born the owl shriekd at thy birth an evil sign the night crow cried aboding luckless time dogs howld and hideous tempest shook down trees the raven rookd her on the chimneys top and chattring pies in dismal discords sung thy mother felt more than a mothers pain and yet brought forth less than a mothers 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 camst to bite the world and if the rest be true which i have heard thou camst gloucester ill hear no more die prophet in thy speech stabs him for this amongst the rest was i ordaind king henry ay and for much more slaughter after this o god forgive my sins and pardon thee dies gloucester 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 kings 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 stabs him again 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 usurpd our right the midwife wonderd 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 shapd my body so let hell make crookd 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 keepst 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 ill 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 ill throw thy body in another room and triumph henry in thy day of doom exit with the body scene vii london the palace flourish enter king edward queen elizabeth clarence gloucester hastings nurse with the young prince and attendants king edward once more we sit in englands royal throne repurchasd with the blood of enemies what valiant foemen like to autumns corn have we mowd down in tops of all their pride three dukes of somerset threefold renownd for hardy and undoubted champions two cliffords as the father and the son and two northumberlands two braver men neer spurrd their coursers at the trumpets sound with them the two brave bears warwick and montague that in their chains fetterd the kingly lion and made the forest tremble when they roard 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 watchd the winters night went all afoot in summers scalding heat that thou mightst repossess the crown in peace and of our labours thou shalt reap the gain gloucester aside ill blast his harvest if your head were laid for yet i am not lookd on in the world this shoulder was ordaind so thick to heave and heave it shall some weight or break my back work thou the way and that shall execute king edward clarence and gloucester love my lovely queen and kiss your princely nephew brothers both clarence the duty that i owe unto your majesty i seal upon the lips of this sweet babe king edward thanks noble clarence worthy brother thanks gloucester and that i love the tree from whence thou sprangst witness the loving kiss i give the fruit aside to say the truth so judas kissd his master and cried all hail when as he meant all harm king edward now am i seated as my soul delights having my countrys peace and brothers loves clarence what will your grace have done with margaret reignier her father to the king of france hath pawnd the sicils and jerusalem and hither have they sent it for her ransom king edward 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 befits the pleasure of the court sound drums and trumpets farewell sour annoy for here i hope begins our lasting joy exeunt the end king henry the eighth dramatis personae king henry the eighth cardinal wolsey cardinal campeius capucius ambassador from the emperor charles v cranmer archbishop of canterbury duke of norfolk duke of buckingham duke of suffolk earl of surrey lord chamberlain lord chancellor gardiner bishop of winchester bishop of lincoln lord abergavenny lord sandys sir henry guildford sir thomas lovell sir anthony denny sir nicholas vaux secretaries to wolsey cromwell servant to wolsey griffith gentleman usher to queen katharine three gentlemen doctor butts physician to the king garter king at arms surveyor to the duke of buckingham brandon and a sergeant at arms doorkeeper of the council chamber porter and his man page to gardiner a crier queen katharine wife to king henry afterwards divorced anne bullen her maid of honour afterwards queen an old lady friend to anne bullen patience woman to queen katharine lord mayor aldermen lords and ladies in the dumb shows women attending upon the queen scribes officers guards and other attendants spirits scene london westminster kimbolton king henry the eighth the prologue 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 ill 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 motley coat guarded with yellow will be deceivd for gentle hearers know to rank our chosen truth with such a show as fool and fight is beside 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 followd 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 ill say a man may weep upon his wedding day act i scene london the palace enter the duke of norfolk at one door at the other the duke of buckingham and the lord abergavenny buckingham good morrow and well met how have ye done since last we saw in france norfolk i thank your grace healthful and ever since a fresh admirer of what i saw there buckingham an untimely ague stayd me a prisoner in my chamber when those suns of glory those two lights of men met in the vale of andren norfolk 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 thrond ones could have weighd such a compounded one buckingham all the whole time i was my chambers prisoner norfolk 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 days 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 showd like a mine their dwarfish pages were as cherubins an gilt the madams too not usd 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 th 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 challengd the noble spirits to arms they did perform beyond thoughts compass that former fabulous story being now seen possible enough got credit that bevis was believd buckingham o you go far norfolk as i belong to worship and affect in honour honesty the tract of evrything would by a good discourser lose some life which actions self was tongue to all was royal to the disposing of it nought rebelld order gave each thing view the office did distinctly his full function buckingham who did guide i mean who set the body and the limbs of this great sport together as you guess norfolk one certes that promises no element in such a business buckingham i pray you who my lord norfolk all this was ordred by the good discretion of the right reverend cardinal of york buckingham the devil speed him no mans 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 th beneficial sun and keep it from the earth norfolk surely sir theres in him stuff that puts him to these ends for being not proppd by ancestry whose grace chalks successors their way nor calld upon for high feats done to th crown neither allied to eminent assistants but spider like out of his self drawing web a 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 abergavenny 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 buckingham why the devil upon this french going out took he upon him without the privity o th king t 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 abergavenny i do know kinsmen of mine three at the least that have by this so sickend their estates that never they shall abound as formerly buckingham 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 norfolk grievingly i think the peace between the french and us not values the cost that did conclude it buckingham every man after the hideous storm that followd was a thing inspird and not consulting broke into a general prophecy that this tempest dashing the garment of this peace aboded the sudden breach ont norfolk which is budded out for france hath flawd the league and hath attachd our merchants goods at bordeaux abergavenny is it therefore th ambassador is silencd norfolk marry ist abergavenny a proper tide of a peace and purchasd at a superfluous rate buckingham why all this business our reverend cardinal carried norfolk 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 cardinals 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 hes revengeful and i know his sword hath a sharp edge its long andt may be said it reaches far and where twill not extend thither he darts it bosom up my counsel youll find it wholesome lo where comes that rock that i advise your shunning enter cardinal wolsey the purse borne before him certain of the guard and two secretaries with papers the cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on buckingham and buckingham on him both full of disdain wolsey the duke of buckinghams surveyor ha wheres his examination secretary here so please you wolsey is he in person ready secretary ay please your grace wolsey well we shall then know more and buckingham shall lessen this big look exeunt wolsey and his train buckingham this butchers cur is venom mouthd and i have not the power to muzzle him therefore best not wake him in his slumber a beggars book outworths a nobles blood norfolk what are you chafd ask god for temprance thats th appliance only which your disease requires buckingham i read ins looks matter against me and his eye revild me as his abject object at this instant he bores me with some trick hes gone to th king ill follow and outstare him norfolk 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 allowd 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 buckingham ill to the king and from a mouth of honour quite cry down this ipswich fellows insolence or proclaim theres difference in no persons norfolk be advisd 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 over running know you not the fire that mounts the liquor tillt run oer in seeming to augment it wastes it be advisd 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 buckingham sir i am thankful to you and ill go along by your prescription but this top proud fellow whom from the flow of gan 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 norfolk say not treasonous buckingham to th king ill sayt and make my vouch as strong as shore of rock attend this holy fox or wolf or both for he is equal ravnous as he is subtle and as prone to mischief as able to performt 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 th interview that swallowed so much treasure and like a glass did break i th wrenching norfolk faith and so it did buckingham pray give me favour sir this cunning cardinal the articles o th combination drew as himself pleasd and they were ratified as he cried thus let be to as much end as give a crutch to th 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 th 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 peepd harms that menacd him privily deals with our cardinal and as i trow which i do well for i am sure the emperor paid ere he promisd whereby his suit was granted ere it was askd but when the way was made and pavd with gold the emperor thus desird that he would please to alter the kings 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 norfolk i am sorry to hear this of him and could wish he were something mistaken int buckingham no not a syllable i do pronounce him in that very shape he shall appear in proof enter brandon a sergeant at arms before him and two or three of the guard brandon your office sergeant execute it sergeant 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 buckingham lo you my lord the net has falln upon me i shall perish under device and practice brandon i am sorry to see you taen from liberty to look on the business present tis his highness pleasure you shall to th tower buckingham it will help nothing to plead mine innocence for that dye is on me which makes my whitst part black the will of heavn be done in this and all things i obey o my lord abergany fare you well brandon nay he must bear you company to abergavenny the king is pleasd you shall to th tower till you know how he determines further abergavenny as the duke said the will of heaven be done and the kings pleasure by me obeyd brandon here is warrant from the king t attach lord montacute and the bodies of the dukes confessor john de la car one gilbert peck his chancellor buckingham so so these are the limbs o th plot no more i hope brandon a monk o th chartreux buckingham o nicholas hopkins brandon he buckingham my surveyor is false the oer great cardinal hath showd him gold my life is spannd already i am the shadow of poor buckingham whose figure even this instant cloud puts on by darkning my clear sun my lord farewell exeunt act i scene london the council chamber cornets enter king henry leaning on the cardinals shoulder the nobles and sir thomas lovell with others the cardinal places himself under the kings feet on his right side king my life itself and the best heart of it thanks you for this great care i stood i th level of a full chargd confederacy and give thanks to you that chokd it let be calld before us that gentleman of buckinghams in person ill hear his confessions justify and point by point the treasons of his master he shall again relate a noise within crying room for the queen enter the queen usherd by the dukes of norfolk and suffolk she kneels the king riseth from his state takes her up kisses and placeth her by him queen katharine nay we must longer kneel i am suitor king 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 queen katharine thank your majesty that you would love yourself and in that love not unconsidered leave your honour nor the dignity of your office is the point of my petition king lady mine proceed queen katharine 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 flawd 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 norfolk not almost appears it doth appear for upon these taxations the clothiers all not able to maintain the many to them longing have put of the spinsters carders fullers weavers who unfit for other life compelld by hunger and lack of other means in desperate manner daring th event to th teeth are all in uproar and danger serves among them king taxation wherein and what taxation my lord cardinal you that are blamd for it alike with us know you of this taxation wolsey please you sir i know but of a single part in aught pertains to th state and front but in that file where others tell steps with me queen katharine 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 sovereign would have note they are most pestilent to th hearing and to bear em the back is sacrifice to th load they say they are devisd by you or else you suffer too hard an exclamation king still exaction the nature of it in what kind lets know is this exaction queen katharine i am much too venturous in tempting of your patience but am boldned under your promisd pardon the subjects grief comes through commissions which compels from each the sixth part of his substance to be levied without delay and the pretence for this is namd 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 its 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 king by my life this is against our pleasure wolsey and for me i have no further gone in this than by a single voice and that not passd me but by learned approbation of the judges if i am traducd 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 ravnous fishes do a vessel follow that is new trimmd but benefit no further than vainly longing what we oft do best by sick interpreters once weak ones is not ours or not allowd 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 mockd or carpd at we should take root here where we sit or sit state statues only king things done well and with a care exempt themselves from fear things done without example in their issue are to be feard 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 th timber and though we leave it with a root thus hackd the air will drink the sap to every county where this is questiond send our letters with free pardon to each man that has denied the force of this commission pray look tot i put it to your care wolsey aside to the secretary a word with you let there be letters writ to every shire of the kings grace and pardon the grieved commons hardly conceive of me let it be noisd that through our intercession this revokement and pardon comes i shall anon advise you further in the proceeding exit secretary enter surveyor queen katharine i am sorry that the duke of buckingham is run in your displeasure king it grieves many the gentleman is learnd 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 disposd 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 enrolld mongst wonders and when we almost with ravishd listning 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 besmeard 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 wolsey stand forth and with bold spirit relate what you most like a careful subject have collected out of the duke of buckingham king speak freely surveyor first it was usual with him every day it would infect his speech that if the king should without issue die hell carry it so to make the sceptre his these very words ive heard him utter to his son in law lord abergany to whom by oath he menacd revenge upon the cardinal wolsey 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 queen katharine my learnd lord cardinal deliver all with charity king 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 surveyor he was brought to this by a vain prophecy of nicholas henton king what was that henton surveyor sir a chartreux friar his confessor who fed him every minute with words of sovereignty king how knowst thou this surveyor 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 feard the french would prove perfidious to the kings 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 confessions 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 ensud neither the king nors heirs tell you the duke shall prosper bid him strive to gain the love o th commonalty the duke shall govern england queen katharine if i know you well you were the dukes surveyor and lost your office on the complaint o th 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 king let him on go forward surveyor on my soul ill speak but truth i told my lord the duke by th devils illusions the monk might be deceivd and that twas dangerous for him to ruminate on this so far until it forgd him some design which being believd it was much like to do he answerd tush it can do me no damage adding further that had the king in his last sickness faild the cardinals and sir thomas lovells heads should have gone off king ha what so rank ah ha theres mischief in this man canst thou say further surveyor i can my liege king proceed surveyor being at greenwich after your highness had reprovd the duke about sir william bulmer king i remember of such a time being my sworn servant the duke retaind him his but on what hence surveyor if quoth he i for this had been committed as to the tower i thought i would have playd the part my father meant to act upon th usurper richard who being at salisbury made suit to come ins presence which if granted as he made semblance of his duty would have put his knife into him king a giant traitor wolsey now madam may his highness live in freedom and this man out of prison queen katharine god mend all king theres something more would out of thee what sayst surveyor after the duke his father with the knife he stretchd him and with one hand on his dagger another spread ons breast mounting his eyes he did discharge a horrible oath whose tenour was were he evil usd he would outgo his father by as much as a performance does an irresolute purpose king theres his period to sheath his knife in us he is attachd call him to present trial if he may find mercy in the law tis his if none let him not seekt of us by day and night hes traitor to th height exeunt act i scene london the palace enter the lord chamberlain and lord sandys chamberlain ist possible the spells of france should juggle men into such strange mysteries sandys new customs though they be never so ridiculous nay let em be unmanly yet are followd chamberlain as far as i see all the good our english have got by the late voyage is but merely a fit or two o th 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 sandys they have all new legs and lame ones one would take it that never saw em pace before the spavin or springhalt reignd among em chamberlain death my lord their clothes are after such a pagan cut tot that sure th have worn out christendom enter sir thomas lovell how now what news sir thomas lovell lovell faith my lord i hear of none but the new proclamation thats clappd upon the court gate chamberlain what ist for lovell the reformation of our travelld gallants that fill the court with quarrels talk and tailors chamberlain i am glad tis there now i would pray our monsieurs to think an english courtier may be wise and never see the louvre lovell 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 blistred 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 laughd at sandys tis time to give em physic their diseases are grown so catching chamberlain what a loss our ladies will have of these trim vanities lovell 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 sandys the devil fiddle em i am glad they are going for sure theres no converting 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 byr lady held current music too chamberlain well said lord sandys your colts tooth is not cast yet sandys no my lord nor shall not while i have a stamp chamberlain sir thomas whither were you a going lovell to the cardinals your lordship is a guest too chamberlain 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 ill assure you lovell that churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed a hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us his dews fall everywhere chamberlain no doubt hes noble he had a black mouth that said other of him sandys he may my lord 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 chamberlain 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 sandys i am your lordships exeunt act i scene london the presence chamber in york place hautboys a small table under a state for the cardinal a longer table for the guests then enter anne bullen and divers other ladies and gentlemen as guests at one door at another door enter sir henry guildford guildford 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 enter lord chamberlain lord sandys and sir thomas lovell o my lord yare tardy the very thought of this fair company clappd wings to me chamberlain you are young sir harry guildford sandys 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 lovell o that your lordship were but now confessor to one or two of these sandys i would i were they should find easy penance lovell faith how easy sandys as easy as a down bed would afford it chamberlain sweet ladies will it please you sit sir harry place you that side ill take the charge of this his grace is entring nay you must not freeze two women placd together makes cold weather my lord sandys you are one will keep em waking pray sit between these ladies sandys by my faith and thank your lordship by your leave sweet ladies seats himself between anne bullen and another lady if i chance to talk a little wild forgive me i had it from my father anne was he mad sir sandys 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 kisses her chamberlain well said my lord so now yare fairly seated gentlemen the penance lies on you if these fair ladies pass away frowning sandys for my little cure let me alone hautboys enter cardinal wolsey attended and takes his state wolsey yare 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 drinks sandys your grace is noble let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks and save me so much talking wolsey my lord sandys i am beholding to you cheer your neighbours ladies you are not merry gentlemen whose fault is this sandys the red wine first must rise in their fair cheeks my lord then we shall have em talk us to silence anne you are a merry gamester my lord sandys sandys yes if i make my play heres to your ladyship and pledge it madam for tis to such a thing anne you cannot show me sandys i told your grace they would talk anon drum and trumpet chambers dischargd wolsey whats that chamberlain look out there some of ye exit a servant wolsey what warlike voice and to what end is this nay ladies fear not by all the laws of war yare privilegd re enter servant chamberlain how now what ist servant a noble troop of strangers for so they seem th have left their barge and landed and hither make as great ambassadors from foreign princes wolsey 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 exit chamberlain attended all rise and tables removd you have now a broken banquet but well mend it a good digestion to you all and once more i showr a welcome on ye welcome all hautboys enter the king and others as maskers habited like shepherds usherd by the lord chamberlain they pass directly before the cardinal and gracefully salute him a noble company what are their pleasures chamberlain because they speak no english thus they prayd 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 wolsey say lord chamberlain they have done my poor house grace for which i pay em a thousand thanks and pray em take their pleasures they choose ladies the king chooses anne bullen king the fairest hand i ever touchd o beauty till now i never knew thee music dance wolsey my lord chamberlain your grace wolsey pray tell em 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 chamberlain i will my lord he whispers to the maskers wolsey what say they chamberlain such a one they all confess there is indeed which they would have your grace find out and he will take it wolsey let me see then comes from his state by all your good leaves gentlemen here ill make my royal choice king unmasking ye have found him cardinal you hold a fair assembly you do well lord you are a churchman or ill tell you cardinal i should judge now unhappily wolsey i am glad your grace is grown so pleasant king my lord chamberlain prithee come hither what fair ladys that chamberlain ant please your grace sir thomas bullens daughter the viscount rochford one of her highness women king by heaven she is a dainty one sweet heart i were unmannerly to take you out and not to kiss you a health gentlemen let it go round wolsey sir thomas lovell is the banquet ready i th privy chamber lovell yes my lord wolsey your grace i fear with dancing is a little heated king i fear too much wolsey theres fresher air my lord in the next chamber king lead in your ladies evry one sweet partner i must not yet forsake you lets 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 lets dream whos best in favour let the music knock it exeunt with trumpets act ii scene westminster a street enter two gentlemen at several doors first gentleman whither away so fast second gentleman o god save ye evn to the hall to hear what shall become of the great duke of buckingham first gentleman ill save you that labour sir alls now done but the ceremony of bringing back the prisoner second gentleman were you there first gentleman yes indeed was i second gentleman pray speak what has happend first gentleman you may guess quickly what second gentleman is he found guilty first gentleman yes truly is he and condemnd upont second gentleman i am sorry fort first gentleman so are a number more second gentleman but pray how passd it first gentleman ill tell you in a little the great duke came to the bar where to his accusations he pleaded still not guilty and alleged many sharp reasons to defeat the law the kings attorney on the contrary urgd on the examinations proofs confessions of divers witnesses which the duke desird to have brought viva voce to his face at which appeard against him his surveyor sir gilbert peck his chancellor and john car confessor to him with that devil monk hopkins that made this mischief second gentleman that was he that fed him with his prophecies first gentleman the same all these accusd 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 second gentleman after all this how did he bear him self first gentleman when he was brought again to th bar to hear his knell rung out his judgment he was stirrd 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 showd a most noble patience second gentleman i do not think he fears death first gentleman sure he does not he never was so womanish the cause he may a little grieve at second gentleman certainly the cardinal is the end of this first gentleman tis likely by all conjectures first kildares attainder then deputy of ireland who removd earl surrey was sent thither and in haste too lest he should help his father second gentleman that trick of state was a deep envious one first gentleman 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 second gentleman 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 enter buckingham from his arraignment tip staves before him the axe with the edge towards him halberds on each side accompanied with sir thomas lovell sir nicholas vaux sir william sandys and common people etc first gentleman stay there sir and see the noble ruind man you speak of second gentleman lets stand close and behold him buckingham 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 receivd a traitors 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 neer hope nor will i sue although the king have mercies more than i dare make faults you few that lovd 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 a gods name lovell i do beseech your grace for charity if ever any malice in your heart were hid against me now to forgive me frankly buckingham 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 kings and till my soul forsake shall cry for blessings on him may he live longer than i have time to tell his years ever belovd and loving may his rule be and when old time shall lead him to his end goodness and he fill up one monument lovell to th water side i must conduct your grace then give my charge up to sir nicholas vaux who undertakes you to your end vaux prepare there the duke is coming see the barge be ready and fit it with such furniture as suits the greatness of his person buckingham 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 em one day groan fort my noble father henry of buckingham who first raisd head against usurping richard flying for succour to his servant banister being distressd was by that wretch betrayd and without trial fell gods peace be with him henry the seventh succeeding truly pitying my fathers loss like a most royal prince restord 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 we lovd 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 exeunt buckingham and train first gentleman o this is full of pity sir it calls i fear too many curses on their heads that were the authors second gentleman 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 first gentleman good angels keep it from us what may it be you do not doubt my faith sir second gentleman this secret is so weighty twill require a strong faith to conceal it first gentleman let me have it i do not talk much second gentleman i am confident you shall sir did you not of late days hear a buzzing of a separation between the king and katharine first gentleman 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 second gentleman but that slander sir is found a truth now for it grows again fresher than eer 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 possessd him with a scruple that will undo her to confirm this too cardinal campeius is arrivd and lately as all think for this business first gentleman 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 purposd second gentleman i think you have hit the mark but ist not cruel that she should feel the smart of this the cardinal will have his will and she must fall first gentleman tis woeful we are too open here to argue this lets think in private more exeunt act ii scene london the palace enter the lord chamberlain reading this letter chamberlain my lord the horses your lordship sent for with all the care had i saw well chosen ridden and furnishd 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 cardinals by commission and main power took em from me with this reason his master would be servd before a subject if not before the king which stoppd our mouths sir i fear he will indeed well let him have them he will have all i think enter to the lord chamberlain the dukes of norfolk and suffolk norfolk well met my lord chamberlain chamberlain good day to both your graces suffolk how is the king employd chamberlain i left him private full of sad thoughts and troubles norfolk whats the cause chamberlain it seems the marriage with his brothers wife has crept too near his conscience suffolk no his conscience has crept too near another lady norfolk tis so this is the cardinals doing the king cardinal that blind priest like the eldest son of fortune turns what he list the king will know him one day suffolk pray god he do hell never know himself else norfolk how holily he works in all his business and with what zeal for now he has crackd the league between us and the emperor the queens great nephew he dives into the kings 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 chamberlain heaven keep me from such counsel tis most true these news are everywhere every tongue speaks em and every true heart weeps for t all that dare look into these affairs see this main end the french kings sister heaven will one day open the kings eyes that so long have slept upon this bold bad man suffolk and free us from his slavery norfolk we had need pray and heartily for our deliverance or this imperious man will work us an from princes into pages all mens honours lie like one lump before him to be fashiond into what pitch he please suffolk for me my lords i love him not nor fear him theres my creed as i am made without him so ill stand if the king please his curses and his blessings touch me alike th are breath i not believe in i knew him and i know him so i leave him to him that made him proud the pope norfolk lets in and with some other business put the king from these sad thoughts that work too much upon him my lord youll bear us company chamberlain excuse me the king has sent me otherwhere besides youll find a most unfit time to disturb him health to your lordships norfolk thanks my good lord chamberlain exit lord chamberlain and the king draws the curtain and sits reading pensively suffolk how sad he looks sure he is much afflicted king whos there ha norfolk pray god he be not angry king henry whos there i say how dare you thrust yourselves into my private meditations who am i ha norfolk a gracious king that pardons all offences malice neer meant our breach of duty this way is business of estate in which we come to know your royal pleasure king ye are too bold go to ill make ye know your times of business is this an hour for temporal affairs ha enter wolsey and campeius with a commission whos there my good lord cardinal o my wolsey the quiet of my wounded conscience thou art a cure fit for a king to campeius youre welcome most learned reverend sir into our kingdom use us and it to wolsey my good lord have great care i be not found a talker wolsey sir you cannot i would your grace would give us but an hour of private conference king to norfolk and suffolk we are busy go norfolk aside to suffolk this priest has no pride in him suffolk aside to norfolk not to speak of i would not be so sick though for his place but this cannot continue norfolk aside to suffolk if it do ill venture one have at him suffolk aside to norfolk i another exeunt norfolk and suffolk wolsey 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 king and once more in mine arms i bid him welcome and thank the holy conclave for their loves they have sent me such a man i would have wishd for campeius your grace must needs deserve an 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 joind with me their servant in the unpartial judging of this business king two equal men the queen shall be acquainted forthwith for what you come wheres gardiner wolsey i know your majesty has always lovd her so dear in heart not to deny her that a woman of less place might ask by law scholars allowd freely to argue for her king 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 exit wolsey re enter wolsey with gardiner wolsey aside to gardiner give me your hand much joy and favour to you you are the kings now gardiner aside to wolsey but to be commanded for ever by your grace whose hand has raisd me king come hither gardiner walks and whispers campeius my lord of york was not one doctor pace in this mans place before him wolsey yes he was campeius was he not held a learned man wolsey yes surely campeius believe me theres an ill opinion spread then even of yourself lord cardinal wolsey how of me campeius 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 grievd him that he ran mad and died wolsey heavns peace be with him thats christian care enough for living murmurers theres 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 gripd by meaner persons king deliver this with modesty to th queen exit gardiner the most convenient place that i can think of for such receipt of learning is blackfriars there ye shall meet about this weighty business my wolsey see it furnishd 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 exeunt act ii scene london the palace enter anne bullen and an old lady anne not for that neither heres the pang that pinches his highness having livd 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 enthroned still growing in a majesty and pomp the which to leave a thousand fold more bitter than tis sweet at first t acquire after this process to give her the avaunt it is a pity would move a monster old lady hearts of most hard temper melt and lament for her anne o gods will much better she neer had known pomp thought be temporal yet if that quarrel fortune do divorce it from the bearer tis a sufferance panging as soul and bodys severing old lady alas poor lady shes a stranger now again anne 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 perkd up in a glistring grief and wear a golden sorrow old lady our content is our best having anne by my troth and maidenhead i would not be a queen old lady 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 womans 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 anne nay good troth old lady yes troth and troth you would not be a queen anne no not for all the riches under heaven old lady tis strange a threepence bowd 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 anne no in truth old lady 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 anne how you do talk i swear again i would not be a queen for all the world old lady in faith for little england youd venture an emballing i myself would for carnarvonshire although there longd no more to th crown but that lo who comes here enter the lord chamberlain chamberlain good morrow ladies what weret worth to know the secret of your conference anne my good lord not your demand it values not your asking our mistress sorrows we were pitying chamberlain it was a gentle business and becoming the action of good women there is hope all will be well anne now i pray god amen chamberlain you bear a gentle mind and heavnly blessings follow such creatures that you may fair lady perceive i speak sincerely and high notes taen of your many virtues the kings majesty commends his good opinion of you to you and does purpose honour to you no less flowing than marchioness of pembroke to which tide a thousand pound a year annual support out of his grace he adds anne 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 hallowed 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 chamberlain lady i shall not fail t approve the fair conceit the king hath of you aside i have perusd 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 ill to the king and say i spoke with you anne my honourd lord exit lord chamberlain old lady 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 fie upon this compelld fortune have your mouth filld up before you open it anne this is strange to me old lady 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 anne come you are pleasant old lady with your theme i could oermount the lark the marchioness of pembroke a thousand pounds a year for pure respect no other obligation by my life that promises moe thousands honours 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 anne good lady make yourself mirth with your particular fancy and leave me out ont 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 y have heard to her old lady what do you think me exeunt act ii scene london a hall in blackfriars trumpets sennet and cornets enter two vergers with short silver wands next them two scribes in the habit of doctors after them the archbishop of canterbury alone after him the bishops of lincoln ely rochester and saint asaph next them with some small distance follows a gentleman bearing the purse with the great seal and a cardinals hat then two priests bearing each silver cross then a gentleman usher bareheaded accompanied with a sergeant at arms bearing a silver mace then two gentlemen bearing two great silver pillars after them side by side the two cardinals wolsey and campeius two noblemen with the sword and mace then enter the king and queen and their trains the king takes place under the cloth of state the two cardinals sit under him as judges the queen takes place some distance from the king the bishops place themselves on each side of the court in manner of consistory below them the scribes the lords sit next the bishops the rest of the attendants stand in convenient order about the stage wolsey whilst our commission from rome is read let silence be commanded king whats the need it hath already publicly been read and on all sides th authority allowd you may then spare that time wolsey bet so proceed scribe say henry king of england come into the court crier henry king of england etc king here scribe say katharine queen of england come into the court crier katharine queen of england etc the queen makes no answer rises out of her chair goes about the court comes to the king and kneels at his feet then speaks queen katharine 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 of 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 inclind 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 derivd your anger did continue in my liking nay gave notice he was from thence dischargd 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 gods name turn me away and let the foulst contempt shut door upon me and so give me up to the sharpst kind of justice please you sir the king your father was reputed for a prince most prudent of an excellent and unmatchd wit and judgment ferdinand my father king of spain was reckond one the wisest prince that there had reignd by many a year before it is not to be questiond that they had gatherd a wise council to them of every realm that did debate this business who deemd our marriage lawful wherefore i humbly beseech you sir to spare me till i may be by my friends in spain advisd whose counsel i will implore if not i th name of god your pleasure be fulfilld wolsey you have here lady and of your choice these reverend fathers men of singular integrity and learning yea the elect o th 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 campeius his grace hath spoken well and justly therefore madam its fit this royal session do proceed and that without delay their arguments be now producd and heard queen katharine lord cardinal to you i speak wolsey your pleasure madam queen katharine sir i am about to weep but thinking that we are a queen or long have dreamd so certain the daughter of a king my drops of tears ill turn to sparks of fire wolsey be patient yet queen katharine i will when you are humble nay before or god will punish me i do believe inducd 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 gods 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 wolsey i do profess you speak not like yourself who ever yet have stood to charity and displayd th effects of disposition gentle and of wisdom oertopping womans powr 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 queen katharine my lord my lord i am a simple woman much too weak t oppose your cunning yare meek and humble mouthd you sign your place and calling in full seeming with meekness and humility but your heart is crammd with arrogancy spleen and pride you have by fortune and his highness favours gone slightly oer low steps and now are mounted where powrs are your retainers and your words domestics to you serve your will ast please yourself pronounce their office i must tell you you tender more your persons 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 judgd by him she curtsies to the king and offers to depart campeius the queen is obstinate stubborn to justice apt to accuse it and disdainful to be tried byt tis not well shes going away king call her again crier katharine queen of england come into the court gentleman usher madam you are calld back queen katharine what need you note it pray you keep your way when you are calld 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 exeunt queen and her attendants king go thy ways kate that man i th 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 shes noble born and like her true nobility she has carried herself towards me wolsey 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 robbd and bound there must i be unloosd 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 ont 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 king my lord cardinal i do excuse you yea upon mine honour i free you fromt 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 yare excusd but will you be more justified you ever have wishd the sleeping of this business never desird it to be stirrd but oft have hindred 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 movd me tot i will be bold with time and your attention then mark th inducement thus it came give heed tot my conscience first receivd a tenderness scruple and prick on certain speeches utterd by th 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 th 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 brothers wife this respite shook the bosom of my conscience enterd me yea with a splitting power and made to tremble the region of my breast which forcd such way that many mazd considerings did throng and pressd in with this caution first methought i stood not in the smile of heaven who had commanded nature that my ladys womb if it conceivd a male child by me should do no more offices of life tot than the grave does to the dead for her male issue or died where they were made or shortly after this world had aird them hence i took a thought this was a judgment on me that my kingdom well worthy the best heir o th world should not be gladded int by me then follows that i weighd the danger which my realms stood in by this my issues 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 thats to say i meant to rectify my conscience which i then did feel full sick and yet not well by all the reverend fathers of the land and doctors learnd first i began in private with you my lord of lincoln you remember how under my oppression i did reek when i first movd you lincoln very well my liege king i have spoke long be pleasd yourself to say how far you satisfied me lincoln so please your highness the question did at first so stagger me bearing a state of mighty moment int and consequence of dread that i committed the daringst counsel which i had to doubt and did entreat your highness to this course which you are running here king i then movd 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 th world against the person of the good queen but the sharp thorny points of my alleged reasons drives this forward prove but our marriage lawful by my life and kingly dignity we are contented to wear our moral state to come with her katharine our queen before the primest creature thats paragond o th world campeius so please your highness the queen being absent tis a needful fitness that we adjourn this court till further day meanwhile must be an earnest motion made to the queen to call back her appeal she intends unto his holiness king aside i may perceive these cardinals trifle with me i abhor this dilatory sloth and tricks of rome my learnd and well beloved servant cranmer prithee return with thy approach i know my comfort comes along break up the court i say set on exuent in manner as they entered act iii scene london the queens apartments enter the queen and her women as at work queen katharine take thy lute wench my soul grows sad with troubles sing and disperse em if thou canst leave working song 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 enter a gentleman queen katharine how now gentleman ant please your grace the two great cardinals wait in the presence queen katharine would they speak with me gentleman they willd me say so madam queen katharine pray their graces to come near exit gentleman what can be their business with me a poor weak woman falln from favour i do not like their coming now i think ont they should be good men their affairs as righteous but all hoods make not monks enter the two cardinals wolsey and campeius wolsey peace to your highness queen katharine your graces find me here part of housewife i would be all against the worst may happen what are your pleasures with me reverend lords wolsey may it please you noble madam to withdraw into your private chamber we shall give you the full cause of our coming queen katharine speak it here theres 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 evry tongue evry 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 wolsey tanta est erga te mentis integritas regina serenis sima queen katharine o good my lord no latin i am not such a truant since my coming as not to know the language i have livd 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 willingst sin i ever yet committed may be absolvd in english wolsey 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 campeius most honourd 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 a sign of peace his service and his counsel queen katharine aside to betray me my lords i thank you both for your good wins 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 wolsey madam you wrong the kings love with these fears your hopes and friends are infinite queen katharine 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 campeius i would your grace would leave your griefs and take my counsel queen katharine how sir campeius put your main cause into the kings protection hes loving and most gracious twill be much both for your honour better and your cause for if the trial of the law oertake ye youll part away disgracd wolsey he tells you rightly queen katharine 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 campeius your rage mistakes us queen katharine 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 laughd at scornd i will not wish ye half my miseries i have more charity but say i warned ye take heed for heavens sake take heed lest at once the burden of my sorrows fall upon ye wolsey madam this is a mere distraction you turn the good we offer into envy queen katharine ye turn me into nothing woe upon ye and all such false professors would you have me if you have any justice any pity if ye be any thing but churchmens habits put my sick cause into his hands that hates me alas has banishd 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 campeius your fears are worse queen katharine have i livd 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 lovd him next heavn obeyd 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 neer dreamd a joy beyond his pleasure and to that woman when she has done most yet will i add an honour a great patience wolsey madam you wander from the good we aim at queen katharine 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 eer divorce my dignities wolsey pray hear me queen katharine 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 to her women alas poor wenches where are now your fortunes shipwreckd upon a kingdom where no pity no friends no hope no kindred weep for me almost no grave allowd me like the my that once was mistress of the field and flourishd ill hang my head and perish wolsey if your grace could but be brought to know our ends are honest youd 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 em for goodness sake consider what you do how you may hurt yourself ay utterly grow from the kings 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 campeius madam youll find it so you wrong your virtues with these weak womens 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 queen katharine do what ye will my lords and pray forgive me if i have usd 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 exeunt act iii scene london the palace enter the duke of norfolk the duke of suffolk the earl of surrey and the lord chamberlain norfolk 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 surrey i am joyful to meet the least occasion that may give me remembrance of my father in law the duke to be revengd on him suffolk which of the peers have uncontemnd gone by him or at least strangely neglected when did he regard the stamp of nobleness in any person out of himself chamberlain 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 th king never attempt anything on him for he hath a witchcraft over the king ins tongue norfolk 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 hes settled not to come off in his displeasure surrey sir i should be glad to hear such news as this once every hour norfolk believe it this is true in the divorce his contrary proceedings are all unfolded wherein he appears as i would wish mine enemy surrey how came his practices to light suffolk most strangely surrey o how how suffolk the cardinals letters to the pope miscarried and came to th eye o th king wherein was read how that the cardinal did entreat his holiness to stay the judgment o th divorce for if it did take place i do quoth he perceive my king is tangled in affection to a creature of the queens lady anne bullen surrey has the king this suffolk believe it surrey will this work chamberlain 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 patients death the king already hath married the fair lady surrey would he had suffolk may you be happy in your wish my lord for i profess you have it surrey now all my joy trace the conjunction suffolk my amen tot norfolk an mens suffolk theres 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 memorizd surrey but will the king digest this letter of the cardinals the lord forbid norfolk marry amen suffolk no no there be moe wasps that buzz about his nose will make this sting the sooner cardinal campeius is stoln away to rome hath taen no leave has left the cause o th 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 chamberlain now god incense him and let him cry ha louder norfolk but my lord when returns cranmer suffolk he is returnd 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 publishd and her coronation katharine no more shall be calld queen but princess dowager and widow to prince arthur norfolk this same cranmers a worthy fellow and hath taen much pain in the kings business suffolk he has and we shall see him for it an archbishop norfolk so i hear suffolk tis so enter wolsey and cromwell the cardinal norfolk observe observe hes moody wolsey the packet cromwell gavet you the king cromwell to his own hand ins bedchamber wolsey lookd he o th inside of the paper cromwell presently he did unseal them and the first he viewd he did it with a serious mind a heed was in his countenance you he bade attend him here this morning wolsey is he ready to come abroad cromwell i think by this he is wolsey leave me awhile exit cromwell aside it shall be to the duchess of alencon the french kings sister he shall marry her anne bullen no ill no anne bullens for him theres more int than fair visage bullen no well no bullens speedily i wish to hear from rome the marchioness of pembroke norfolk hes discontented suffolk may be he hears the king does whet his anger to him surrey sharp enough lord for thy justice wolsey aside the late queens gentlewoman a knights daughter to be her mistress mistress the queens 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 th bosom of our hard ruld king again there is sprung up an heretic an arch one cranmer one hath crawld into the favour of the king and is his oracle norfolk he is vexd at something enter the king reading of a schedule and lovell surrey i would twere something that would fret the string the master cord ons heart suffolk the king the king king what piles of wealth hath he accumulated to his own portion and what expense by th hour seems to flow from him how i th name of thrift does he rake this together now my lords saw you the cardinal norfolk 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 king it may well be there is a mutiny ins mind this morning papers of state he sent me to peruse as i requird 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 proud rate that it outspeaks possession of a subject norfolk its heavens will some spirit put this paper in the packet to bless your eye withal king if we did think his contemplation were above the earth and fixd 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 the king takes his seat and whispers lovell who goes to the cardinal wolsey heaven forgive me ever god bless your highness king 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 oer 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 wolsey sir for holy offices i have a time a time to think upon the part of business which i bear i th state and nature does require her times of preservation which perforce i her frail son amongst my brethren mortal must give my tendance to king you have said well wolsey and ever may your highness yoke together as i will lend you cause my doing well with my well saying king tis well said again and tis a kind of good deed to say well and yet words are no deeds my father lovd 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 employd you where high profits might come home but pard my present havings to bestow my bounties upon you wolsey aside what should this mean surrey aside the lord increase this business king 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 wolsey my sovereign i confess your royal graces showrd on me daily have been more than could my studied purposes requite which went beyond all mans endeavours my endeavours have ever come too short of my desires yet fild with my abilities mine own ends have been mine so that evermore they pointed to th good of your most sacred person and the profit of the state for your great graces heapd upon me poor undeserver i can nothing render but allegiant thanks my prayrs to heaven for you my loyalty which ever has and ever shall be growing till death that winter kill it king fairly answerd a loyal and obedient subject is therein illustrated the honour of it does pay the act of it as i th contrary the foulness is the punishment i presume that as my hand has opend bounty to you my heart droppd love my powr raind 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 loves particular be more to me your friend than any wolsey i do profess that for your highness good i ever labourd 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 king tis nobly spoken take notice lords he has a loyal breast for you have seen him open t read oer this giving him papers and after this and then to breakfast with what appetite you have exit the king frowning upon the cardinal the nobles throng after him smiling and whispering wolsey what should this mean what sudden angers this how have i reapd it he parted frowning from me as if ruin leapd from his eyes so looks the chafed lion upon the daring huntsman that has galld 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 th 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 whats this to th pope the letter as i live with all the business i writ tos holiness nay then farewell i have touchd 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 re enter to wolsey the dukes of norfolk and suffolk the earl of surrey and the lord chamberlain norfolk hear the kings 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 winchesters till you hear further from his highness wolsey stay wheres your commission lords words cannot carry authority so weighty suffolk who dares cross em bearing the kings will from his mouth expressly wolsey 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 wholl take it surrey the king that gave it wolsey it must be himself then surrey thou art a proud traitor priest wolsey proud lord thou liest within these forty hours surrey durst better have burnt that tongue than said so surrey thy ambition thou scarlet sin robbd 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 weighd 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 gavst him whilst your great goodness out of holy pity absolvd him with an axe wolsey 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 lovd 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 an that love his follies surrey 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 wolsey all goodness is poison to thy stomach surrey yes that goodness of gleaning all the lands wealth into one into your own hands cardinal by extortion the goodness of your intercepted packets you writ to th 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 despisd nobility our issues whom if he live will scarce be gentlemen produce the grand sum of his sins the articles collected from his life ill startle you worse than the sacring bell when the brown wench lay kissing in your arms lord cardinal wolsey how much methinks i could despise this man but that i am bound in charity against it norfolk those articles my lord are in the kings hand but thus much they are foul ones wolsey so much fairer and spotless shall mine innocence arise when the king knows my truth surrey 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 youll show a little honesty wolsey speak on sir i dare your worst objections if i blush it is to see a nobleman want manners surrey i had rather want those than my head have at you first that without the kings assent or knowledge you wrought to be a legate by which power you maimd the jurisdiction of all bishops norfolk then that in all you writ to rome or else to foreign princes ego et rex meus was still inscribd in which you brought the king to be your servant suffolk 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 surrey item you sent a large commission to gregory de cassado to conclude without the kings will or the states allowance a league between his highness and ferrara suffolk that out of mere ambition you have causd your holy hat to be stampd on the kings coin surrey 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 chamberlain 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 surrey i forgive him suffolk lord cardinal the kings further pleasure is because all those things you have done of late by your power legatine within this kingdom fall into th compass of a praemunire that therefore such a writ be sued against you to forfeit all your goods lands tenements chattels and whatsoever and to be out of the kings protection this is my charge norfolk and so well 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 exeunt all but wolsey wolsey 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 he 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 venturd 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 ye i feel my heart new opend 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 enter cromwell standing amazed why how now cromwell cromwell i have no power to speak sir wolsey what amazd at my misfortunes can thy spirit wonder a great man should decline nay an you weep i am falln indeed cromwell how does your grace wolsey 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 curd me i humbly thank his grace and from these shoulders these ruind 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 cromwell i am glad your grace has made that right use of it wolsey 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 cromwell the heaviest and the worst is your displeasure with the king wolsey god bless him cromwell the next is that sir thomas more is chosen lord chancellor in your place wolsey thats somewhat sudden but hes a learned man may he continue long in his highness favour and do justice for truths 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 him what more cromwell that cranmer is returnd with welcome installd lord archbishop of canterbury wolsey thats news indeed cromwell last that the lady anne whom the king hath in secrecy long married this day was viewd in open as his queen going to chapel and the voice is now only about her coronation wolsey there was the weight that pulld 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 falln 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 cromwell o my lord must i then leave you must i needs forgo 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 wolsey cromwell i did not think to shed a tear in all my miseries but thou hast forcd me out of thy honest truth to play the woman lets 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 wreck to rise in a sure and safe one though thy master missd it mark but my fall and that that ruind 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 it 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 aimst at be thy countrys thy gods and truths then if thou fallst o cromwell thou fallst 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 kings my robe and my integrity to heaven is all i dare now call mine own o cromwell cromwell had i but servd my god with half the zeal i servd my king he would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies cromwell good sir have patience wolsey so i have farewell the hopes of court my hopes in heaven do dwell exeunt act iv scene a street in westminster enter two gentlemen meeting one another first gentleman yare well met once again second gentleman so are you first gentleman you come to take your stand here and behold the lady anne pass from her coronation second gentleman tis all my business at our last encounter the duke of buckingham came from his trial first gentleman tis very true but that time offerd sorrow this general joy second gentleman 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 first gentleman never greater nor ill assure you better taken sir second gentleman may i be bold to ask what that contains that paper in your hand first gentleman 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 second gentleman i thank you sir had i not known those customs i should have been beholding to your paper but i beseech you whats become of katharine the princess dowager how goes her business first gentleman 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 of from ampthill where the princess lay to which she was often cited by them but appeard not and to be short for not appearance and the kings late scruple by the main assent of all these learned men she was divorcd and the late marriage made of none effect since which she was removed to kimbolton where she remains now sick second gentleman alas good lady trumpets the trumpets sound stand close the queen is coming hautboys the order of the coronation a lively flourish of trumpets then two judges lord chancellor with purse and mace before him choristers singing music mayor of london bearing the mace then garter in his coat of arms and on his head he wore a gilt copper crown marquis dorset bearing a sceptre of gold on his head a demi coronal of gold with him the earl of surrey bearing the rod of silver with the dove crowned with an earls coronet collars of esses duke of suffolk in his robe of estate his coronet on his head bearing a long white wand as high steward with him the duke of norfolk with the rod of marshalship a coronet on his head collars of esses a canopy borne by four of the cinque ports under it the queen in her robe in her hair richly adorned with pearl crowned on each side her the bishops of london and winchester the old duchess of norfolk in a coronal of gold wrought with flowers bearing the queens train certain ladies or countesses with plain circlets of gold without flowers exeunt first passing over the stage in order and state and then a great flourish of trumpets second gentleman a royal train believe me these know whos that that bears the sceptre first gentleman marquis dorset and that the earl of surrey with the rod second gentleman a bold brave gentleman that should be the duke of suffolk first gentleman tis the same high steward second gentleman and that my lord of norfolk first gentleman yes second gentleman looking on the queen heaven bless thee thou hast the sweetest face i ever lookd 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 first gentleman they that bear the cloth of honour over her are four barons of the cinque ports second gentleman 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 first gentleman it is and all the rest are countesses second gentleman their coronets say so these are stars indeed and sometimes falling ones first gentleman no more of that exit procession with a great flourish of trumpets enter a third gentleman god save you sir where have you been broiling third gentleman among the crowds i th abbey where a finger could not be wedgd in more i am stifled with the mere rankness of their joy second gentleman you saw the ceremony third gentleman that i did first gentleman how was it third gentleman well worth the seeing second gentleman good sir speak it to us third gentleman as well as i am able the rich stream of lords and ladies having brought the queen to a prepard place in the choir fell of 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 em no man living could say this is my wife there all were woven so strangely in one piece second gentleman but what followd third gentleman at length her grace rose and with modest paces came to the altar where she kneeld and saintlike cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayd devoutly then rose again and bowd her to the people when by the archbishop of canterbury she had all the royal makings of a queen as holy oil edward confessors crown the rod and bird of peace and all such emblems laid nobly on her which performd the choir with all the choicest music of the kingdom together sung te deum so she parted and with the same full state pacd back again to york place where the feast is held first gentleman sir you must no more call it york place thats past for since the cardinal fell that titles lost tis now the kings and called whitehall third gentleman i know it but tis so lately alterd that the old name is fresh about me second gentleman what two reverend bishops were those that went on each side of the queen third gentleman stokesly and gardiner the one of winchester newly preferrd from the kings secretary the other london second gentleman he of winchester is held no great good lover of the archbishops the virtuous cranmer third gentleman all the land knows that however yet there is no great breach when it comes cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him second gentleman who may that be i pray you third gentleman thomas cromwell a man in much esteem with th king and truly a worthy friend the king has made him master o th jewel house and one already of the privy council second gentleman he will deserve more third gentleman yes without all doubt come gentlemen ye shall go my way which is to th court and there ye shall be my guests something i can command as i walk thither ill tell ye more both you may command us sir exeunt act iv scene kimbolton enter katharine dowager sick led between griffith her gentleman usher and patience her woman griffith how does your grace katharine o griffith sick to death my legs like loaden branches bow to th 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 ledst me that the great child of honour cardinal wolsey was dead griffith yes madam but i think your grace out of the pain you sufferd gave no ear tot katharine prithee good griffith tell me how he died if well he steppd before me happily for my example griffith 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 katharine alas poor man griffith at last with easy roads he came to leicester lodgd in the abbey where the reverend abbot with all his covent honourably receivd 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 pursud 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 katharine 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 th 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 griffith noble madam mens evil manners live in brass their virtues we write in water may it please your highness to hear me speak his good now katharine yes good griffith i were malicious else griffith this cardinal though from an humble stock undoubtedly was fashiond 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 lovd 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 raisd in you ipswich and oxford one of which fell with him unwilling to outlive the good that did it the other though unfinishd yet so famous so excellent in art and still so rising that christendom shall ever speak his virtue his overthrow heapd 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 katharine 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 namd my knell whilst i sit meditating on that celestial harmony i go to sad and solemn music griffith she is asleep good wench lets sit down quiet for fear we wake her softly gentle patience the vision enter solemnly tripping one after another six personages clad in white robes wearing on their heads garlands of bays and golden vizards on their faces branches of bays or palm in their hands they first congee unto her then dance and at certain changes the first two hold a spare garland over her head at which the other four make reverent curtsies then the two that held the garland deliver the same to the other next two who observe the same order in their changes and holding the garland over her head which done they deliver the same garland to the last two who likewise observe the same order at which as it were by inspiration she makes in her sleep signs of rejoicing and holdeth up her hands to heaven and so in their dancing vanish carrying the garland with them the music continues katharine spirits of peace where are ye are ye all gone and leave me here in wretchedness behind ye griffith madam we are here katharine it is not you i call for saw ye none enter since i slept griffith none madam katharine 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 promisd me eternal happiness and brought me garlands griffith which i feel i am not worthy yet to wear i shall assuredly griffith i am most joyful madam such good dreams possess your fancy katharine bid the music leave they are harsh and heavy to me music ceases patience do you note how much her grace is alterd on the sudden how long her face is drawn how pale she looks and of an earthly cold mark her eyes griffith she is going wench pray pray patience heaven comfort her enter a messenger messenger ant like your grace katharine you are a saucy fellow deserve we no more reverence griffith you are to blame knowing she will not lose her wonted greatness to use so rude behaviour go to kneel messenger i humbly do entreat your highness pardon my haste made me unmannerly there is staying a gentleman sent from the king to see you katharine admit him entrance griffith but this fellow let me neer see again exit messenger enter lord capucius if my sight fail not you should be lord ambassador from the emperor my royal nephew and your name capucius capucius madam the same your servant katharine o my lord the times and titles now are alterd strangely with me since first you knew me but i pray you what is your pleasure with me capucius noble lady first mine own service to your grace the next the kings 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 katharine o my good lord that comfort comes too late tis like a pardon after execution that gentle physic given in time had curd me but now i am past all comforts here but prayers how does his highness capucius madam in good health katharine so may he ever do and ever flourish when i shall dwell with worms and my poor name banishd the kingdom patience is that letter i causd you write yet sent away patience no madam giving it to katharine katharine sir i most humbly pray you to deliver this to my lord the king capucius most willing madam katharine 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 mothers sake that lovd 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 followd 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 pleasd 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 peoples friend and urge the king to do me this last right capucius by heaven i will or let me lose the fashion of a man katharine 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 blessd 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 usd 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 unqueend yet like a queen and daughter to a king inter me i can no more exeunt leading katharine act v scene london a gallery in the palace enter gardiner bishop of winchester a page with a torch before him met by sir thomas lovell gardiner its one oclock boy ist not boy it hath struck gardiner 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 lovell came you from the king my lord gardiner i did sir thomas and left him at primero with the duke of suffolk lovell i must to him too before he go to bed ill take my leave gardiner not yet sir thomas lovell whats the matter it seems you are in haste an if there be no great offence belongs tot 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 despatch by day lovell my lord i love you and durst commend a secret to your ear much weightier than this work the queens in labour they say in great extremity and feard shell with the labour end gardiner 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 grubbd up now lovell methinks i could cry thee amen and yet my conscience says shes a good creature and sweet lady does deserve our better wishes gardiner but sir sir hear me sir thomas yare a gentleman of mine own way i know you wise religious and let me tell you it will neer be well twill not sir thomas lovell taket of me till cranmer cromwell her two hands and she sleep in their graves lovell now sir you speak of two the most remarkd i th kingdom as for cromwell beside that of the jewel house is made master o th rolls and the kings secretary further sir stands in the gap and trade of moe preferments with which the time will load him th archbishop is the kings hand and tongue and who dare speak one syllable against him gardiner yes yes sir thomas there are that dare and i myself have venturd to speak my mind of him and indeed this day sir i may tell it you i think i have incensd the lords o th 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 moved 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 hes a rank weed sir thomas and we must root him out from your affairs i hinder you too long good night sir thomas lovell many good nights my lord i rest your servant exeunt gardiner and page enter the king and the duke of suffolk king charles i will play no more to night my minds not ont you are too hard for me suffolk sir i did never win of you before king but little charles nor shall not when my fancys on my play now lovell from the queen what is the news lovell i could not personally deliver to her what you commanded me but by her woman i sent your message who returnd her thanks in the greatst humbleness and desird your highness most heartily to pray for her king what sayst thou ha to pray for her what is she crying out lovell so said her woman and that her suffrance made almost each pang a death king alas good lady suffolk god safely quit her of her burden and with gentle travail to the gladding of your highness with an heir king tis midnight charles prithee to bed and in thy prayrs remember th estate of my poor queen leave me alone for i must think of that which company will not be friendly to suffolk i wish your highness a quiet night and my good mistress will remember in my prayers king charles good night exit suffolk enter sir anthony denny well sir what follows denny sir i have brought my lord the archbishop as you commanded me king ha canterbury denny ay my good lord king tis true where is he denny denny he attends your highness pleasure king bring him to us exit denny lovell aside this is about that which the bishop spake i am happily come hither re enter denny with cranmer king avoid the gallery lovell seems to stay ha i have said be gone what exeunt lovell and denny cranmer aside i am fearful wherefore frowns he thus tis his aspect of terror alls not well king how now my lord you do desire to know wherefore i sent for you cranmer kneeling it is my duty tattend your highness pleasure king 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 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 considerd have movd 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 towr you a brother of us it fits we thus proceed or else no witness would come against you cranmer i humbly thank your highness and am right glad to catch this good occasion most throughly to be winnowed where my chaff and corn shall fly asunder for i know theres none stands under more calumnious tongues than i myself poor man king stand up good canterbury thy truth and thy integrity is rooted in us thy friend give me thy hand stand up prithee lets walk now by my holidame what manner of man are you my lord i lookd you would have given me your petition that i should have taen some pains to bring together yourself and your accusers and to have heard you without indurance further cranmer most dread liege the good i stand on is my truth and honesty if they shall fail i with mine enemies will triumph oer my person which i weigh not being of those virtues vacant i fear nothing what can be said against me king know you not how your state stands i th 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 th question carries the due o th 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 opposd and with a malice of as great size ween you of better luck i mean in perjurd witness than your master whose minister you are whiles here he livd upon this naughty earth go to go to you take a precipice for no leap of danger and woo your own destruction cranmer god and your majesty protect mine innocence or i fall into the trap is laid for me king 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 th 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 hes honest on mine honour gods 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 exit cranmer he has strangled his language in his tears enter old lady gentleman within come back what mean you old lady ill not come back the tidings that i bring will make my boldness manners now good angels fly oer thy royal head and shade thy person under their blessed wings king now by thy looks i guess thy message is the queen deliverd say ay and of a boy old lady 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 king lovell enter lovell lovell sir king give her an hundred marks ill to the queen exit old lady an hundred marks by this light ill 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 ill have more or else unsayt and now while tis hot ill put it to the issue exeunt act v scene lobby before the council chamber enter cranmer archbishop of canterbury cranmer i hope i am not too late and yet the gentleman that was sent to me from the council prayd me to make great haste all fast what means this ho who waits there sure you know me enter keeper keeper yes my lord but yet i cannot help you cranmer why keeper your grace must wait till you be calld for enter doctor butts cranmer so butts aside this is a piece of malice i am glad i came this way so happily the king shall understand it presently exit cranmer aside tis butts the kings physician as he passd 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 councillor mong boys grooms and lackeys but their pleasures must be fulfilld and i attend with patience enter the king and butts at window above butts ill show your grace the strangest sight king whats that butts butts i think your highness saw this many a day king body a me where is it butts there my lord the high promotion of his grace of canterbury who holds his state at door mongst pursuivants pages and footboys king ha tis he indeed is this the honour they do one another tis well theres 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 theres knavery let em alone and draw the curtain close we shall hear more anon exeunt act v scene the council chamber a council table brought in with chairs and stools and placed under the state enter lord chancellor places himself at the upper end of the table on the left band a seat being left void above him as for canterburys seat duke of suffolk duke of norfolk surrey lord chamberlain gardiner seat themselves in order on each side cromwell at lower end as secretary keeper at the door chancellor speak to the business master secretary why are we met in council cromwell please your honours the chief cause concerns his grace of canterbury gardiner has he had knowledge of it cromwell yes norfolk who waits there keeper without my noble lords gardiner yes keeper my lord archbishop and has done half an hour to know your pleasures chancellor let him come in keeper your grace may enter now cranmer approaches the council table chancellor my good lord archbishop i am 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 misdemeand 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 informd with new opinions divers and dangerous which are heresies and not reformd may prove pernicious gardiner 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 mouth with stubborn bits and spur em till they obey the manage if we suffer out of our easiness and childish pity to one mans 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 cranmer my good lords hitherto in all the progress both of my life and office i have labourd 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 suffolk nay my lord that cannot be you are a councillor and by that virtue no man dare accuse you gardiner 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 cranmer 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 gardiner my lord my lord you are a sectary thats the plain truth your painted gloss discovers to men that understand you words and weakness cromwell my lord of winchester yare 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 gardiner good master secretary i cry your honour mercy you may worst of all this table say so cromwell why my lord gardiner do not i know you for a favourer of this new sect ye are not sound cromwell not sound gardiner not sound i say cromwell would you were half so honest mens prayers then would seek you not their fears gardiner i shall remember this bold language cromwell do remember your bold life too chancellor this is too much forbear for shame my lords gardiner i have done cromwell and i chancellor then thus for you my lord it stands agreed i take it by all voices that forthwith you be conveyd to th tower a prisoner there to remain till the kings further pleasure be known unto us are you all agreed lords all we are cranmer is there no other way of mercy but i must needs to th tower my lords gardiner what other would you expect you are strangely troublesome let some o th guard be ready there enter the guard cranmer for me must i go like a traitor thither gardiner receive him and see him safe i th tower cranmer 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 chamberlain this is the kings ring surrey tis no counterfeit suffolk tis the right ring by heavn i told ye all when we first put this dangerous stone a rolling twould fall upon ourselves norfolk do you think my lords the king will suffer but the little finger of this man to be vexd chamberlain tis now too certain how much more is his life in value with him would i were fairly out ont cromwell 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 enter the king frowning on them he takes his seat gardiner 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 king 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 whatsoeer thou takst me for im sure thou hast a cruel nature and a bloody to cranmer good man sit down now let me see the proudest he that dares most but wag his finger at thee by all thats holy he had better starve than but once think this place becomes thee not surrey may it please your grace king 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 councillor to try him not as a groom theres 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 chancellor thus far my most dread sovereign may it like your grace to let my tongue excuse all what was purposd concerning his imprisonment was rather if there be faith in men meant for his trial and fair purgation to the world than malice im sure in me king well well my lords respect him take him and use him well hes worthy of it i will say thus much for him if a prince may be beholding to a subject 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 cranmer 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 king come come my lord youd spare your spoons you shall have two noble partners with you the old duchess of norfolk and lady marquis dorset will these please you once more my lord of winchester i charge you embrace and love this man gardiner with a true heart and brother love i do it cranmer and let heaven witness how dear i hold this confirmation king 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 hes 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 exeunt act v scene the palace yard noise and tumult within enter porter and his man porter youll leave your noise anon ye rascals do you take the court for paris garden ye rude slaves leave your gaping within good master porter i belong to th larder porter belong to th gallows and be hangd ye rogue is this a place to roar in fetch me a dozen crab tree staves and strong ones these are but switches to em ill scratch your heads you must be seeing christenings do you look for ale and cakes here you rude rascals man 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 pauls as stir em porter how got they in and be hangd man 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 porter you did nothing sir man i am not samson nor sir guy nor colbrand to mow em down before me but if i spard any that had a head to hit either young or old he or she cuckold or cuckold maker let me neer hope to see a chine again and that i would not for a cow god save her within do you hear master porter porter i shall be with you presently good master puppy keep the door close sirrah man what would you have me do porter what should you do but knock em down by th 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 man 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 ins 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 haberdashers wife of small wit near him that raild upon me till her pinkd porringer fell off her head for kindling such a combustion in the state i missd 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 th strand where she was quartered they fell on i made good my place at length they came to th broomstaff to me i defied em still when suddenly a file of boys behind em loose shot deliverd such a showr 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 porter 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 enter the lord chamberlain chamberlain 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 yhave made a fine hand fellows theres a trim rabble let in are all these your faithful friends o th suburbs we shall have great store of room no doubt left for the ladies when they pass back from the christening porter ant 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 chamberlain as i live if the king blame me fort ill lay ye an by th heels and suddenly and on your heads clap round fines for neglect yare lazy knaves and here ye lie baiting of bombards when ye should do service hark the trumpets sound th are come already from the christening go break among the press and find a way out to let the troops pass fairly or ill find a marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months porter make way there for the princess man you great fellow stand close up or ill make your head ache porter you i th camlet get up o th rail ill peck you oer the pales else exeunt act v scene the palace enter trumpets sounding then two aldermen lord mayor garter cranmer duke of norfolk with his marshals staff duke of suffolk two noblemen bearing great standing bowls for the christening gifts then four noblemen bearing a canopy under which the duchess of norfolk godmother bearing the child richly habited in a mantle etc train borne by a lady then follows the marchioness dorset the other godmother and ladies the troop pass once about the stage and garter speaks garter heaven from thy endless goodness send prosperous life long and ever happy to the high and mighty princess of england elizabeth flourish enter king and guard cranmer kneeling 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 king thank you good lord archbishop what is her name cranmer elizabeth king stand up lord the king kisses the child with this kiss take my blessing god protect thee into whose hand i give thy life cranmer amen king my noble gossips yhave been too prodigal i thank ye heartily so shall this lady when she has so much english cranmer let me speak sir for heaven now bids me and the words i utter let none think flattery for theyll find em truth this royal infant heaven still move about her though in her cradle yet now promises upon this land a 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 lovd and feard 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 phoenix 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 fixd 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 childrens children shall see this and bless heaven king thou speakest wonders cranmer 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 th ground and all the world shall mourn her king o lord archbishop thou hast made me now a man never before this happy child did i get anything this oracle of comfort has so pleasd 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 you good brethren i am much beholding i have receivd 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 has business at his house for all shall stay this little one shall make it holiday exeunt king henry viii epilogue the epilogue 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 whave frighted with our trumpets so tis clear theyll say tis nought others to hear the city abusd extremely and to cry thats witty which we have not done neither that i fear all the expected good ware like to hear for this play at this time is only in the merciful construction of good women for such a one we showd 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 end king john dramatis personae king john prince henry his son arthur duke of britaine son of geffrey late duke of britaine the elder brother of king john earl of pembroke earl of essex earl of salisbury lord bigot hubert de burgh robert faulconbridge son to sir robert faulconbridge philip the bastard his half brother james gurney servant to lady faulconbridge peter of pomfret a prophet king philip of france lewis the dauphin lymoges duke of austria cardinal pandulph the popes legate melun a french lord chatillon ambassador from france to king john queen elinor widow of king henry ii and mother to king john constance mother to arthur blanch of spain daughter to the king of castile and niece to king john lady faulconbridge widow of sir robert faulconbridge lords citizens of angiers sheriff heralds officers soldiers executioners messengers attendants scene england and france act i scene king johns palace enter king john queen elinor pembroke essex salisbury and others with chatillon king john now say chatillon what would france with us chatillon thus after greeting speaks the king of france in my behaviour to the majesty the borrowed majesty of england here elinor a strange beginning borrowed majesty king john silence good mother hear the embassy chatillon philip of france in right and true behalf of thy deceased brother geffreys 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 arthurs hand thy nephew and right royal sovereign king john what follows if we disallow of this chatillon the proud control of fierce and bloody war to enforce these rights so forcibly withheld king john here have we war for war and blood for blood controlment for controlment so answer france chatillon then take my kings defiance from my mouth the farthest limit of my embassy king john 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 exeunt chatillon and pembroke elinor 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 king john our strong possession and our right for us elinor 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 enter a sheriff essex my liege here is the strangest controversy come from the country to be judgd by you that eer i heard shall i produce the men king john let them approach exit sheriff our abbeys and our priories shall pay this expeditions charge enter robert faulconbridge and philip his bastard brother what men are you bastard 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 coeur de lion knighted in the field king john what art thou robert the son and heir to that same faulconbridge king john is that the elder and art thou the heir you came not of one mother then it seems bastard 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 oer to heaven and to my mother of that i doubt as all mens children may elinor out on thee rude man thou dost shame thy mother and wound her honour with this diffidence bastard i madam no i have no reason for it that is my brothers 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 mothers honour and my land king john a good blunt fellow why being younger born doth he lay claim to thine inheritance bastard i know not why except to get the land but once he slanderd me with bastardy but wheer i be as true begot or no that still i lay upon my mothers 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 king john why what a madcap hath heaven lent us here elinor he hath a trick of coeur de lions face the accent of his tongue affecteth him do you not read some tokens of my son in the large composition of this man king john mine eye hath well examined his parts and finds them perfect richard sirrah speak what doth move you to claim your brothers land bastard because he hath a half face like my father with half that face would he have all my land a half facd groat five hundred pound a year robert my gracious liege when that my father livd your brother did employ my father much bastard well sir by this you cannot get my land your tale must be how he employd my mother robert and once dispatchd him in an embassy to germany there with the emperor to treat of high affairs touching that time th advantage of his absence took the king and in the meantime sojournd at my fathers 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 bequeathd his lands to me and took it on his death that this my mothers son was none of his and 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 fathers land as was my fathers will king john sirrah your brother is legitimate your fathers 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 claimd 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 brothers my brother might not claim him nor your father being none of his refuse him this concludes my mothers son did get your fathers heir your fathers heir must have your fathers land robert shall then my fathers will be of no force to dispossess that child which is not his bastard of no more force to dispossess me sir than was his will to get me as i think elinor whether hadst thou rather be a faulconbridge and like thy brother to enjoy thy land or the reputed son of coeur de lion lord of thy presence and no land beside bastard madam an if my brother had my shape and i had his sir roberts his like him and if my legs were two such riding rods my arms such eel skins stuffd my face so thin that in mine ear i durst not stick a rose lest men should say look where three farthings goes and to his shape were heir to all this land would i might never stir from off this place i would give it every foot to have this face i would not be sir nob in any case elinor 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 bastard brother take you my land ill take my chance your face hath got five hundred pound a year yet sell your face for fivepence and tis dear madam ill follow you unto the death elinor nay i would have you go before me thither bastard our country manners give our betters way king john what is thy name bastard philip my liege so is my name begun philip good old sir roberts wifes eldest son king john from henceforth bear his name whose form thou bearest kneel thou down philip but rise more great arise sir richard and plantagenet bastard brother by th mothers 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 elinor the very spirit of plantagenet i am thy grandam richard call me so bastard madam by chance but not by truth what though something about a little from the right in at the window or else oer 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 howeer i was begot king john 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 bastard brother adieu good fortune come to thee for thou wast got i th way of honesty exeunt all but the bastard 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 ill call him peter for new made honour doth forget mens names tis too respective and too sociable for your conversion now your traveller he and his toothpick at my worships mess and when my knightly stomach is sufficd 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 ages 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 enter lady faulconbridge and james gurney o me tis my mother how now good lady what brings you here to court so hastily lady faulconbridge where is that slave thy brother where is he that holds in chase mine honour up and down bastard my brother robert old sir roberts son colbrand the giant that same mighty man is it sir roberts son that you seek so lady faulconbridge sir roberts son ay thou unreverend boy sir roberts son why scornst thou at sir robert he is sir roberts son and so art thou bastard james gurney wilt thou give us leave awhile gurney good leave good philip bastard philip sparrow james theres toys abroad anon ill tell thee more exit gurney madam i was not old sir roberts son sir robert might have eat his part in me upon good friday and neer 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 lady faulconbridge hast thou conspired with thy brother too that for thine own gain shouldst defend mine honour what means this scorn thou most untoward knave bastard knight knight good mother basilisco like what i am dubbd i have it on my shoulder but mother i am not sir roberts son i have disclaimd 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 lady faulconbridge hast thou denied thyself a faulconbridge bastard as faithfully as i deny the devil lady faulconbridge king richard coeur de lion was thy father by long and vehement suit i was seducd to make room for him in my husbands bed heaven lay not my transgression to my charge thou art the issue of my dear offence which was so strongly urgd past my defence bastard 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 richards hand he that perforce robs lions of their hearts may easily win a womans 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 ill 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 exeunt act ii scene france before angiers enter on one side austria and forces on the other king philip of france lewis the dauphin constance arthur and forces king philip before angiers well met brave austria arthur that great forerunner of thy blood richard that robbd 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 arthur god shall forgive you coeur de lions 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 king philip a noble boy who would not do thee right austria 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 facd shore whose foot spurns back the oceans roaring tides and coops from other lands her islanders even till that england hedgd 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 constance o take his mothers thanks a widows thanks till your strong hand shall help to give him strength to make a more requital to your love austria the peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords in such a just and charitable war king philip 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 well lay before this town our royal bones wade to the market place in frenchmens blood but we will make it subject to this boy constance stay for an answer to your embassy lest unadvisd 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 enter chatillon king philip a wonder lady lo upon thy wish our messenger chatillon is arrivd what england says say briefly gentle lord we coldly pause for thee chatillon speak chatillon 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 stayd 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 the lady blanch of spain with them a bastard of the kings deceasd and all th 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 oer did never float upon the swelling tide to do offence and scathe in christendom drum beats the interruption of their churlish drums cuts off more circumstance they are at hand to parley or to fight therefore prepare king philip how much unlookd for is this expedition austria 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 prepard enter king john elinor blanch the bastard pembroke and others king john 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 gods wrathful agent do correct their proud contempt that beats his peace to heaven king philip peace be to england if that war return from france to england there to live in peace england we love and for that englands 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 outfaced infant state and done a rape upon the maiden virtue of the crown look here upon thy brother geffreys 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 geffreys right and this is geffreys in the name of god how comes it then that thou art calld a king when living blood doth in these temples beat which owe the crown that thou oer masterest king john from whom hast thou this great commission france to draw my answer from thy articles king philip 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 king john alack thou dost usurp authority king philip excuse it is to beat usurping down elinor who is it thou dost call usurper france constance let me make answer thy usurping son elinor out insolent thy bastard shall be king that thou mayst be a queen and check the world constance 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 eke 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 elinor theres a good mother boy that blots thy father constance theres a good grandam boy that would blot thee austria peace bastard hear the crier austria what the devil art thou bastard 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 ill smoke your skin coat an i catch you right sirrah look to t i faith i will i faith blanch o well did he become that lions robe that did disrobe the lion of that robe bastard it lies as sightly on the back of him as great alcides shows upon an ass but ass ill take that burden from your back or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack austria what cracker is this same that deafs our ears with this abundance of superfluous breath king philip determine what we shall do straight king philip 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 king john my life as soon i do defy thee france arthur of britaine yield thee to my hand and out of my dear love ill give thee more than eer the coward hand of france can win submit thee boy elinor come to thy grandam child constance do child go to it grandam child give grandam kingdom and it grandam will give it a plum a cherry and a fig theres a good grandam arthur good my mother peace i would that i were low laid in my grave i am not worth this coil thats made for me elinor his mother shames him so poor boy he weeps constance now shame upon you wheer she does or no his grandams wrongs and not his mothers shames draws 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 bribd to do him justice and revenge on you elinor thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth constance 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 eldest sons 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 king john bedlam have done constance i have but this to say that he is not only plagued for her sin but god hath made her sin and her the plague on this removed issue plagued for her and with her plague her sin his injury her injury the beadle to her sin all punishd in the person of this child and all for her a plague upon her elinor thou unadvised scold i can produce a will that bars the title of thy son constance ay who doubts that a will a wicked will a womans will a cankred grandams will king philip 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 arthurs or johns trumpet sounds enter citizens upon the walls citizen who is it that hath warnd us to the walls king philip tis france for england king john england for itself you men of angiers and my loving subjects king philip you loving men of angiers arthurs subjects our trumpet calld you to this gentle parle king john 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 marchd 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 confront your citys eyes your winking gates and but for our approach those sleeping stones that as a waist doth 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 unscratchd your citys threatned cheeks behold the french amazd vouchsafe a parle and now instead of bullets wrappd 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 cars which trust accordingly kind citizens and let us in your king whose labourd spirits forwearied in this action of swift speed craves harbourage within your city walls king philip when i have said make answer to us both lo in this right hand whose protection is most divinely vowd upon the right of him it holds stands young plantagenet son to the elder brother of this man and king oer him and all that he enjoys for this down trodden equity we tread in warlike 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 hath all offence seald up our cannons malice vainly shall be spent against th invulnerable clouds of heaven and with a blessed and unvexd retire with unhackd swords and helmets all unbruisd 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 profferd offer tis not the roundure of your old facd walls can hide you from our messengers of war though all these english and their discipline were harbourd in their rude circumference then tell us shall your city call us lord in that behalf which we have challengd it or shall we give the signal to our rage and stalk in blood to our possession citizen in brief we are the king of englands subjects for him and in his right we hold this town king john acknowledge then the king and let me in citizen that can we not but he that proves the king to him will we prove loyal till that time have we rammd up our gates against the world king john doth not the crown of england prove the king and if not that i bring you witnesses twice fifteen thousand hearts of englands breed bastard bastards and else king john to verify our title with their lives king philip as many and as well born bloods as those bastard some bastards too king philip stand in his face to contradict his claim citizen till you compound whose right is worthiest we for the worthiest hold the right from both king john then god forgive the sin of all those souls that to their everlasting residence before the dew of evening fall shall fleet in dreadful trial of our kingdoms king king philip amen amen mount chevaliers to arms bastard saint george that swingd the dragon and eer since sits ons horse back at mine hostess door teach us some fence to austria sirrah were i at home at your den sirrah with your lioness i would set an ox head to your lions hide and make a monster of you austria peace no more bastard o tremble for you hear the lion roar king john up higher to the plain where well set forth in best appointment all our regiments bastard speed then to take advantage of the field king philip it shall be so and at the other hill command the rest to stand god and our right exeunt here after excursions enter the herald of france with trumpets to the gates french herald 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 lie scattered on the bleeding ground many a widows husband grovelling lies coldly embracing the discoloured earth and victory with little loss doth play upon the dancing banners of the french who are at hand triumphantly displayed to enter conquerors and to proclaim arthur of britaine englands king and yours enter english herald with trumpet english herald rejoice you men of angiers ring your bells king john your king and englands doth approach commander of this hot malicious day their armours that marchd hence so silver bright hither return all gilt with frenchmens 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 marchd forth and like a jolly troop of huntsmen come our lusty english all with purpled hands dyd in the dying slaughter of their foes open your gates and give the victors way citizen heralds from off our towrs 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 answerd blows strength matchd 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 enter the two kings with their powers at several doors king john france hast thou yet more blood to cast away say shall the current of our right run on whose passage vexd with thy impediment shall leave his native channel and oerswell with course disturbd even thy confining shores unless thou let his silver water keep a peaceful progress to the ocean king philip england thou hast not savd 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 well put thee down gainst whom these arms we bear or add a royal number to the dead gracing the scroll that tells of this wars loss with slaughter coupled to the name of kings bastard ha majesty how high thy glory towrs 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 undetermind 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 others peace till then blows blood and death king john whose party do the townsmen yet admit king philip speak citizens for england whos your king citizen the king of england when we know the king king philip know him in us that here hold up his right king john in us that are our own great deputy and bear possession of our person here lord of our presence angiers and of you citizen a greater powr than we denies all this and till it be undoubted we do lock our former scruple in our strong barrd gates kingd of our fears until our fears resolvd be by some certain king purgd and deposd bastard 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 ruld 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 brawld down the flinty ribs of this contemptuous city id 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 king john now by the sky that hangs above our heads i like it well france shall we knit our powrs and lay this angiers even with the ground then after fight who shall be king of it bastard an if thou hast the mettle of a king being wrongd 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 dashd them to the ground why then defy each other and pell mell make work upon ourselves for heaven or hell king philip let it be so say where will you assault king john we from the west will send destruction into this citys bosom austria i from the north king philip our thunder from the south shall rain their drift of bullets on this town bastard aside o prudent discipline from north to south austria and france shoot in each others mouth ill stir them to it come away away citizen hear us great kings vouchsafe awhile to stay and i shall show you peace and fair facd 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 king john speak on with favour we are bent to hear citizen that daughter there of spain the lady blanch is niece 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 as 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 bastard heres a stay that shakes the rotten carcass of old death out of his rags heres 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 cudgelld not a word of his but buffets better than a fist of france zounds i was never so bethumpd with words since i first calld my brothers father dad elinor 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 unsurd 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 citizen why answer not the double majesties this friendly treaty of our threatned town king philip speak england first that hath been forward first to speak unto this city what say you king john 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 besiegd 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 king philip what sayst thou boy look in the ladys face lewis i do my lord and in her eye i find a wonder or a wondrous miracle the shadow of myself formd 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 lovd myself till now infixed i beheld myself drawn in the flattering table of her eye whispers with blanch bastard aside drawn in the flattering table of her eye hangd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow and quarterd in her heart he doth espy himself loves traitor this is pity now that hangd and drawn and quarterd there should be in such a love so vile a lout as he blanch my uncles 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 easly 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 king john what say these young ones what say you my niece blanch that she is bound in honour still to do what you in wisdom still vouchsafe to say king john speak then prince dauphin can you love this lady lewis nay ask me if i can refrain from love for i do love her most unfeignedly king john 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 pleasd withal command thy son and daughter to join hands king philip it likes us well young princes close your hands austria and your lips too for i am well assurd that i did so when i was first assurd king philip now citizens of angiers ope your gates let in that amity which you have made for at saint marys chapel presently the rites of marriage shall be solemnizd 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 lewis she is sad and passionate at your highness tent king philip 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 turnd another way to our own vantage king john we will heal up all for well 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 unlookd for unprepared pomp exeunt all but the bastard bastard mad world mad kings mad composition john to stop arthurs tide 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 gods 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 facd gentleman tickling commodity commodity the bias of the world the world who of itself is peised 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 clappd on the outward eye of fickle france hath drawn him from his own determind aid from a resolvd and honourable war to a most base and vile concluded peace and why rail i on this commodity but for because he hath not wood 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 exit act iii scene france the french kings camp enter constance arthur and salisbury constance gone to be married gone to swear a peace false blood to false blood joind gone to be friends shall lewis have blanch and blanch those provinces it is not so thou hast misspoke misheard be well advisd tell oer 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 kings oath to the contrary thou shalt be punishd for thus frighting me for i am sick and capable of fears oppressd 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 vexd 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 oer 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 salisbury as true as i believe you think them false that give you cause to prove my saying true constance 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 salisbury what other harm have i good lady done but spoke the harm that is by others done constance which harm within itself so heinous is as it makes harmful all that speak of it arthur i do beseech you madam be content constance if thou that bidst me be content wert grim ugly and slandrous to thy mothers womb full of unpleasing blots and sightless stains lame foolish crooked swart prodigious patchd 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 joind to make thee great of natures gifts thou mayst with lilies boast and with the half blown rose but fortune o she is corrupted changd and won from thee sh adulterates hourly with thine uncle john and with her golden hand hath pluckd 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 under bear salisbury pardon me madam i may not go without you to the kings constance 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 griefs so great that no supporter but the huge firm earth can hold it up seats herself on the ground here i and sorrows sit here is my throne bid kings come bow to it enter king john king philip lewis blanch elinor the bastard austria and attendants king philip 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 constance rising a wicked day and not a holy day what hath this day deservd 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 crossd but on this day let seamen fear no wreck 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 king philip by heaven lady you shall have no cause to curse the fair proceedings of this day have i not pawnd to you my majesty constance you have beguild me with a counterfeit resembling majesty which being touchd 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 perjurd 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 perjurd kings hear me o hear me austria lady constance peace constance 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 villainy thou ever strong upon the stronger side thou fortunes champion that dost never fight but when her humorous ladyship is by to teach thee safety thou art perjurd too and soothst 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 lions hide doff it for shame and hang a calfs skin on those recreant limbs austria o that a man should speak those words to me bastard and hang a calfs skin on those recreant limbs austria thou darst not say so villain for thy life bastard and hang a calfs skin on those recreant limbs king john we like not this thou dost forget thyself enter pandulph king philip here comes the holy legate of the pope pandulph 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 fathers name pope innocent i do demand of thee king john 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 th assistance of a mortal hand so tell the pope all reverence set apart to him and his usurpd authority king philip brother of england you blaspheme in this king john 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 pandulph then by the lawful power that i have thou shalt stand cursd and excommunicate and blessed shall he be that doth revolt from his allegiance to an heretic and meritorious shall that hand be calld canonized and worshippd as a saint that takes away by any secret course thy hateful life constance 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 pandulph theres law and warrant lady for my curse constance 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 pandulph 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 elinor lookst thou pale france do not let go thy hand constance look to that devil lest that france repent and by disjoining hands hell lose a soul austria king philip listen to the cardinal bastard and hang a calfs skin on his recreant limbs austria well ruffian i must pocket up these wrongs because bastard your breeches best may carry them king john philip what sayst thou to the cardinal constance what should he say but as the cardinal lewis bethink you father for the difference is purchase of a heavy curse from rome or the light loss of england for a friend forgo the easier blanch thats the curse of rome constance o lewis stand fast the devil tempts thee here in likeness of a new untrimmed bride blanch the lady constance speaks not from her faith but from her need constance 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 king john the king is movd and answers not to this constance o be removd from him and answer well austria do so king philip hang no more in doubt bastard hang nothing but a calfs skin most sweet lout king philip i am perplexd and know not what to say pandulph what canst thou say but will perplex thee more if thou stand excommunicate and cursd king philip 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 linkd 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 besmeard and overstaind with slaughters pencil where revenge did paint the fearful difference of incensed kings and shall these hands so lately purgd of blood so newly joind 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 blest to do your pleasure and continue friends pandulph all form is formless order orderless save what is opposite to englands love therefore to arms be champion of our church or let the church our mother breathe her curse a mothers 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 king philip i may disjoin my hand but not my faith pandulph so makst thou faith an enemy to faith and like a civil war setst oath to oath thy tongue against thy tongue o let thy vow first made to heaven first be to heaven performd that is to be the champion of our church what since thou sworst 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 cures as fire cools fire within the scorched veins of one new burnd it is religion that doth make vows kept but thou hast sworn against religion by what thou swearst against the thing thou swearst and makst 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 prayrs come in if thou vouchsafe them but if not then know the peril of our curses fight on thee so heavy as thou shalt not shake them off but in despair die under the black weight austria rebellion flat rebellion bastard willt not be will not a calfs skin stop that mouth of thine lewis father to arms blanch upon thy wedding day against the blood that thou hast married what shall our feast be kept with slaughtered 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 neer pronounce upon my knee i beg go not to arms against mine uncle constance o upon my knee made hard with kneeling i do pray to thee thou virtuous dauphin alter not the doom forethought by heaven blanch now shall i see thy love what motive may be stronger with thee than the name of wife constance that which upholdeth him that thee upholds his honour o thine honour lewis thine honour lewis i muse your majesty doth seem so cold when such profound respects do pull you on pandulph i will denounce a curse upon his head king philip thou shalt not need england i will fall from thee constance o fair return of banishd majesty elinor o foul revolt of french inconstancy king john france thou shalt rue this hour within this hour bastard old time the clock setter that bald sexton time is it as he will well then france shall rue blanch the suns oercast 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 playd lewis lady with me with me thy fortune lies blanch there where my fortune lives there my life dies king john cousin go draw our puissance together exit bastard france i am burnd up with inflaming wrath a rage whose heat hath this condition that nothing can allay nothing but blood the blood and dearest valud blood of france king philip 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 king john no more than he that threats to arms lets hie exeunt severally scene france plains near angiers alarums excursions enter the bastard with austrias head bastard now by my life this day grows wondrous hot some airy devil hovers in the sky and pours down mischief austrias head lie there while philip breathes enter king john arthur and hubert king john hubert keep this boy philip make up my mother is assailed in our tent and taen i fear bastard my lord i rescued her her highness is in safety fear you not but on my liege for very little pains will bring this labour to an happy end exeunt scene france plains near angiers alarums excursions retreat enter king john elinor arthur the bastard hubert and lords king john to elinor so shall it be your grace shall stay behind so strongly guarded to arthur cousin look not sad thy grandam loves thee and thy uncle will as dear be to thee as thy father was arthur o this will make my mother die with grief king john to the bastard cousin away for england haste before and ere our coming see thou shake the bags of hoarding abbots imprisoned angels set at liberty the fat ribs of peace must by the hungry now be fed upon use our commission in his utmost force bastard 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 elinor farewell gentle cousin king john coz farewell exit bastard elinor come hither little kinsman hark a word king john 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 ashamd to say what good respect i have of thee hubert i am much bounden to your majesty king john good friend thou hast no cause to say so yet but thou shalt have and creep time neer 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 on 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 bakd thy blood and made it heavy thick which else runs tickling up and down the veins making that idiot laughter keep mens 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 cars 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 lovst me well hubert so well that what you bid me undertake though that my death were adjunct to my act by heaven i would do it king john do not i know thou wouldst good hubert hubert hubert throw thine eye on yon young boy ill tell thee what my friend he is a very serpent in my way and wheresoeer this foot of mine doth tread he lies before me dost thou understand me thou art his keeper hubert and ill keep him so that he shall not offend your majesty king john death hubert my lord king john a grave hubert he shall not live king john enough i could be merry now hubert i love thee well ill not say what i intend for thee remember madam fare you well ill send those powers oer to your majesty elinor my blessing go with thee king john to arthur for england cousin go hubert shall be your man attend on you with all true duty on toward calais ho exeunt scene france the french kings camp enter king philip lewis pandulph and attendants king philip so by a roaring tempest on the flood a whole armado of convicted sail is scattered and disjoind from fellowship pandulph courage and comfort all shall yet go well king philip what can go well when we have run so ill are we not beaten is not angiers lost arthur taen prisoner divers dear friends slain and bloody england into england gone oerbearing interruption spite of france lewis he hath won that hath he fortified so hot a speed with such advice disposd such temperate order in so fierce a cause doth want example who hath read or heard of any kindred action like to this king philip well could i bear that england had this praise so we could find some pattern of our shame enter constance look who comes here a grave unto a soul holding th eternal spirit against her will in the vile prison of afflicted breath i prithee lady go away with me constance lo now now see the issue of your peace king philip patience good lady comfort gentle constance 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 smilst and buss thee as thy wife miserys love o come to me king philip o fair affliction peace constance no no i will not having breath to cry o that my tongue were in the thunders mouth then with a passion would i shake the world and rouse from sleep that fell anatomy which cannot hear a ladys feeble voice which scorns a modern invocation pandulph lady you utter madness and not sorrow constance thou art not holy to belie me so i am not mad this hair i tear is mine my name is constance i was geffreys 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 canonizd cardinal for being not mad but sensible of grief my reasonable part produces reason how i may be deliverd 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 king philip bind up those tresses o what love i note in the fair multitude of those her hairs where but by a chance a silver drop hath falln even to that drop ten thousand wiry friends do glue themselves in sociable grief like true inseparable faithful loves sticking together in calamity constance to england if you will king philip bind up your hairs constance 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 agues fit and so hell 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 pandulph you hold too heinous a respect of grief constance he talks to me that never had a son king philip you are as fond of grief as of your child constance 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 tearing her hair when there is such disorder in my wit o lord my boy my arthur my fair son my life my joy my food my ail the world my widow comfort and my sorrows cure exit king philip i fear some outrage and ill follow her exit lewis theres 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 spoild the sweet worlds taste that it yields nought but shame and bitterness pandulph 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 lewis all days of glory joy and happiness pandulph if you had won it certainly you had no no when fortune means to men most good she looks upon them with a threatning eye tis strange to think how much king john hath lost in this which he accounts so clearly won are not you grievd that arthur is his prisoner lewis as heartily as he is glad he hath him pandulph 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 englands throne and therefore mark john hath seizd arthur and it cannot be that whiles warm life plays in that infants veins the misplacd john should entertain an hour one minute nay one quiet breath of rest a sceptre snatchd with an unruly hand must be boisterously maintaind as gaind and he that stands upon a slippry 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 lewis but what shall i gain by young arthurs fall pandulph you in the right of lady blanch your wife may then make all the claim that arthur did lewis and lose it life and all as arthur did pandulph 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 distemperd 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 lewis may be he will not touch young arthurs life but hold himself safe in his prisonment pandulph 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 namd 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 can 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 lewis strong reasons makes strong actions let us go if you say ay the king will not say no exeunt act iv scene england a castle enter hubert and executioners hubert 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 executioner i hope your warrant will bear out the deed hubert uncleanly scruples fear not you look tot exeunt executioners young lad come forth i have to say with you enter arthur arthur good morrow hubert hubert good morrow little prince arthur as little prince having so great a tide to be more prince as may be you are sad hubert indeed i have been merrier arthur mercy on me methinks no body 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 geffreys son no indeed ist not and i would to heaven i were your son so you would love me hubert hubert aside if i talk to him with his innocent prate he will awake my mercy which lies dead therefore i will be sudden and dispatch arthur 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 hubert aside his words do take possession of my bosom read here young arthur showing a paper aside 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 arthur too fairly hubert for so foul effect must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes hubert young boy i must arthur and will you hubert and i will arthur have you the heart when your head did but ache i knit my handkerchief 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 cheerd 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 mans son would have lyen still and neer 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 pleasd 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 hubert i have sworn to do it and with hot irons must i burn them out arthur 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 his 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 hammerd iron an if an angel should have come to me and told me hubert should put out mine eyes i would not have believd him no tongue but huberts hubert stamps come forth re enter executioners with cord irons etc do as i bid you do arthur o save me hubert save me my eyes are out even with the fierce looks of these bloody men hubert give me the iron i say and bind him here arthur alas what need you be so boistrous rough i will not struggle i will stand stone still for heaven 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 angrily thrust but these men away and ill forgive you whatever torment you do put me to hubert go stand within let me alone with him executioner i am best pleasd to be from such a deed exeunt executioners arthur 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 hubert come boy prepare yourself arthur is there no remedy hubert none but to lose your eyes arthur 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 hubert is this your promise go to hold your tongue arthur 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 hubert i can heat it boy arthur no in good sooth the fire is dead with grief being create for comfort to be usd in undeserved extremes see else yourself there is no malice in this burning coal the breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out and strewd repentant ashes on his head hubert but with my breath i can revive it boy arthur 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 compelld 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 hubert well see to live i will not touch thine eye for all the treasure that thine uncle owes yet i am sworn and i did purpose boy with this same very iron to burn them out arthur o now you look like hubert all this while you were disguisd hubert peace no more adieu your uncle must not know but you are dead ill 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 arthur o heaven i thank you hubert hubert silence no more go closely in with me much danger do i undergo for thee exeunt scene england king johns palace enter king john pembroke salisbury and other lords king john here once again we sit once again crownd and lookd upon i hope with cheerful eyes pembroke this once again but that your highness pleasd was once superfluous you were crownd before and that high royalty was neer pluckd off the faiths of men neer stained with revolt fresh expectation troubled not the land with any longd for change or better state salisbury therefore to be possessd 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 pembroke 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 salisbury 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 fashiond robe pembroke 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 th excuse as patches set upon a little breach discredit more in hiding of the fault than did the fault before it was so patchd salisbury to this effect before you were new crownd we breathd our counsel but it pleasd your highness to overbear it and we are all well pleasd since all and every part of what we would doth make a stand at what your highness will king john some reasons of this double coronation i have possessd 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 reformd that is not well and well shall you perceive how willingly i will both hear and grant you your requests pembroke 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 th 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 times 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 king john let it be so i do commit his youth to your direction enter hubert aside hubert what news with you pembroke this is the man should do the bloody deed he showd his warrant to a friend of mine the image of a wicked heinous fault lives in his eye that close aspect of his doth show the mood of a much troubled breast and i do fearfully believe tis done what we so feard he had a charge to do salisbury 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 pembroke and when it breaks i fear will issue thence the foul corruption of a sweet childs death king john we cannot hold mortalitys 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 deceasd to night salisbury indeed we feard his sickness was past cure pembroke indeed we heard how near his death he was before the child himself felt he was sick this must be answerd either here or hence king john 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 salisbury it is apparent foul play and tis shame that greatness should so grossly offer it so thrive it in your game and so farewell pembroke stay yet lord salisbury ill go with thee and find th inheritance of this poor child his little kingdom of a forced grave that blood which owd 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 exeunt lords king john they burn in indignation i repent there is no sure foundation set on blood no certain life achievd by others death enter a messenger 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 messenger from france to england never such a powr for any foreign preparation was levied in the body of a land the copy of your speed is learnd by them for when you should be told they do prepare the tidings comes that they are all arrivd king john o where hath our intelligence been drunk where hath it slept where is my mothers care that such an army could be drawn in france and she not hear of it messenger my liege her ear is stoppd 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 rumours tongue i idly heard if true or false i know not king john withhold thy speed dreadful occasion o make a league with me till i have pleasd my discontented peers what mother dead how wildly then walks my estate in france under whose conduct came those powrs of france that thou for truth givst out are landed here messenger under the dauphin king john thou hast made me giddy with these in tidings enter the bastard and peter of pomfret now what says the world to your proceedings do not seek to stuff my head with more ill news for it is fun bastard but if you be afeard to hear the worst then let the worst unheard fall on your head king john bear with me cousin for i was amazd under the tide but now i breathe again aloft the flood and can give audience to any tongue speak it of what it will bastard how i have sped among the clergymen the sums i have collected shall express but as i travelld hither through the land i find the people strangely fantasied possessd with rumours full of idle dreams not knowing what they fear but full of fear and heres 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 rhymes that ere the next ascension day at noon your highness should deliver up your crown king john thou idle dreamer wherefore didst thou so peter foreknowing that the truth will fall out so king john hubert away with him imprison him and on that day at noon whereon he says i shall yield up my crown let him be hangd deliver him to safety and return for i must use thee exit hubert with peter o my gentle cousin hearst thou the news abroad who are arrivd bastard the french my lord mens 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 killd to night on your suggestion king john gentle kinsman go and thrust thyself into their companies i have a way to will their loves again bring them before me bastard i will seek them out king john 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 bastard the spirit of the time shall teach me speed king john spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman exit bastard go after him for he perhaps shall need some messenger betwixt me and the peers and be thou he messenger with all my heart my liege exit king john my mother dead re enter hubert hubert my lord they say five moons were seen to night four fixed and the fifth did whirl about the other four in wondrous motion king john five moons hubert old men and beldams in the streets do prophesy upon it dangerously young arthurs 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 hearers 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 tailors 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 rankd in kent another lean unwashd artificer cuts off his tale and talks of arthurs death king john why seekst thou to possess me with these fears why urgest thou so oft young arthurs death thy hand hath murdred him i had a mighty cause to wish him dead but thou hadst none to kill him hubert no had my lord why did you not provoke me king john 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 advisd respect hubert here is your hand and seal for what i did king john 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 make deeds ill done hadst not thou been by a fellow by the hand of nature markd quoted and signd to do a deed of shame this murder had not come into my mind but taking note of thy abhorrd aspect finding thee fit for bloody villainy apt liable to be employd in danger i faintly broke with thee of arthurs death and thou to be endeared to a king made it no conscience to destroy a prince hubert my lord king john hadst thou but shook thy head or made pause when i spake darkly what i purposed or turnd 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 braved even at my gates with ranks of foreign powrs nay in the body of the fleshly land this kingdom this confine of blood and breath hostility and civil tumult reigns between my conscience and my cousins death hubert arm you against your other enemies ill 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 entred yet the dreadful motion of a murderous thought and you have slanderd nature in my form which howsoever rude exteriorly is yet the cover of a fairer mind than to be butcher of an innocent child king john 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 exeunt scene england before the castle enter arthur on the walls arthur the wall is high and yet will i leap down good ground be pitiful and hurt me not theres few or none do know me if they did this ship boys semblance hath disguisd me quite i am afraid and yet ill venture it if i get down and do not break my limbs ill find a thousand shifts to get away as good to die and go as die and stay leaps down o me my uncles spirit is in these stones heaven take my soul and england keep my bones dies enter pembroke salisbury and bigot salisbury lords i will meet him at saint edmundsbury it is our safety and we must embrace this gentle offer of the perilous time pembroke who brought that letter from the cardinal salisbury the count melun a noble lord of france whose private with me of the dauphins love is much more general than these lines import bigot to morrow morning let us meet him then salisbury or rather then set forward for twill be two long days journey lords or ere we meet enter the bastard bastard once more to day well met distemperd lords the king by me requests your presence straight salisbury the king hath dispossessd 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 whereer it walks return and tell him so we know the worst bastard whateer you think good words i think were best salisbury our griefs and not our manners reason now bastard but there is little reason in your grief therefore twere reason you had manners now pembroke sir sir impatience hath his privilege bastard tis true to hurt his master no man else salisbury this is the prison what is he lies here pembroke o death made proud with pure and princely beauty the earth had not a hole to hide this deed salisbury murder as hating what himself hath done doth lay it open to urge on revenge bigot or when he doomd this beauty to a grave found it too precious princely for a grave salisbury 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 murders arms this is the bloodiest shame the wildest savagery the vilest stroke that ever wall eyd wrath or staring rage presented to the tears of soft remorse pembroke all murders past do stand excusd 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 bastard it is a damned and a bloody work the graceless action of a heavy hand if that it be the work of any hand salisbury if that it be the work of any hand we had a kind of light what would ensue it is the shameful work of huberts 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 pembroke and bigot our souls religiously confirm thy words enter hubert hubert lords i am hot with haste in seeking you arthur doth live the king hath sent for you salisbury o he is bold and blushes not at death avaunt thou hateful villain get thee gone hubert i am no villain salisbury must i rob the law drawing his sword bastard your sword is bright sir put it up again salisbury not till i sheathe it in a murderers skin hubert stand back lord salisbury stand back i say by heaven i think my swords 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 bigot out dunghill darst thou brave a nobleman hubert not for my life but yet i dare defend my innocent life against an emperor salisbury thou art a murderer hubert do not prove me so yet i am none whose tongue soeer speaks false not truly speaks who speaks not truly lies pembroke cut him to pieces bastard keep the peace i say salisbury stand by or i shall gall you faulconbridge bastard 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 ill strike thee dead put up thy sword betime or ill so maul you and your toasting iron that you shall think the devil is come from hell bigot what wilt thou do renowned faulconbridge second a villain and a murderer hubert lord bigot i am none bigot who killd this prince hubert tis not an hour since i left him well i honourd him i lovd him and will weep my date of life out for his sweet lifes loss salisbury trust not those cunning waters of his eyes for villainy 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 th uncleanly savours of a slaughter house for i am stifled with this smell of sin bigot away toward bury to the dauphin there pembroke there tell the king he may inquire us out exeunt lords bastard heres 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 damnd hubert hubert do but hear me sir bastard ha ill tell thee what thourt damnd as black nay nothing is so black thou art more deep damnd than prince lucifer there is not yet so ugly a fiend of hell as thou shalt be if thou didst kill this child hubert upon my soul bastard if thou didst but consent to this most cruel act do but despair and if thou wantst 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 hubert 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 bastard go bear him in thine arms i am amazd 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 th teeth the unowed interest of proud swelling state now for the bare pickd 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 falln beast the imminent decay of wrested pomp now happy he whose cloak and cincture can hold out this tempest bear away that child and follow me with speed ill to the king a thousand businesses are brief in hand and heaven itself doth frown upon the land exeunt act v scene england king johns palace enter king john pandulph and attendants king john thus have i yielded up into your hand the circle of my glory pandulph gives back the crown take again from this my hand as holding of the pope your sovereign greatness and authority king john now keep your holy word go meet the french and from his holiness use all your power to stop their marches fore we are inflamd 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 mistempred humour rests by you only to be qualified then pause not for the present times so sick that present medcine must be ministred or overthrow incurable ensues pandulph 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 blustring 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 exit king john 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 thankd it is but voluntary enter the bastard bastard all kent hath yielded nothing there holds out but dover castle london hath receivd 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 king john would not my lords return to me again after they heard young arthur was alive bastard they found him dead and cast into the streets an empty casket where the jewel of life by some damnd hand was robbed and taen away king john that villain hubert told me he did live bastard 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 threatner 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 farther from the doors and grapple with him ere he come so nigh king john the legate of the pope hath been with me and i have made a happy peace with him and he hath promisd to dismiss the powers led by the dauphin bastard 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 cockred silken wanton brave our fields and flesh his spirit in a warlike soil 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 king john have thou the ordering of this present time bastard away then with good courage yet i know our party may well meet a prouder foe exeunt scene england the dauphins camp at saint edmundsbury enter in arms lewis salisbury melun pembroke bigot and soldiers lewis 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 oer these notes may know wherefore we took the sacrament and keep our faiths firm and inviolable salisbury upon our sides it never shall be broken and noble dauphin albeit we swear a voluntary zeal and an unurgd faith to your proceedings yet believe me prince i am not glad that such a sore of time should seek a plaster by contemnd 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 ist 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 neptunes arms who clippeth thee about would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself and grapple 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 lewis a noble temper dost thou show in this and great affections wrestling in thy bosom doth 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 ladys tears being an ordinary inundation but this effusion of such manly drops this showr blown up by tempest of the soul startles mine eyes and makes me more amazd than had i seen the vaulty top of heaven figurd quite oer 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 enragd nor met with fortune other than at feasts full of warm 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 enter pandulph 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 pandulph hail noble prince of france the next is this king john hath reconcild 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 threatning colours now wind up and tame the savage spirit of wild war that like a lion fostered up at hand it may lie gently at the foot of peace and be no further harmful than in show lewis 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 chastisd 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 ye 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 conquerd must i back because that john hath made his peace with rome am i romes 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 roi as i have bankd their towns have i not here the best cards for the game to will this easy match playd for a crown and shall i now give oer the yielded set no no on my soul it never shall be said pandulph you look but on the outside of this work lewis 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 culld these fiery spirits from the world to outlook conquest and to will renown even in the jaws of danger and of death trumpet sounds what lusty trumpet thus doth summon us enter the bastard attended bastard 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 pandulph the dauphin is too wilful opposite and will not temporize with my entreaties he flatly says hell not lay down his arms bastard by all the blood that ever fury breathd the youth says well now hear our english king for thus his royalty doth speak in me he is prepard and reason too he should this apish and unmannerly approach this harnessd masque and unadvised revel this unhaird sauciness and boyish troops the king doth smile at and is well prepard 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 lockd 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 nations 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 oer his aery towrs 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 visagd maids like amazons come tripping after drums their thimbles into armed gauntlets change their needles to lances and their gentle hearts to fierce and bloody inclination lewis 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 pandulph give me leave to speak bastard no i will speak lewis we will attend to neither strike up the drums and let the tongue of war plead for our interest and our being here bastard indeed your drums being beaten will cry out and so shall you being beaten do but start and echo with the clamour of thy drum and even at hand a drum is ready bracd that shall reverberate all as loud as thine sound but another and another shall as loud as thine rattle the welkins ear and mock the deep mouthd thunder for at hand not trusting to this halting legate here whom he hath usd rather for sport than need is warlike john and in his forehead sits a bare ribbd death whose office is this day to feast upon whole thousands of the french lewis strike up our drums to find this danger out bastard and thou shalt find it dauphin do not doubt exeunt scene england the field of battle alarums enter king john and hubert king john how goes the day with us o tell me hubert hubert badly i fear how fares your majesty king john this fever that hath troubled me so long lies heavy on me o my heart is sick enter a messenger messenger my lord your valiant kinsman faulconbridge desires your majesty to leave the field and send him word by me which way you go king john tell him toward swinstead to the abbey there messenger be of good comfort for the great supply that was expected by the dauphin here are wreckd three nights ago on goodwin sands this news was brought to richard but even now the french fight coldly and retire themselves king john 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 exeunt scene england another part of the battlefield enter salisbury pembroke and bigot salisbury i did not think the king so stord with friends pembroke up once again put spirit in the french if they miscarry we miscarry too salisbury that misbegotten devil faulconbridge in spite of spite alone upholds the day pembroke they say king john sore sick hath left the field enter melun wounded melun lead me to the revolts of england here salisbury when we were happy we had other names pembroke it is the count melun salisbury wounded to death melun 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 salisbury may this be possible may this be true melun 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 will the day he is forsworn if eer 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 salisbury 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 oerlookd and calmly run on in obedience even to our ocean to 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 exeunt leading off melun scene england the french camp enter lewis and his train lewis the sun of heaven methought was loath to set but stayd and made the western welkin blush when english measure 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 tottring colours clearly up last in the field and almost lords of it enter a messenger messenger where is my prince the dauphin lewis here what news messenger the count melun is slain the english lords by his persuasion are again falln off and your supply which you have wishd so long are cast away and sunk on goodwin sands lewis 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 powrs messenger whoever spoke it it is true my lord lewis 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 exeunt scene an open place wear swinstead abbey enter the bastard and hubert severally hubert whos there speak ho speak quickly or i shoot bastard a friend what art thou hubert of the part of england bastard whither dost thou go hubert whats that to thee why may i not demand of thine affairs as well as thou of mine bastard hubert i think hubert thou hast a perfect thought i will upon all hazards well believe thou art my friend that knowst my tongue so well who art thou bastard who thou wilt and if thou please thou mayst befriend me so much as to think i come one way of the plantagenets hubert 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 bastard come come sans compliment what news abroad hubert why here walk i in the black brow of night to find you out bastard brief then and whats the news hubert o my sweet sir news fitting to the night black fearful comfortless and horrible bastard show me the very wound of this ill news i am no woman ill not swoon at it hubert the king i fear is poisond 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 bastard how did he take it who did taste to him hubert a monk i tell you a resolved villain whose bowels suddenly burst out the king yet speaks and peradventure may recover bastard who didst thou leave to tend his majesty hubert why know you not the lords are all come back and brought prince henry in their company at whose request the king hath pardond them and they are all about his majesty bastard withhold thine indignation mighty heaven and tempt us not to bear above our power ill 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 escapd away before conduct me to the king i doubt he will be dead or ere i come exeunt scene the orchard at swinstead abbey enter prince henry salisbury and bigot prince henry it is too late the life of all his blood is touchd corruptibly and his pure brain which some suppose the souls frail dwelling house doth by the idle comments that it makes foretell the ending of mortality enter pembroke pembroke 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 prince henry let him be brought into the orchard here doth he still rage exit bigot pembroke he is more patient than when you left him even now he sung prince henry o vanity of sickness fierce extremes in their continuance will not feel themselves death having preyd 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 salisbury 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 re enter bigot and attendants who bring in king john in a chair king john 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 prince henry how fares your majesty king john poisond 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 kingdoms rivers take their course through my burnd 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 prince henry o that there were some virtue in my tears that might relieve you king john the salt in them is hot within me is a hell and there the poison is as a fiend confind to tyrannize on unreprievable condemned blood enter the bastard bastard o i am scalded with my violent motion and spleen of speed to see your majesty king john o cousin thou art come to set mine eye the tackle of my heart is crackd and burnt 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 bastard the dauphin is preparing hitherward where god he knows how we shall answer him for in a night the best part of my powr as i upon advantage did remove were in the washes all unwarily devoured by the unexpected flood the king dies salisbury you breathe these dead news in as dead an ear my liege my lord but now a king now thus prince henry 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 bastard 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 powrs 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 salisbury 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 bastard he will the rather do it when he sees ourselves well sinewed to our defence salisbury nay tis in a manner done already for many carriages he hath dispatchd 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 bastard let it be so and you my noble prince with other princes that may best be spard shall wait upon your fathers funeral prince henry at worcester must his body be interrd for so he willd it bastard 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 salisbury and the like tender of our love we make to rest without a spot for evermore prince henry i have a kind soul that would give you thanks and knows not how to do it but with tears bastard 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 exeunt the end the tragedy of julius caesar dramatis personae julius caesar roman statesman and general octavius triumvir after caesars death later augustus caesar first emperor of rome mark antony general and friend of caesar a triumvir after his death lepidus third member of the triumvirate marcus brutus leader of the conspiracy against caesar cassius instigator of the conspiracy casca conspirator against caesar trebonius caius ligarius decius brutus metellus cimber cinna calpurnia wife of caesar portia wife of brutus cicero senator popilius popilius lena flavius tribune marullus tribune cato supportor of brutus lucilius titinius messala volumnius artemidorus a teacher of rhetoric cinna a poet varro servant to brutus clitus claudio strato lucius dardanius pindarus servant to cassius the ghost of caesar a soothsayer a poet senators citizens soldiers commoners messengers and servants scene rome the conspirators camp near sardis and the plains of philippi act i scene i rome a street enter flavius marullus and certain commoners flavius hence home you idle creatures get you home is this a holiday what know you not being mechanical you ought not walk upon a laboring day without the sign of your profession speak what trade art thou first commoner why sir a carpenter marullus where is thy leather apron and thy rule what dost thou with thy best apparel on you sir what trade are you second commoner truly sir in respect of a fine workman i am but as you would say a cobbler marullus but what trade art thou answer me directly second commoner a trade sir that i hope i may use with a safe conscience which is indeed sir a mender of bad soles marullus what trade thou knave thou naughty knave what trade second commoner nay i beseech you sir be not out with me yet if you be out sir i can mend you marullus what meanst thou by that mend me thou saucy fellow second commoner why sir cobble you flavius thou art a cobbler art thou second commoner truly sir all that i live by is with the awl i meddle with no tradesmans matters nor womens 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 neats leather have gone upon my handiwork flavius but wherefore art not in thy shop today why dost thou lead these men about the streets second commoner truly sir to wear out their shoes to get myself into more work but indeed sir we make holiday to see caesar and to rejoice in his triumph marullus 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 climbd 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 an 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 pompeys 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 flavius 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 exeunt all commoners see whether their basest metal be not moved 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 deckd with ceremonies marullus may we do so you know it is the feast of lupercal flavius it is no matter let no images be hung with caesars trophies ill about and drive away the vulgar from the streets so do you too where you perceive them thick these growing feathers pluckd from caesars wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness exeunt scene ii a public place flourish enter caesar antony for the course calpurnia portia decius cicero brutus cassius and casca a great crowd follows among them a soothsayer caesar calpurnia casca peace ho caesar speaks music ceases caesar calpurnia calpurnia here my lord caesar stand you directly in antonios way when he doth run his course antonio antony caesar my lord caesar forget not in your speed antonio to touch calpurnia for our elders say the barren touched in this holy chase shake off their sterile curse antony i shall remember when caesar says do this it is performd caesar set on and leave no ceremony out flourish soothsayer caesar caesar ha who calls casca bid every noise be still peace yet again caesar who is it in the press that calls on me i hear a tongue shriller than all the music cry caesar speak caesar is turnd to hear soothsayer beware the ides of march caesar what man is that brutus a soothsayer you beware the ides of march caesar set him before me let me see his face cassius fellow come from the throng look upon caesar caesar what sayst thou to me now speak once again soothsayer beware the ides of march caesar he is a dreamer let us leave him pass sennet exeunt all but brutus and cassius cassius will you go see the order of the course brutus not i cassius i pray you do brutus i am not gamesome i do lack some part of that quick spirit that is in antony let me not hinder cassius your desires ill leave you cassius 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 brutus cassius be not deceived if i have veild 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 behaviors but let not therefore my good friends be grieved 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 cassius 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 brutus no cassius for the eye sees not itself but by reflection by some other things cassius 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 caesar speaking of brutus and groaning underneath this ages yoke have wishd that noble brutus had his eyes brutus into what dangers would you lead me cassius that you would have me seek into myself for that which is not in me cassius therefore good brutus be prepared 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 flourish and shout brutus what means this shouting i do fear the people choose caesar for their king cassius ay do you fear it then must i think you would not have it so brutus 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 honor 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 honor more than i fear death cassius i know that virtue to be in you brutus as well as i do know your outward favor well honor 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 caesar so were you we both have fed as well and we can both endure the winters cold as well as he for once upon a raw and gusty day the troubled tiber chafing with her shores caesar said to me darest 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 roard 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 proposed caesar cried help me cassius or i sink i as aeneas 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 caesar and this man is now become a god and cassius is a wretched creature and must bend his body if caesar 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 color fly and that same eye whose bend doth awe the world did lose his luster 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 shout flourish brutus another general shout i do believe that these applauses are for some new honors that are heapd on caesar cassius 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 dishonorable 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 caesar what should be in that caesar 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 caesar now in the names of all the gods at once upon what meat doth this our caesar feed that he is grown so great age thou art shamed rome thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods when went there by an age since the great flood but it was famed with more than with one man when could they say till now that talkd of rome that her wide walls encompassd 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 brookd the eternal devil to keep his state in rome as easily as a king brutus 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 moved 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 cassius i am glad that my weak words have struck but thus much show of fire from brutus re enter caesar and his train brutus the games are done and caesar is returning cassius as they pass by pluck casca by the sleeve and he will after his sour fashion tell you what hath proceeded worthy note today brutus i will do so but look you cassius the angry spot doth glow on caesars brow and all the rest look like a chidden train calpurnias cheek is pale and cicero looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes as we have seen him in the capitol being crossd in conference by some senators cassius casca will tell us what the matter is caesar antonio antony caesar caesar 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 antony fear him not caesar hes not dangerous he is a noble roman and well given caesar 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 mockd himself and scornd his spirit that could be moved to smile at anything such men as he be never at hearts ease whiles they behold a greater than themselves and therefore are they very dangerous i rather tell thee what is to be feard than what i fear for always i am caesar come on my right hand for this ear is deaf and tell me truly what thou thinkst of him sennet exeunt caesar and all his train but casca casca you pulld me by the cloak would you speak with me brutus ay casca tell us what hath chanced today that caesar looks so sad casca why you were with him were you not brutus i should not then ask casca what had chanced casca 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 ashouting brutus what was the second noise for casca why for that too cassius they shouted thrice what was the last cry for casca why for that too brutus was the crown offered him thrice casca ay marry wast and he put it by thrice every time gentler than other and at every putting by mine honest neighbors shouted cassius who offered him the crown casca why antony brutus tell us the manner of it gentle casca casca i can as well be hangd 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 hooted and clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty nightcaps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked caesar 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 cassius but soft i pray you what did caesars wound casca he fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth and was speechless brutus tis very like he hath the falling sickness cassius no caesar hath it not but you and i and honest casca we have the falling sickness casca i know not what you mean by that but i am sure caesar fell down if the tagrag 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 brutus what said he when he came unto himself casca marry before he fell down when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown he plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut an 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 anything 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 theres no heed to be taken of them if caesar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no less brutus and after that he came thus sad away casca ay cassius did cicero say anything casca ay he spoke greek cassius to what effect casca nay an i tell you that ill neer 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 caesars images are put to silence fare you well there was more foolery yet if could remember it cassius will you sup with me tonight casca casca no i am promised forth cassius will you dine with me tomorrow casca ay if i be alive and your mind hold and your dinner worth the eating cassius good i will expect you casca do so farewell both exit brutus what a blunt fellow is this grown to be he was quick mettle when he went to school cassius 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 brutus and so it is for this time i will leave you tomorrow 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 cassius i will do so till then think of the world exit brutus well brutus thou art noble yet i see thy honorable mettle may be wrought from that it is disposed therefore it is meet that noble minds keep ever with their likes for who so firm that cannot be seduced caesar doth bear me hard but he loves brutus if i were brutus now and he were cassius he should not humor 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 caesars ambition shall be glanced at and after this let caesar seat him sure for we will shake him or worse days endure exit scene iii a street thunder and lightning enter from opposite sides casca with his sword drawn and cicero cicero good even casca brought you caesar home why are you breathless and why stare you so casca are not you moved when all the sway of earth shakes like a thing unfirm o cicero i have seen tempests when the scolding winds have rived the knotty oaks and i have seen the ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam to be exalted with the threatening clouds but never till tonight 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 cicero why saw you anything more wonderful casca a common slave you know him well by sight held up his left hand which did flame and burn like twenty torches joind and yet his hand not sensible of fire remaind unscorchd besides i ha not since put up my sword against the capitol i met a lion who glazd 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 noonday upon the marketplace howling 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 cicero indeed it is a strange disposed time but men may construe things after their fashion clean from the purpose of the things themselves comes caesar to the capitol tomorrow casca he doth for he did bid antonio send word to you he would be there tomorrow cicero good then casca this disturbed sky is not to walk in casca farewell cicero exit cicero enter cassius cassius whos there casca a roman cassius casca by your voice casca your ear is good cassius what night is this cassius a very pleasing night to honest men casca who ever knew the heavens menace so cassius those that have known the earth so full of faults for my part i have walkd about the streets submitting me unto the perilous night and thus unbraced casca as you see have bared my bosom to the thunderstone and when the cross blue lightning seemd to open the breast of heaven i did present myself even in the aim and very flash of it casca 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 cassius 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 preformed faculties to monstrous quality why you shall find that heaven hath infused 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 casca tis caesar that you mean is it not cassius 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 governd with our mothers spirits our yoke and sufferance show us womanish casca indeed they say the senators tomorrow mean to establish caesar as a king and he shall wear his crown by sea and land in every place save here in italy cassius 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 these 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 thunder still casca so can i so every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity cassius and why should caesar 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 caesar 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 armd and dangers are to me indifferent casca 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 farthest cassius theres a bargain made now know you casca i have moved already some certain of the noblest minded romans to undergo with me an enterprise of honorable dangerous consequence and i do know by this they stay for me in pompeys porch for now this fearful night there is no stir or walking in the streets and the complexion of the element in favors like the work we have in hand most bloody fiery and most terrible enter cinna casca stand close awhile for here comes one in haste cassius tis cinna i do know him by his gait he is a friend cinna where haste you so cinna to find out you whos that metellus cimber cassius no it is casca one incorporate to our attempts am i not stayd for cinna cinna i am glad ont what a fearful night is this theres two or three of us have seen strange sights cassius am i not stayd for tell me cinna yes you are o cassius if you could but win the noble brutus to our party cassius be you content good cinna take this paper and look you lay it in the praetors 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 pompeys porch where you shall find us is decius brutus and trebonius there cinna all but metellus cimber and hes gone to seek you at your house well i will hie and so bestow these papers as you bade me cassius that done repair to pompeys theatre exit cinna 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 casca o he sits high in all the peoples hearts and that which would appear offense in us his countenance like richest alchemy will change to virtue and to worthiness cassius 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 exeunt act ii scene i enter brutus in his orchard brutus 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 enter lucius lucius calld you my lord brutus get me a taper in my study lucius when it is lighted come and call me here lucius i will my lord exit brutus 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 crownd how that might change his nature theres 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 caesar i have not known when his affections swayd more than his reason but tis a common proof that lowliness is young ambitions 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 caesar may then lest he may prevent and since the quarrel will bear no color 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 serpents egg which hatchd would as his kind grow mischievous and kill him in the shell re enter lucius lucius the taper burneth in your closet sir searching the window for a flint i found this paper thus seald up and i am sure it did not lie there when i went to bed gives him the letter brutus get you to bed again it is not day is not tomorrow boy the ides of march lucius i know not sir brutus look in the calendar and bring me word lucius i will sir exit brutus the exhalations whizzing in the air give so much light that i may read by them opens the letter and reads brutus thou sleepst awake and see thyself shall rome etc speak strike redress brutus thou sleepst awake such instigations have been often droppd where i have took them up shall rome etc thus must i piece it out shall rome stand under one mans awe what rome my ancestors did from the streets of rome the tarquin drive when he was calld a king speak strike redress am i entreated to speak and strike o rome i make thee promise if the redress will follow thou receivest thy full petition at the hand of brutus re enter lucius lucius sir march is wasted fifteen days knocking within brutus tis good go to the gate somebody knocks exit lucius since cassius first did whet me against caesar 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 re enter lucius lucius sir tis your brother cassius at the door who doth desire to see you brutus is he alone lucius no sir there are more with him brutus do you know them lucius no sir their hats are pluckd about their ears and half their faces buried in their cloaks that by no means i may discover them by any mark of favor brutus let em enter exit lucius they are the faction o conspiracy shamest 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 enter the conspirators cassius casca decius cinna metellus cimber and trebonius cassius i think we are too bold upon your rest good morrow brutus do we trouble you brutus i have been up this hour awake all night know i these men that come along with you cassius yes every man of them and no man here but honors you and every one doth wish you had but that opinion of yourself which every noble roman bears of you this is trebonius brutus he is welcome hither cassius this decius brutus brutus he is welcome too cassius this casca this cinna and this metellus cimber brutus they are all welcome what watchful cares do interpose themselves betwixt your eyes and night cassius shall i entreat a word they whisper decius here lies the east doth not the day break here casca no cinna o pardon sir it doth and yongrey lines that fret the clouds are messengers of day casca you shall confess that you are both deceived 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 brutus give me your hands all over one by one cassius and let us swear our resolution brutus no not an oath if not the face of men the sufferance of our souls the times 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 valor 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 engaged 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 the 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 passd from him cassius but what of cicero shall we sound him i think he will stand very strong with us casca let us not leave him out cinna no by no means metellus o let us have him for his silver hairs will purchase us a good opinion and buy mens voices to commend our deeds it shall be said his judgement ruled our hands our youths and wildness shall no whit appear but all be buried in his gravity brutus o name him not let us not break with him for he will never follow anything that other men begin cassius then leave him out casca indeed he is not fit decius shall no man else be touchd but only caesar cassius decius well urged i think it is not meet mark antony so well beloved of caesar should outlive caesar 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 caesar fall together brutus 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 caesar let us be sacrificers but not butchers caius we all stand up against the spirit of caesar and in the spirit of men there is no blood o that we then could come by caesars spirit and not dismember caesar but alas caesar must bleed for it and gentle friends lets kill him boldly but not wrathfully lets 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 calld purgers not murderers and for mark antony think not of him for he can do no more than caesars arm when caesars head is off cassius yet i fear him for in the ingrated love he bears to caesar brutus alas good cassius do not think of him if he love caesar all that he can do is to himself take thought and die for caesar and that were much he should for he is given to sports to wildness and much company trebonius there is no fear in him let him not die for he will live and laugh at this hereafter clock strikes brutus peace count the clock cassius the clock hath stricken three trebonius tis time to part cassius but it is doubtful yet whether caesar will come forth today 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 unaccustomd terror of this night and the persuasion of his augurers may hold him from the capitol today decius never fear that if he be so resolved i can oersway him for he loves to hear that unicorns may be betrayd 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 humor the true bent and i will bring him to the capitol cassius nay we will all of us be there to fetch him brutus by the eighth hour is that the utter most cinna be that the uttermost and fail not then metellus caius ligarius doth bear caesar hard who rated him for speaking well of pompey i wonder none of you have thought of him brutus now good metellus go along by him he loves me well and i have given him reasons send him but hither and ill fashion him cassius the morning comes upon s well leave you brutus and friends disperse yourselves but all remember what you have said and show yourselves true romans brutus good gentlemen look fresh and merrily let not our looks put on our purposes but bear it as our roman actors do with untired spirits and formal constancy and so good morrow to you every one exeunt all but brutus 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 sleepst so sound enter portia portia brutus my lord brutus 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 portia nor for yours neither have ungently brutus stole from my bed and yesternight at supper you suddenly arose and walkd about musing and sighing with your arms across and when i askd you what the matter was you stared upon me with ungentle looks i urged you further then you scratchd your head and too impatiently stampd with your foot yet i insisted yet you answerd not but with an angry waiter of your hand gave sign for me to leave you so i did fearing to strengthen that impatience which seemd too much enkindled and withal hoping it was but an effect of humor 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 prevaild on your condition i should not know you brutus dear my lord make me acquainted with your cause of grief brutus i am not well in health and that is all portia brutus is wise and were he not in health he would embrace the means to come by it brutus why so i do good portia go to bed portia is brutus sick and is it physical to walk unbraced and suck up the humors 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 offense 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 yourself your half why you are heavy and what men tonight have had resort to you for here have been some six or seven who did hide their faces even from darkness brutus kneel not gentle portia 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 or 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 brutus you are my true and honorable wife as dear to me as are the ruddy drops that visit my sad heart portia 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 catos daughter think you i am no stronger than my sex being so fatherd 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 husbands secrets brutus o ye gods render me worthy of this noble wife knocking within 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 exit portia lucius whos that knocks re enter lucius with ligarius lucius here is a sick man that would speak with you brutus caius ligarius that metellus spake of boy stand aside caius ligarius how ligarius vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue brutus o what a time have you chose out brave caius to wear a kerchief would you were not sick ligarius i am not sick if brutus have in hand any exploit worthy the name of honor brutus such an exploit have i in hand ligarius had you a healthful ear to hear of it ligarius by all the gods that romans bow before i here discard my sickness soul of rome brave son derived from honorable loins thou like an exorcist hast conjured up my mortified spirit now bid me run and i will strive with things impossible yea get the better of them whats to do brutus a piece of work that will make sick men whole ligarius but are not some whole that we must make sick brutus that must we also what it is my caius i shall unfold to thee as we are going to whom it must be done ligarius set on your foot and with a heart new fired i follow you to do i know not what but it sufficeth that brutus leads me on brutus follow me then exeunt scene ii caesars house thunder and lightning enter caesar in his nightgown caesar nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight thrice hath calpurnia in her sleep cried out help ho they murther caesar whos within enter a servant servant my lord caesar go bid the priests do present sacrifice and bring me their opinions of success servant i will my lord exit enter calpurnia calpurnia what mean you caesar think you to walk forth you shall not stir out of your house today caesar caesar shall forth the things that threatend me neer lookd but on my back when they shall see the face of caesar they are vanished calpurnia caesar i i 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 yawnd and yielded up their dead fierce fiery warriors fight 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 caesar these things are beyond all use and i do fear them caesar what can be avoided whose end is purposed by the mighty gods yet caesar shall go forth for these predictions are to the world in general as to caesar calpurnia when beggars die there are no comets seen the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes caesar 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 re enter servant what say the augurers servant they would not have you to stir forth today plucking the entrails of an offering forth they could not find a heart within the beast caesar the gods do this in shame of cowardice caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at home today for fear no caesar shall not danger knows full well that caesar is more dangerous than he we are two lions litterd in one day and i the elder and more terrible and caesar shall go forth calpurnia alas my lord your wisdom is consumed in confidence do not go forth today call it my fear that keeps you in the house and not your own well send mark antony to the senate house and he shall say you are not well today let me upon my knee prevail in this caesar mark antony shall say i am not well and for thy humor i will stay at home enter decius heres decius brutus he shall tell them so decius caesar all hail good morrow worthy caesar i come to fetch you to the senate house caesar and you are come in very happy time to bear my greeting to the senators and tell them that i will not come today cannot is false and that i dare not falser i will not come today tell them so decius calpurnia say he is sick caesar shall caesar send a lie have i in conquest stretchd mine arm so far to be afeard to tell greybeards the truth decius go tell them caesar will not come decius most mighty caesar let me know some cause lest i be laughd at when i tell them so caesar 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 calpurnia here my wife stays me at home she dreamt tonight she saw my statue which like a fountain with an 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 beggd that i will stay at home today decius 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 bathed signifies that from you great rome shall suck reviving blood and that great men shall press for tinctures stains relics and cognizance this by calpurnias dream is signified caesar and this way have you well expounded it decius 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 caesar if you shall send them word you will not come their minds may change besides it were a mock apt to be renderd for someone to say break up the senate till another time when caesars wife shall meet with better dreams if caesar hide himself shall they not whisper lo caesar is afraid pardon me caesar for my dear dear love to your proceeding bids me tell you this and reason to my love is liable caesar how foolish do your fears seem now calpurnia i am ashamed i did yield to them give me my robe for i will go enter publius brutus ligarius metellus casca trebonius and cinna and look where publius is come to fetch me publius good morrow caesar caesar welcome publius what brutus are you stirrd so early too good morrow casca caius ligarius caesar was neer so much your enemy as that same ague which hath made you lean what ist oclock brutus caesar tis strucken eight caesar i thank you for your pains and courtesy enter antony see antony that revels long o nights is notwithstanding up good morrow antony antony so to most noble caesar caesar bid them prepare within i am to blame to be thus waited for now cinna now metellus what trebonius i have an hours talk in store for you remember that you call on me today be near me that i may remember you trebonius caesar i will aside and so near will i be that your best friends shall wish i had been further caesar good friends go in and taste some wine with me and we like friends will straightway go together brutus aside that every like is not the same o caesar the heart of brutus yearns to think upon exeunt scene iii a street near the capitol enter artemidorus reading paper artemidorus caesar 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 caesar if thou beest not immortal look about you security gives way to conspiracy the mighty gods defend thee thy lover artemidorus here will i stand till caesar 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 caesar thou mayest live if not the fates with traitors do contrive exit scene iv another part of the same street before the house of brutus enter portia and lucius portia i prithee boy run to the senate house stay not to answer me but get thee gone why dost thou stay lucius to know my errand madam portia 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 mans mind but a womans might how hard it is for women to keep counsel art thou here yet lucius madam what should i do run to the capitol and nothing else and so return to you and nothing else portia yes bring me word boy if thy lord look well for he went sickly forth and take good note what caesar doth what suitors press to him hark boy what noise is that lucius i hear none madam portia prithee listen well i heard a bustling rumor like a fray and the wind brings it from the capitol lucius sooth madam i hear nothing enter the soothsayer portia come hither fellow which way hast thou been soothsayer at mine own house good lady portia what ist oclock soothsayer about the ninth hour lady portia is caesar yet gone to the capitol soothsayer madam not yet i go to take my stand to see him pass on to the capitol portia thou hast some suit to caesar hast thou not soothsayer that i have lady if it will please caesar to be so good to caesar as to hear me i shall beseech him to befriend himself portia why knowst thou any harms intended towards him soothsayer 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 caesar at the heels of senators of praetors common suitors will crowd a feeble man almost to death ill get me to a place more void and there speak to great caesar as he comes along exit portia 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 caesar 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 exeunt severally act iii scene i rome before the capitol the senate sitting above a crowd of people among them artemidorus and the soothsayer flourish enter caesar brutus cassius casca decius metellus trebonius cinna antony lepidus popilius publius and others caesar the ides of march are come soothsayer ay caesar but not gone a hail caesar read this schedule decius trebonius doth desire you to oer read at your best leisure this his humble suit artemidorus o caesar read mine first for mines a suit that touches caesar nearer read it great caesar caesar what touches us ourself shall be last served artemidorus delay not caesar read it instantly caesar what is the fellow mad publius sirrah give place cassius what urge you your petitions in the street come to the capitol caesar goes up to the senate house the rest follow popilius i wish your enterprise today may thrive cassius what enterprise popilius popilius fare you well advances to caesar brutus what said popilius lena cassius he wishd today our enterprise might thrive i fear our purpose is discovered brutus look how he makes to caesar mark him cassius casca be sudden for we fear prevention brutus what shall be done if this be known cassius or caesar never shall turn back for i will slay myself brutus cassius be constant popilius lena speaks not of our purposes for look he smiles and caesar doth not change cassius trebonius knows his time for look you brutus he draws mark antony out of the way exeunt antony and trebonius decius where is metellus cimber let him and presently prefer his suit to caesar brutus he is addressd press near and second him cinna casca you are the first that rears your hand caesar are we all ready what is now amiss that caesar and his senate must redress metellus most high most mighty and most puissant caesar metellus cimber throws before thy seat an humble heart kneels caesar i must prevent thee cimber these couchings and these lowly courtesies might fire the blood of ordinary men and turn preordinance and first decree into the law of children be not fond to think that caesar bears such rebel blood that will be thawd from the true quality with that which melteth fools i mean sweet words low crooked courtsies 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 caesar doth not wrong nor without cause will he be satisfied metellus is there no voice more worthy than my own to sound more sweetly in great caesars ear for the repealing of my banishd brother brutus i kiss thy hand but not in flattery caesar desiring thee that publius cimber may have an immediate freedom of repeal caesar what brutus cassius pardon caesar caesar pardon as low as to thy foot doth cassius fall to beg enfranchisement for publius cimber caesar i could be well moved 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 fixd and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament the skies are painted with unnumberd sparks they are all fire and every one doth shine but theres but one in all doth hold his place so in the world tis furnishd 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 unshaked of motion and that i am he let me a little show it even in this that i was constant cimber should be banishd and constant do remain to keep him so cinna o caesar caesar hence wilt thou lift up olympus decius great caesar caesar doth not brutus bootless kneel casca speak hands for me casca first then the other conspirators and marcus brutus stab caesar caesar et tu brute then fall caesar dies cinna liberty freedom tyranny is dead run hence proclaim cry it about the streets cassius some to the common pulpits and cry out liberty freedom and enfranchisement brutus people and senators be not affrighted fly not stand still ambitions debt is paid casca go to the pulpit brutus decius and cassius too brutus wheres publius cinna here quite confounded with this mutiny metellus stand fast together lest some friend of caesars should chance brutus talk not of standing publius good cheer there is no harm intended to your person nor to no roman else so tell them publius cassius and leave us publius lest that the people rushing on us should do your age some mischief brutus do so and let no man abide this deed but we the doers re enter trebonius cassius where is antony trebonius fled to his house amazed men wives and children stare cry out and run as it were doomsday brutus fates we will know your pleasures that we shall die we know tis but the time and drawing days out that men stand upon cassius why he that cuts off twenty years of life cuts off so many years of fearing death brutus grant that and then is death a benefit so are we caesars friends that have abridged his time of fearing death stoop romans stoop and let us bathe our hands in caesars blood up to the elbows and besmear our swords then walk we forth even to the marketplace and waving our red weapons oer our heads lets all cry peace freedom and liberty cassius stoop then and wash how many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown brutus how many times shall caesar bleed in sport that now on pompeys basis lies along no worthier than the dust cassius so oft as that shall be so often shall the knot of us be calld the men that gave their country liberty decius what shall we forth cassius ay every man away brutus shall lead and we will grace his heels with the most boldest and best hearts of rome enter a servant brutus soft who comes here a friend of antonys servant 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 caesar was mighty bold royal and loving say i love brutus and i honor him say i feard caesar honord him and loved him if brutus will vouchsafe that antony may safely come to him and be resolved how caesar hath deserved to lie in death mark antony shall not love caesar 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 brutus 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 honor depart untouchd servant ill fetch him presently exit brutus i know that we shall have him well to friend cassius i wish we may but yet have i a mind that fears him much and my misgiving still falls shrewdly to the purpose re enter antony brutus but here comes antony welcome mark antony antony o mighty caesar 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 caesars deaths 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 you bear me hard now whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke fulfill your pleasure live a thousand years i shall not find myself so apt to die no place will please me so no means of death as here by caesar and by you cut off the choice and master spirits of this age brutus 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 caesar 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 cassius your voice shall be as strong as any mans in the disposing of new dignities brutus only be patient till we have appeased the multitude beside themselves with fear and then we will deliver you the cause why i that did love caesar when i struck him have thus proceeded antony 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 caesar 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 bayd brave hart here didst thou fall and here thy hunters stand signd in thy spoil and crimsond in thy lethe 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 cassius mark antony antony pardon me caius cassius the enemies of caesar shall say this then in a friend it is cold modesty cassius i blame you not for praising caesar so but what compact mean you to have with us will you be prickd in number of our friends or shall we on and not depend on you antony therefore i took your hands but was indeed swayd from the point by looking down on caesar friends am i with you all and love you all upon this hope that you shall give me reasons why and wherein caesar was dangerous brutus or else were this a savage spectacle our reasons are so full of good regard that were you antony the son of caesar you should be satisfied antony thats all i seek and am moreover suitor that i may produce his body to the marketplace and in the pulpit as becomes a friend speak in the order of his funeral brutus you shall mark antony cassius brutus a word with you aside to brutus you know not what you do do not consent that antony speak in his funeral know you how much the people may be moved by that which he will utter brutus by your pardon i will myself into the pulpit first and show the reason of our caesars death what antony shall speak i will protest he speaks by leave and by permission and that we are contented caesar shall have all true rites and lawful ceremonies it shall advantage more than do us wrong cassius i know not what may fall i like it not brutus mark antony here take you caesars body you shall not in your funeral speech blame us but speak all good you can devise of caesar and say you dot 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 antony be it so i do desire no more brutus prepare the body then and follow us exeunt all but antony antony 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 quarterd with the hands of war all pity choked with custom of fell deeds and caesars spirit ranging for revenge with ate by his side come hot from hell shall in these confines with a monarchs 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 enter a servant you serve octavius caesar do you not servant i do mark antony antony caesar did write for him to come to rome servant he did receive his letters and is coming and bid me say to you by word of mouth o caesar sees the body antony 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 servant he lies tonight within seven leagues of rome antony post back with speed and tell him what hath chanced here 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 corse into the marketplace 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 lend me your hand exeunt with caesars body scene ii the forum enter brutus and cassius and a throng of citizens citizens we will be satisfied let us be satisfied brutus 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 caesars death first citizen i will hear brutus speak second citizen i will hear cassius and compare their reasons when severally we hear them rendered exit cassius with some citizens brutus goes into the pulpit third citizen the noble brutus is ascended silence brutus 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 honor and have respect to mine honor 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 caesars to him i say that brutus love to caesar was no less than his if then that friend demand why brutus rose against caesar this is my answer not that i loved caesar less but that i loved rome more had you rather caesar were living and die all slaves than that caesar were dead to live all freemen as caesar loved me i weep for him as he was fortunate i rejoice at it as he was valiant i honor him but as he was ambitious i slew him there is tears for his love joy for his fortune honor for his valor 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 all none brutus none brutus then none have i offended i have done no more to caesar 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 offenses enforced for which he suffered death enter antony and others with caesars body 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 all live brutus live live first citizen bring him with triumph home unto his house second citizen give him a statue with his ancestors third citizen let him be caesar fourth citizen caesars better parts shall be crownd in brutus first citizen well bring him to his house with shouts and clamors brutus my countrymen second citizen peace silence brutus speaks first citizen peace ho brutus good countrymen let me depart alone and for my sake stay here with antony do grace to caesars corse and grace his speech tending to caesars glories which mark antony by our permission is allowd to make i do entreat you not a man depart save i alone till antony have spoke exit first citizen stay ho and let us hear mark antony third citizen let him go up into the public chair well hear him noble antony go up antony for brutus sake i am beholding to you goes into the pulpit fourth citizen what does he say of brutus third citizen he says for brutus sake he finds himself beholding to us all fourth citizen twere best he speak no harm of brutus here first citizen this caesar was a tyrant third citizen nay thats certain we are blest that rome is rid of him second citizen peace let us hear what antony can say antony you gentle romans all peace ho let us hear him antony friends romans countrymen lend me your ears i come to bury caesar 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 caesar the noble brutus hath told you caesar was ambitious if it were so it was a grievous fault and grievously hath caesar answerd it here under leave of brutus and the rest for brutus is an honorable man so are they all all honorable men come i to speak in caesars funeral he was my friend faithful and just to me but brutus says he was ambitious and brutus is an honorable man he hath brought many captives home to rome whose ransoms did the general coffers fill did this in caesar seem ambitious when that the poor have cried caesar hath wept ambition should be made of sterner stuff yet brutus says he was ambitious and brutus is an honorable 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 honorable 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 judgement thou art fled to brutish beasts and men have lost their reason bear with me my heart is in the coffin there with caesar and i must pause till it come back to me first citizen methinks there is much reason in his sayings second citizen if thou consider rightly of the matter caesar has had great wrong third citizen has he masters i fear there will a worse come in his place fourth citizen markd ye his words he would not take the crown therefore tis certain he was not ambitious first citizen if it be found so some will dear abide it second citizen poor soul his eyes are red as fire with weeping third citizen theres not a nobler man in rome than antony fourth citizen now mark him he begins again to speak antony but yesterday the word of caesar might have stood against the world now lies he there and none so poor to do him reverence o masters if i were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage i should do brutus wrong and cassius wrong who you all know are honorable men i will not do them wrong i rather choose to wrong the dead to wrong myself and you than i will wrong such honorable men but heres a parchment with the seal of caesar 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 caesars 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 fourth citizen well hear the will read it mark antony all the will the will we will hear caesars will antony have patience gentle friends i must not read it it is not meet you know how caesar loved you you are not wood you are not stones but men and being men hearing the will of caesar 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 fourth citizen read the will well hear it antony you shall read us the will caesars will antony will you be patient will you stay awhile i have oershot myself to tell you of it i fear i wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbd caesar i do fear it fourth citizen they were traitors honorable men all the will the testament second citizen they were villains murtherers the will read the will antony you will compel me then to read the will then make a ring about the corse of caesar and let me show you him that made the will shall i descend and will you give me leave all come down second citizen descend he comes down from the pulpit third citizen you shall have leave fourth citizen a ring stand round first citizen stand from the hearse stand from the body second citizen room for antony most noble antony antony nay press not so upon me stand far off all stand back room bear back antony if you have tears prepare to shed them now you all do know this mantle i remember the first time ever caesar put it on twas on a summers 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 stabbd and as he pluckd his cursed steel away mark how the blood of caesar followd it as rushing out of doors to be resolved if brutus so unkindly knockd or no for brutus as you know was caesars angel judge o you gods how dearly caesar loved him this was the most unkindest cut of all for when the noble caesar saw him stab ingratitude more strong than traitors arms quite vanquishd him then burst his mighty heart and in his mantle muffling up his face even at the base of pompeys statue which all the while ran blood great caesar fell o what a fall was there my countrymen then i and you and all of us fell down whilst bloody treason flourishd 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 caesars vesture wounded look you here here is himself marrd as you see with traitors first citizen o piteous spectacle second citizen o noble caesar third citizen o woeful day fourth citizen o traitors villains first citizen o most bloody sight second citizen we will be revenged all revenge about seek burn fire kill slay let not a traitor live antony stay countrymen first citizen peace there hear the noble antony second citizen well hear him well follow him well die with him antony good friends sweet friends let me not stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny they that have done this deed are honorable what private griefs they have alas i know not that made them do it they are wise and honorable 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 mens blood i only speak right on i tell you that which you yourselves do know show you sweet caesars wounds 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 caesar that should move the stones of rome to rise and mutiny all well mutiny first citizen well burn the house of brutus third citizen away then come seek the conspirators antony yet hear me countrymen yet hear me speak all peace ho hear antony most noble antony antony why friends you go to do you know not what wherein hath caesar thus deserved your loves alas you know not i must tell you then you have forgot the will i told you of all most true the will lets stay and hear the will antony here is the will and under caesars seal to every roman citizen he gives to every several man seventy five drachmas second citizen most noble caesar well revenge his death third citizen o royal caesar antony hear me with patience all peace ho antony moreover he hath left you all his walks his private arbors and new planted orchards on this side tiber he hath left them you and to your heirs forever common pleasures to walk abroad and recreate yourselves here was a caesar when comes such another first citizen never never come away away well burn his body in the holy place and with the brands fire the traitors houses take up the body second citizen go fetch fire third citizen pluck down benches fourth citizen pluck down forms windows anything exeunt citizens with the body antony now let it work mischief thou art afoot take thou what course thou wilt enter a servant how now fellow servant sir octavius is already come to rome antony where is he servant he and lepidus are at caesars house antony and thither will i straight to visit him he comes upon a wish fortune is merry and in this mood will give us anything servant i heard him say brutus and cassius are rid like madmen through the gates of rome antony be like they had some notice of the people how i had moved them bring me to octavius exeunt scene iii a street enter cinna the poet cinna i dreamt tonight that i did feast with caesar and things unluckily charge my fantasy i have no will to wander forth of doors yet something leads me forth enter citizens first citizen what is your name second citizen whither are you going third citizen where do you dwell fourth citizen are you a married man or a bachelor second citizen answer every man directly first citizen ay and briefly fourth citizen ay and wisely third citizen ay and truly you were best cinna 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 second citizen thats as much as to say they are fools that marry youll bear me a bang for that i fear proceed directly cinna directly i am going to caesars funeral first citizen as a friend or an enemy cinna as a friend second citizen that matter is answered directly fourth citizen for your dwelling briefly cinna briefly i dwell by the capitol third citizen your name sir truly cinna truly my name is cinna first citizen tear him to pieces hes a conspirator cinna i am cinna the poet i am cinna the poet fourth citizen tear him for his bad verses tear him for his bad verses cinna i am not cinna the conspirator fourth citizen it is no matter his names cinna pluck but his name out of his heart and turn him going third citizen tear him tear him come brands ho firebrands to brutus to cassius burn all some to decius house and some to cascas some to ligarius away go exeunt act iv scene i a house in rome antony octavius and lepidus seated at a table antony these many then shall die their names are prickd octavius your brother too must die consent you lepidus lepidus i do consent octavius prick him down antony lepidus upon condition publius shall not live who is your sisters son mark antony antony he shall not live look with a spot i damn him but lepidus go you to caesars house fetch the will hither and we shall determine how to cut off some charge in legacies lepidus what shall i find you here octavius or here or at the capitol exit lepidus antony 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 octavius so you thought him and took his voice who should be prickd to die in our black sentence and proscription antony octavius i have seen more days than you and though we lay these honors 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 octavius you may do your will but hes a tried and valiant soldier antony 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 governd by my spirit and in some taste is lepidus but so he must be taught and traind and bid go forth a barren spirited fellow one that feeds on objects arts and imitations which out of use and staled 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 combined our best friends made our means stretchd and let us presently go sit in council how covert matters may be best disclosed and open perils surest answered octavius let us do so for we are at the stake and bayd about with many enemies and some that smile have in their hearts i fear millions of mischiefs exeunt scene ii camp near sardis before brutus tent drum enter brutus lucilius lucius and soldiers titinius and pindarus meet them brutus stand ho lucilius give the word ho and stand brutus what now lucilius is cassius near lucilius he is at hand and pindarus is come to do you salutation from his master brutus 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 pindarus i do not doubt but that my noble master will appear such as he is full of regard and honor brutus he is not doubted a word lucilius how he received you let me be resolved lucilius with courtesy and with respect enough but not with such familiar instances nor with such free and friendly conference as he hath used of old brutus thou hast described 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 lucilius they meant his night in sard is to be quarterd the greater part the horse in general are come with cassius low march within brutus hark he is arrived march gently on to meet him enter cassius and his powers cassius stand ho brutus stand ho speak the word along first soldier stand second soldier stand third soldier stand cassius most noble brother you have done me wrong brutus judge me you gods wrong i mine enemies and if not so how should i wrong a brother cassius brutus this sober form of yours hides wrongs and when you do them brutus 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 cassius pindarus bid our commanders lead their charges off a little from this ground brutus 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 exeunt scene iii brutus tent enter brutus and cassius cassius that you have wrongd me doth appear in this you have condemnd 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 brutus you wrongd yourself to write in such a case cassius in such a time as this it is not meet that every nice offense should bear his comment brutus let me tell you cassius you yourself are much condemnd to have an itching palm to sell and mart your offices for gold to undeservers cassius i an itching palm you know that you are brutus that speaks this or by the gods this speech were else your last brutus the name of cassius honors this corruption and chastisement doth therefore hide his head cassius chastisement brutus remember march the ides of march remember did not great julius bleed for justice sake what villain touchd 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 honors for so much trash as may be grasped thus i had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a roman cassius brutus bait not me ill not endure it you forget yourself to hedge me in i am a soldier i older in practice abler than yourself to make conditions brutus go to you are not cassius cassius i am brutus i say you are not cassius urge me no more i shall forget myself have mind upon your health tempt me no farther brutus away slight man cassius ist possible brutus hear me for i will speak must i give way and room to your rash choler shall i be frighted when a madman stares cassius o gods ye gods must i endure all this brutus 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 bouge must i observe you must i stand and crouch under your testy humor by the gods you shall digest the venom of your spleen though it do split you for from this day forth ill use you for my mirth yea for my laughter when you are waspish cassius is it come to this brutus 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 cassius you wrong me every way you wrong me brutus i said an elder soldier not a better did i say better brutus if you did i care not cassius when caesar lived he durst not thus have moved me brutus peace peace you durst not so have tempted him cassius i durst not brutus no cassius what durst not tempt him brutus for your life you durst not cassius do not presume too much upon my love i may do that i shall be sorry for brutus you have done that you should be sorry for there is no terror cassius in your threats for i am armd 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 answerd 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 cassius i denied you not brutus you did cassius i did not he was but a fool that brought my answer back brutus hath rived my heart a friend should bear his friends infirmities but brutus makes mine greater than they are brutus i do not till you practise them on me cassius you love me not brutus i do not like your faults cassius a friendly eye could never see such faults brutus a flatterers would not though they do appear as huge as high olympus cassius come antony and young octavius come revenge yourselves alone on cassius for cassius is aweary of the world hated by one he loves braved by his brother checkd like a bondman all his faults observed set in a notebook learnd and connd 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 plutos mine richer than gold if that thou best a roman take it forth i that denied thee gold will give my heart strike as thou didst at caesar for i know when thou didst hate him worst thou lovedst him better than ever thou lovedst cassius brutus sheathe your dagger be angry when you will it shall have scope do what you will dishonor shall be humor 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 cassius hath cassius lived to be but mirth and laughter to his brutus when grief and blood ill temperd vexeth him brutus when i spoke that i was ill temperd too cassius do you confess so much give me your hand brutus and my heart too cassius o brutus brutus whats the matter cassius have not you love enough to bear with me when that rash humor which my mother gave me makes me forgetful brutus yes cassius and from henceforth when you are overearnest with your brutus hell think your mother chides and leave you so poet within let me go in to see the generals there is some grudge between em tis not meet they be alone lucilius within you shall not come to them poet within nothing but death shall stay me enter poet followed by lucilius titinius and lucius cassius how now whats the matter poet for shame you generals what do you mean love and be friends as two such men should be for i have seen more years im sure than ye cassius ha ha how vilely doth this cynic rhyme brutus get you hence sirrah saucy fellow hence cassius bear with him brutus tis his fashion brutus ill know his humor when he knows his time what should the wars do with these jigging fools companion hence cassius away away be gone exit poet brutus lucilius and titinius bid the commanders prepare to lodge their companies tonight cassius and come yourselves and bring messala with you immediately to us exeunt lucilius and titinius brutus lucius a bowl of wine exit lucius cassius i did not think you could have been so angry brutus o cassius i am sick of many griefs cassius of your philosophy you make no use if you give place to accidental evils brutus no man bears sorrow better portia is dead cassius ha portia brutus she is dead cassius how scaped killing when i crossd you so o insupportable and touching loss upon what sickness brutus 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 swallowd fire cassius and died so brutus even so cassius o ye immortal gods re enter lucius with wine and taper brutus speak no more of her give me a bowl of wine in this i bury all unkindness cassius drinks cassius my heart is thirsty for that noble pledge fill lucius till the wine oerswell the cup i cannot drink too much of brutus love drinks brutus come in titinius exit lucius re enter titinius with messala welcome good messala now sit we close about this taper here and call in question our necessities cassius portia art thou gone brutus 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 toward philippi messala myself have letters of the selfsame tenure brutus with what addition messala that by proscription and bills of outlawry octavius antony and lepidus have put to death an hundred senators brutus there in our letters do not well agree mine speak of seventy senators that died by their proscriptions cicero being one cassius cicero one messala cicero is dead and by that order of proscription had you your letters from your wife my lord brutus no messala messala nor nothing in your letters writ of her brutus nothing messala messala that methinks is strange brutus why ask you hear you aught of her in yours messala no my lord brutus now as you are a roman tell me true messala then like a roman bear the truth i tell for certain she is dead and by strange manner brutus why farewell portia we must die messala with meditating that she must die once i have the patience to endure it now messala even so great men great losses should endure cassius i have as much of this in art as you but yet my nature could not bear it so brutus well to our work alive what do you think of marching to philippi presently cassius i do not think it good brutus your reason cassius this it is tis better that the enemy seek us so shall he waste his means weary his soldiers doing himself offense whilst we lying still are full of rest defense and nimbleness brutus good reasons must of force give place to better the people twixt philippi and this ground do stand but in a forced affection for they have grudged us contribution the enemy marching along by them by them shall make a fuller number up come on refreshd new added and encouraged from which advantage shall we cut him off if at philippi we do face him there these people at our back cassius hear me good brother brutus 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 cassius then with your will go on well along ourselves and meet them at philippi brutus 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 cassius no more good night early tomorrow will we rise and hence brutus lucius re enter lucius my gown exit lucius farewell good messala good night titinius noble noble cassius good night and good repose cassius o my dear brother this was an ill beginning of the night never come such division tween our souls let it not brutus brutus everything is well cassius good night my lord brutus good night good brother titinius messala good night lord brutus brutus farewell everyone exeunt all but brutus re enter lucius with the gown give me the gown where is thy instrument lucius here in the tent brutus what thou speakst drowsily poor knave i blame thee not thou art oerwatchd call claudio and some other of my men ill have them sleep on cushions in my tent lucius varro and claudio enter varro and claudio varro calls my lord brutus 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 varro so please you we will stand and watch your pleasure brutus i would not have it so lie down good sirs it may be i shall otherwise bethink me look lucius heres the book i sought for so i put it in the pocket of my gown varro and claudio lie down lucius i was sure your lordship did not give it me brutus 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 lucius ay my lord ant please you brutus it does my boy i trouble thee too much but thou art willing lucius it is my duty sir brutus i should not urge thy duty past thy might i know young bloods look for a time of rest lucius i have slept my lord already brutus 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 music and a song this is a sleepy tune o murtherous slumber layest 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 breakst thy instrument ill take it from thee and good boy good night let me see let me see is not the leaf turnd down where i left reading here it is i think sits down enter the ghost of caesar 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 anything art thou some god some angel or some devil that makest my blood cold and my hair to stare speak to me what thou art ghost thy evil spirit brutus brutus why comest thou ghost to tell thee thou shalt see me at philippi brutus well then i shall see thee again ghost ay at philippi brutus why i will see thee at philippi then exit ghost now i have taken heart thou vanishest ill spirit i would hold more talk with thee boy lucius varro claudio sirs awake claudio lucius the strings my lord are false brutus he thinks he still is at his instrument lucius awake lucius my lord brutus didst thou dream lucius that thou so criedst out lucius my lord i do not know that i did cry brutus yes that thou didst didst thou see anything lucius nothing my lord brutus sleep again lucius sirrah claudio to varro fellow thou awake varro my lord claudio my lord brutus why did you so cry out sirs in your sleep varro claudio did we my lord brutus ay saw you anything varro no my lord i saw nothing claudio nor i my lord brutus go and commend me to my brother cassius bid him set on his powers betimes before and we will follow varro claudio it shall be done my lord exeunt act v scene i the plains of philippi enter octavius antony and their army octavius 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 antony 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 enter a messenger messenger prepare you generals the enemy comes on in gallant show their bloody sign of battle is hung out and something to be done immediately antony octavius lead your battle softly on upon the left hand of the even field octavius upon the right hand i keep thou the left antony why do you cross me in this exigent octavius i do not cross you but i will do so march drum enter brutus cassius and their army lucilius titinius messala and others brutus they stand and would have parley cassius stand fast titinius we must out and talk octavius mark antony shall we give sign of battle antony no caesar we will answer on their charge make forth the generals would have some words octavius stir not until the signal not until the signal brutus words before blows is it so countrymen octavius not that we love words better as you do brutus good words are better than bad strokes octavius antony in your bad strokes brutus you give good words witness the hole you made in caesars heart crying long live hail caesar cassius antony the posture of your blows are yet unknown but for your words they rob the hybla bees and leave them honeyless antony not stingless too brutus o yes and soundless too for you have stoln their buzzing antony and very wisely threat before you sting antony villains you did not so when your vile daggers hackd one another in the sides of caesar you showd your teeth like apes and fawnd like hounds and bowd like bondmen kissing caesars feet whilst damned casca like a cur behind strooke caesar on the neck o you flatterers cassius flatterers now brutus thank yourself this tongue had not offended so today if cassius might have ruled octavius 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 caesars three and thirty wounds be well avenged or till another caesar have added slaughter to the sword of traitors brutus caesar thou canst not die by traitors hands unless thou bringst them with thee octavius so i hope i was not born to die on brutus sword brutus o if thou wert the noblest of thy strain young man thou couldst not die more honorable cassius a peevish school boy worthless of such honor joind with a masker and a reveler antony old cassius still octavius come antony away defiance traitors hurl we in your teeth if you dare fight today come to the field if not when you have stomachs exeunt octavius antony and their army cassius why now blow and swell billow and swim bark the storm is up and all is on the hazard brutus ho lucilius hark a word with you lucilius stands forth my lord brutus and lucilius converse apart cassius messala messala stands forth what says my general cassius messala this is my birthday 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 compelld 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 perchd gorging and feeding from our soldiers hands who to philippi here consorted us this morning are they fled away and gone and in their steads do ravens crows and kites fly oer 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 messala believe not so cassius i but believe it partly for i am fresh of spirit and resolved to meet all perils very constantly brutus even so lucilius cassius now most noble brutus the gods today stand friendly that we may lovers in peace lead on our days to age but since the affairs of men rest still incertain lets 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 brutus 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 cassius then if we lose this battle you are contented to be led in triumph thorough the streets of rome brutus 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 forever and forever farewell cassius if we do meet again why we shall smile if not why then this parting was well made cassius forever and forever farewell brutus if we do meet again well smile indeed if not tis true this parting was well made brutus why then lead on o that a man might know the end of this days business ere it come but it sufficeth that the day will end and then the end is known come ho away exeunt scene ii the field of battle alarum enter brutus and messala brutus ride ride messala ride and give these bills unto the legions on the other side loud alarum let them set on at once for i perceive but cold demeanor in octavias wing and sudden push gives them the overthrow ride ride messala let them all come down exeunt scene iii another part of the field alarums enter cassius and titinius cassius o look titinius look the villains fly myself have to mine own turnd enemy this ensign here of mine was turning back i slew the coward and did take it from him titinius 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 enclosed enter pindarus pindarus fly further off my lord fly further off mark antony is in your tents my lord fly therefore noble cassius fly far off cassius this hill is far enough look look titinius are those my tents where i perceive the fire titinius they are my lord cassius titinius if thou lovest 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 assured whether yond troops are friend or enemy titinius i will be here again even with a thought exit cassius go pindarus get higher on that hill my sight was ever thick regard titinius and tell me what thou notest about the field pindarus ascends the hill 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 pindarus above o my lord cassius what news pindarus above 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 hes taen shout and hark they shout for joy cassius come down behold no more o coward that i am to live so long to see my best friend taen before my face pindarus descends 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 caesars bowels search this bosom stand not to answer here take thou the hilts and when my face is coverd as tis now guide thou the sword pindarus stabs him caesar thou art revenged even with the sword that killd thee dies pindarus 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 exit re enter titinius with messala messala it is but change titinius for octavius is overthrown by noble brutus power as cassius legions are by antony titinius these tidings would well comfort cassius messala where did you leave him titinius all disconsolate with pindarus his bondman on this hill messala is not that he that lies upon the ground titinius he lies not like the living o my heart messala is not that he titinius 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 messala mistrust of good success hath done this deed o hateful error melancholys child why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men the things that are not o error soon conceived thou never comest unto a happy birth but killst the mother that engenderd thee titinius what pindarus where art thou pindarus messala 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 titinius hie you messala and i will seek for pindarus the while exit messala 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 misconstrued everything 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 romans part come cassius sword and find titinius heart kills himself alarum re enter messala with brutus young cato and others brutus where where messala doth his body lie messala lo yonder and titinius mourning it brutus titinius face is upward cato he is slain brutus o julius caesar thou art mighty yet thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords in our own proper entrails low alarums cato brave titinius look wheer he have not crownd dead cassius brutus 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 moe tears to this dead man than you shall see me pay i shall find time cassius i shall find time come therefore and to thasos 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 labio and flavio set our battles on tis three oclock and romans yet ere night we shall try fortune in a second fight exeunt scene iv another part of the field alarum enter fighting soldiers of both armies then brutus young cato lucilius and others brutus yet countrymen o yet hold up your heads cato 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 countrys friend i am the son of marcus cato ho brutus and i am brutus marcus brutus i brutus my countrys friend know me for brutus exit lucilius o young and noble cato art thou down why now thou diest as bravely as titinius and mayst be honord being catos son first soldier yield or thou diest lucilius only i yield to die offers money there is so much that thou wilt kill me straight kill brutus and be honord in his death first soldier we must not a noble prisoner second soldier room ho tell antony brutus is taen first soldier ill tell the news here comes the general enter antony brutus is taen brutus is taen my lord antony where is he lucilius 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 antony 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 wheer brutus be alive or dead and bring us word unto octavius tent how everything is chanced exeunt scene v another part of the field enter brutus dardanius clitus strato and volumnius brutus come poor remains of friends rest on this rock clitus statilius showd the torchlight but my lord he came not back he is or taen or slain brutus sit thee down clitus slaying is the word it is a deed in fashion hark thee clitus whispers clitus what i my lord no not for all the world brutus peace then no words clitus ill rather kill myself brutus hark thee dardanius whispers dardanius shall i do such a deed clitus o dardanius dardanius o clitus clitus what ill request did brutus make to thee dardanius to kill him clitus look he meditates clitus now is that noble vessel full of grief that it runs over even at his eyes brutus come hither good volumnius list a word volumnius what says my lord brutus why this volumnius the ghost of caesar hath appeard to me two several times by night at sardis once and this last night here in philippi fields i know my hour is come volumnius not so my lord brutus nay i am sure it is volumnius thou seest the world volumnius how it goes our enemies have beat us to the pit low alarums it is more worthy to leap in ourselves than tarry till they push us good volumnius thou knowst 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 volumnius thats not an office for a friend my lord alarum still clitus fly fly my lord there is no tarrying here brutus 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 lifes history night hangs upon mine eyes my bones would rest that have but labord to attain this hour alarum cry within fly fly fly clitus fly my lord fly brutus hence i will follow exeunt clitus dardanius and volumnius i prithee strato stay thou by thy lord thou art a fellow of a good respect thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it hold then my sword and turn away thy face while i do run upon it wilt thou strato strato give me your hand first fare you well my lord brutus farewell good strato runs on his sword caesar now be still i killd not thee with half so good a will dies alarum retreat enter octavius antony messala lucilius and the army octavius what man is that messala my masters man strato where is thy master strato 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 honor by his death lucilius so brutus should be found i thank thee brutus that thou hast proved lucilius saying true octavius all that served brutus i will entertain them fellow wilt thou bestow thy time with me strato ay if messala will prefer me to you octavius do so good messala messala how died my master strato strato i held the sword and he did run on it messala octavius then take him to follow thee that did the latest service to my master antony this was the noblest roman of them all all the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great caesar he only in a general honest thought and common good to all made one of them his life was gentle and the elements so mixd in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world this was a man octavius according to his virtue let us use him with all respect and rites of burial within my tent his bones tonight shall lie most like a soldier ordered honorably so call the field to rest and lets away to part the glories of this happy day exeunt the end the tragedy of king lear by william shakespeare contents act i scene i a room of state in king lears palace scene ii a hall in the earl of gloucesters castle scene iii a room in the duke of albanys palace scene iv a hall in albanys palace scene v court before the duke of albanys palace act ii scene i a court within the castle of the earl of gloucester scene ii before gloucesters castle scene iii the open country scene iv before gloucesters castle act iii scene i a heath scene ii another part of the heath scene iii a room in gloucesters castle scene iv a part of the heath with a hovel scene v a room in gloucesters castle scene vi a chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle scene vii a room in gloucesters castle act iv scene i the heath scene ii before the duke of albanys palace scene iii the french camp near dover scene iv the french camp a tent scene v a room in gloucesters castle scene vi the country near dover scene vii a tent in the french camp act v scene i the camp of the british forces near dover scene ii a field between the two camps scene iii the british camp near dover dramatis personae lear king of britain goneril eldest daughter to lear regan second daughter to lear cordelia youngest daughter to lear duke of albany married to goneril duke of cornwall married to regan king of france duke of burgundy earl of gloucester edgar elder son to gloucester edmund younger bastard son to gloucester earl of kent fool oswald steward to goneril curan a courtier old man tenant to gloucester physician an officer employed by edmund gentleman attendant on cordelia a herald servants to cornwall knights attending on the king officers messengers soldiers and attendants scene britain act i scene i a room of state in king lears palace enter kent gloucester and edmund kent i thought the king had more affected the duke of albany than cornwall gloucester 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 qualities are so weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of eithers moiety kent is not this your son my lord gloucester his breeding sir hath been at my charge i have so often blushd to acknowledge him that now i am brazd tot kent i cannot conceive you gloucester sir this young fellows 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 kent i cannot wish the fault undone the issue of it being so proper gloucester 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 something saucily to 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 edmund no my lord gloucester my lord of kent remember him hereafter as my honourable friend edmund my services to your lordship kent i must love you and sue to know you better edmund sir i shall study deserving gloucester he hath been out nine years and away he shall again the king is coming sennet within enter lear cornwall albany goneril regan cordelia and attendants lear attend the lords of france and burgundy gloucester gloucester i shall my lord exeunt gloucester and edmund lear 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 unburdend 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 daughters love long in our court have made their amorous sojourn and here are to be answerd 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 goneril sir i love you more than word can wield the matter dearer than eyesight space and liberty beyond what can be valud rich or rare no less than life with grace health beauty honour as much as child eer lovd or father found a love that makes breath poor and speech unable beyond all manner of so much i love you cordelia aside what shall cordelia speak love and be silent lear of all these bounds even from this line to this with shadowy forests and with champains richd with plenteous rivers and wide skirted meads we make thee lady to thine and albanys issue be this perpetual what says our second daughter our dearest regan wife of cornwall speak regan sir i am made of the self mettle 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 cordelia aside then poor cordelia and yet not so since i am sure my loves more ponderous than my tongue lear to thee and thine hereditary ever remain this ample third of our fair kingdom no less in space validity and pleasure than that conferrd on goneril now our joy although the last and least to whose young love the vines of france and milk of burgundy strive to be interessd what can you say to draw a third more opulent than your sisters speak cordelia nothing my lord lear nothing cordelia nothing lear nothing will come of nothing speak again cordelia unhappy that i am i cannot heave my heart into my mouth i love your majesty according to my bond no more nor less lear how how cordelia mend your speech a little lest you may mar your fortunes cordelia good my lord you have begot me bred me lovd 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 lear but goes thy heart with this cordelia ay my good lord lear so young and so untender cordelia so young my lord and true lear 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 neighbourd pitied and relievd as thou my sometime daughter kent good my liege lear peace kent come not between the dragon and his wrath i lovd her most and thought to set my rest on her kind nursery to cordelia hence and avoid my sight so be my grave my peace as here i give her fathers heart from her call france who stirs call burgundy cornwall and albany with my two daughters dowers digest this 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 an hundred knights by you to be sustaind shall our abode make with you by due turn only we shall retain the name and all the addition to a king the sway revenue execution of the rest beloved sons be yours which to confirm this coronet part between you giving the crown kent royal lear whom i have ever honourd as my king lovd as my father as my master followd as my great patron thought on in my prayers lear the bow is bent and drawn make from the shaft kent 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 thinkst thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows to plainness honours bound when majesty falls to folly reverse thy state and in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness answer my life my judgement thy youngest daughter does not love thee least nor are those empty hearted whose low sounds reverb no hollowness lear kent on thy life no more kent my life i never held but as a pawn to wage against thine enemies neer fear to lose it thy safety being the motive lear out of my sight kent see better lear and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye lear now by apollo kent now by apollo king thou swearst thy gods in vain lear o vassal miscreant laying his hand on his sword albany and cornwall dear sir forbear kent kill thy physician and the fee bestow upon the foul disease revoke thy gift or whilst i can vent clamour from my throat ill tell thee thou dost evil lear hear me recreant on thine allegiance hear me since thou hast sought to make us break our vows which we durst never yet and with straind pride to come betwixt our sentences and our power which nor our nature nor our place can bear our potency made good take thy reward five days we do allot thee for provision to shield thee from disasters of the world and on the sixth to turn thy hated back upon our kingdom if on the next day following thy banishd trunk be found in our dominions the moment is thy death away by jupiter this shall not be revokd kent fare thee well king sith thus thou wilt appear freedom lives hence and banishment is here to cordelia the gods to their dear shelter take thee maid that justly thinkst and hast most rightly said to goneril and regan 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 hell shape his old course in a country new exit flourish re enter gloucester with france burgundy and attendants cordelia heres france and burgundy my noble lord lear my lord of burgundy we first address toward you who with this king hath rivalld for our daughter what in the least will you require in present dower with her or cease your quest of love burgundy most royal majesty i crave no more than hath your highness offerd nor will you tender less lear right noble burgundy when she was dear to us we did hold her so but now her price is falln sir there she stands if aught within that little seeming substance or all of it with our displeasure piecd and nothing more may fitly like your grace shes there and she is yours burgundy i know no answer lear will you with those infirmities she owes unfriended new adopted to our hate dowerd with our curse and strangerd with our oath take her or leave her burgundy pardon me royal sir election makes not up in such conditions lear then leave her sir for by the power that made me i tell you all her wealth to france for you great king i would not from your love make such a stray to match you where i hate therefore beseech you tavert your liking a more worthier way than on a wretch whom nature is ashamd almost tacknowledge hers france 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 vouchd affection fall into taint which to believe of her must be a faith that reason without miracle should never plant in me cordelia i yet beseech your majesty if for i want that glib and oily art to speak and purpose not since what i well intend ill dot before i speak that you make known it is no vicious blot murder or foulness no unchaste action or dishonourd step that hath deprivd 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 as i am glad i have not though not to have it hath lost me in your liking lear better thou hadst not been born than not to have pleasd me better france 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 loves not love when it is mingled with regards that stands aloof from the entire point will you have her she is herself a dowry burgundy royal king give but that portion which yourself proposd and here i take cordelia by the hand duchess of burgundy lear nothing i have sworn i am firm burgundy i am sorry then you have so lost a father that you must lose a husband cordelia peace be with burgundy since that respects of fortunes are his love i shall not be his wife france fairest cordelia that art most rich being poor most choice forsaken and most lovd despisd thee and thy virtues here i seize upon be it lawful i take up whats cast away gods gods tis strange that from their coldst neglect my love should kindle to inflamd 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 can buy this unprizd precious maid of me bid them farewell cordelia though unkind thou losest here a better where to find lear 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 flourish exeunt lear burgundy cornwall albany gloucester and attendants france bid farewell to your sisters cordelia the jewels of our father with washd eyes cordelia leaves you i know you what you are and like a sister am most loath to call your faults as they are namd love 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 regan prescribe not us our duties goneril let your study be to content your lord who hath receivd you at fortunes alms you have obedience scanted and well are worth the want that you have wanted cordelia time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides who covers faults at last shame derides well may you prosper france come my fair cordelia exeunt france and cordelia goneril sister it is not little i have to say of what most nearly appertains to us both i think our father will hence tonight regan thats most certain and with you next month with us goneril 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 judgement he hath now cast her off appears too grossly regan tis the infirmity of his age yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself goneril the best and soundest of his time hath been but rash then must we look from his age to receive not alone the imperfections of long engrafted condition but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them regan such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of kents banishment goneril there is further compliment of leave taking between france and him pray you let us hit together if our father carry authority with such disposition as he bears this last surrender of his will but offend us regan we shall further think of it goneril we must do something and i th heat exeunt scene ii a hall in the earl of gloucesters castle enter edmund with a letter edmund 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 madams 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 fathers 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 enter gloucester gloucester kent banishd thus and france in choler parted and the king gone tonight prescribd his powr confind to exhibition all this done upon the gad edmund how now what news edmund so please your lordship none putting up the letter gloucester why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter edmund i know no news my lord gloucester what paper were you reading edmund nothing my lord gloucester no what needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your pocket the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself lets see come if it be nothing i shall not need spectacles edmund i beseech you sir pardon me it is a letter from my brother that i have not all oer read and for so much as i have perusd i find it not fit for your oer looking gloucester give me the letter sir edmund i shall offend either to detain or give it the contents as in part i understand them are to blame gloucester lets see lets see edmund i hope for my brothers justification he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue gloucester reads 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 edgar hum conspiracy sleep till i wake him you should enjoy half his revenue my son edgar had he a hand to write this a heart and brain to breed it in when came this to you who brought it edmund it was not brought me my lord theres the cunning of it i found it thrown in at the casement of my closet gloucester you know the character to be your brothers edmund 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 gloucester it is his edmund it is his hand my lord but i hope his heart is not in the contents gloucester has he never before sounded you in this business edmund never my lord but i have heard him oft 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 gloucester o villain villain his very opinion in the letter abhorred villain unnatural detested brutish villain worse than brutish go sirrah seek him ill apprehend him abominable villain where is he edmund 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 should 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 gloucester think you so edmund 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 gloucester he cannot be such a monster edmund nor is not sure gloucester 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 edmund i will seek him sir presently convey the business as i shall find means and acquaint you withal gloucester 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 twixt son and father this villain of mine comes under the prediction theres son against father the king falls from bias of nature theres 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 exit edmund this is the excellent foppery of the world that when we are sick in fortune often the surfeits of our own behaviour we make guilty of our disasters the sun the moon and the stars as if we were villains on 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 dragons tail and my nativity was under ursa major so that it follows i am rough and lecherous fut i should have been that i am had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing enter edgar pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old comedy my cue is villainous melancholy with a sigh like tom obedlam o these eclipses do portend these divisions fa sol la mi edgar how now brother edmund what serious contemplation are you in edmund i am thinking brother of a prediction i read this other day what should follow these eclipses edgar do you busy yourself with that edmund 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 edgar how long have you been a sectary astronomical edmund come come when saw you my father last edgar the night gone by edmund spake you with him edgar ay two hours together edmund parted you in good terms found you no displeasure in him by word nor countenance edgar none at all edmund bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him and at my entreaty forbear his presence until 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 edgar some villain hath done me wrong edmund thats 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 ye go theres my key if you do stir abroad go armed edgar armed brother edmund brother i advise you to the best 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 edgar shall i hear from you anon edmund i do serve you in this business exit edgar 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 mes meet that i can fashion fit exit scene iii a room in the duke of albanys palace enter goneril and oswald goneril did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool oswald ay madam goneril by day and night he wrongs me every hour he flashes into one gross crime or other that sets us all at odds ill 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 ill answer horns within oswald hes coming madam i hear him goneril put on what weary negligence you please you and your fellows id have it come to question if he distaste it let him to our sister whose mind and mine i know in that are one not to be overruled 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 usd with checks as flatteries when they are seen abusd remember what i have said oswald very well madam goneril and let his knights have colder looks among you what grows of it no matter advise your fellows so i would breed from hence occasions and i shall that i may speak ill write straight to my sister to hold my very course prepare for dinner exeunt scene iv a hall in albanys palace enter kent disguised kent if but as well i other accents borrow that can my speech defuse my good intent may carry through itself to that full issue for which i raisd my likeness now banishd kent if thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemnd so may it come thy master whom thou lovst shall find thee full of labours horns within enter king lear knights and attendants lear let me not stay a jot for dinner go get it ready exit an attendant how now what art thou kent a man sir lear what dost thou profess what wouldst thou with us kent 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 judgement to fight when i cannot choose and to eat no fish lear what art thou kent a very honest hearted fellow and as poor as the king lear if thou best as poor for a subject as hes for a king thou art poor enough what wouldst thou kent service lear who wouldst thou serve kent you lear dost thou know me fellow kent no sir but you have that in your countenance which i would fain call master lear whats that kent authority lear what services canst thou do kent 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 lear how old art thou kent not so young sir to love a woman for singing nor so old to dote on her for anything i have years on my back forty eight lear follow me thou shalt serve me if i like thee no worse after dinner i will not part from thee yet dinner ho dinner wheres my knave my fool go you and call my fool hither exit an attendant enter oswald you you sirrah wheres my daughter oswald so please you exit lear what says the fellow there call the clotpoll back exit a knight wheres my fool ho i think the worlds asleep re enter knight how now wheres that mongrel knight he says my lord your daughter is not well lear why came not the slave back to me when i called him knight sir he answered me in the roundest manner he would not lear he would not knight my lord i know not what the matter is but to my judgement your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont theres a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependants as in the duke himself also and your daughter lear ha sayst thou so knight i beseech you pardon me my lord if i be mistaken for my duty cannot be silent when i think your highness wronged lear 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 intot but wheres my fool i have not seen him this two days knight since my young ladys going into france sir the fool hath much pined away lear no more of that i have noted it well go you and tell my daughter i would speak with her exit attendant go you call hither my fool exit another attendant re enter oswald o you sir you come you hither sir who am i sir oswald my ladys father lear my ladys father my lords knave you whoreson dog you slave you cur oswald i am none of these my lord i beseech your pardon lear do you bandy looks with me you rascal striking him oswald ill not be struck my lord kent nor trippd neither you base football player tripping up his heels lear i thank thee fellow thou servst me and ill love thee kent come sir arise away ill teach you differences away away if you will measure your lubbers length again tarry but away go to have you wisdom so pushes oswald out lear now my friendly knave i thank thee theres earnest of thy service giving kent money enter fool fool let me hire him too heres my coxcomb giving kent his cap lear how now my pretty knave how dost thou fool sirrah you were best take my coxcomb kent why fool fool why for taking ones part thats out of favour nay an thou canst not smile as the wind sits thoult catch cold shortly there take my coxcomb why this fellow has banishd two ons 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 lear why my boy fool if i gave them all my living id keep my coxcombs myself theres mine beg another of thy daughters lear take heed sirrah the whip fool truths a dog must to kennel he must be whipped out when the lady brach may stand by the fire and stink lear a pestilent gall to me fool sirrah ill teach thee a speech lear do fool 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 kent this is nothing fool fool then tis like the breath of an unfeed lawyer you gave me nothing fort can you make no use of nothing nuncle lear why no boy nothing can be made out of nothing fool to kent prythee tell him so much the rent of his land comes to he will not believe a fool lear a bitter fool fool dost thou know the difference my boy between a bitter fool and a sweet one lear no lad teach me fool that lord that counselld 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 lear dost thou call me fool boy fool all thy other titles thou hast given away that thou wast born with kent this is not altogether fool my lord fool no faith lords and great men will not let me if i had a monopoly out they would have part ont and ladies too they will not let me have all the fool to myself theyll be snatching nuncle give me an egg and ill give thee two crowns lear what two crowns shall they be fool 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 gavst away both parts thou borst thine ass on thy back oer the dirt thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavst thy golden one away if i speak like myself in this let him be whipped that first finds it so singing fools had neer less grace in a year for wise men are grown foppish and know not how their wits to wear their manners are so apish lear when were you wont to be so full of songs sirrah fool i have used it nuncle eer since thou madst thy daughters thy mothers for when thou gavst them the rod and putst down thine own breeches singing 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 prythee nuncle keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to lie i would fain learn to lie lear an you lie sirrah well have you whipped fool i marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are theyll have me whipped for speaking true thoult have me whipped for lying and sometimes i am whipped for holding my peace i had rather be any kind othing than a fool and yet i would not be thee nuncle thou hast pared thy wit oboth sides and left nothing i the middle here comes one o the parings enter goneril lear how now daughter what makes that frontlet on methinks you are too much of late i the frown fool 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 to goneril yes forsooth i will hold my tongue so your face bids me though you say nothing mum mum he that keeps nor crust nor crum weary of all shall want some pointing to lear thats a shealed peascod goneril not only sir this your all licensd 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 fool for you know nuncle the hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo so long that its had it head bit off by it young so out went the candle and we were left darkling lear are you our daughter goneril come sir i would you would make use of that good wisdom whereof i know you are fraught and put away these dispositions which of late transform you from what you rightly are fool may not an ass know when the cart draws the horse whoop jug i love thee lear doth any here know me this is not lear doth 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 fool lears shadow lear i would learn that for by the marks of sovereignty knowledge and reason i should be false persuaded i had daughters fool which they will make an obedient father lear your name fair gentlewoman goneril 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 you should be wise here do you keep a hundred knights and squires men so disorderd so deboshd and bold that this our court infected with their manners shows like a riotous inn epicurism and lust makes it more like a tavern or a brothel than a gracd palace the shame itself doth speak for instant remedy be then desird 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 lear darkness and devils saddle my horses call my train together degenerate bastard ill not trouble thee yet have i left a daughter goneril you strike my people and your disorderd rabble make servants of their betters enter albany lear woe that too late repents to albany o sir are you come is it your will speak sir prepare my horses ingratitude thou marble hearted fiend more hideous when thou showst thee in a child than the sea monster albany pray sir be patient lear to goneril 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 wrenchd my frame of nature from the fixd place drew from my heart all love and added to the gall o lear lear lear striking his head beat at this gate that let thy folly in and thy dear judgement out go go my people albany my lord i am guiltless as i am ignorant of what hath moved you lear 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 disnaturd torment to her let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth with cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks turn all her mothers pains and benefits to laughter and contempt that she may feel how sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have a thankless child away away exit albany now gods that we adore whereof comes this goneril never afflict yourself to know more of it but let his disposition have that scope that dotage gives it re enter lear lear what fifty of my followers at a clap within a fortnight albany whats the matter sir lear ill tell thee to goneril life and death i am ashamd 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 thuntented woundings of a fathers curse pierce every sense about thee old fond eyes beweep this cause again ill pluck ye out and cast you with the waters that you lose to temper clay ha 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 shell flay thy wolvish visage thou shalt find that ill resume the shape which thou dost think i have cast off for ever exeunt lear kent and attendants goneril do you mark that albany i cannot be so partial goneril to the great love i bear you goneril pray you content what oswald ho to the fool you sir more knave than fool after your master fool 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 exit goneril 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 albany well you may fear too far goneril 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 utterd i have writ my sister if she sustain him and his hundred knights when i have showd thunfitness re enter oswald how now oswald what have you writ that letter to my sister oswald ay madam goneril 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 exit oswald no no my lord this milky gentleness and course of yours though i condemn not yet under pardon you are much more attaskd for want of wisdom than praisd for harmful mildness albany how far your eyes may pierce i cannot tell striving to better oft we mar whats well goneril nay then albany well well the event exeunt scene v court before the duke of albanys palace enter lear kent and fool lear go you before to gloucester with these letters acquaint my daughter no further with anything you know than comes from her demand out of the letter if your diligence be not speedy i shall be there afore you kent i will not sleep my lord till i have delivered your letter exit fool if a mans brains were ins heels weret not in danger of kibes lear ay boy fool then i prythee be merry thy wit shall not go slipshod lear ha ha ha fool shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly for though shes as like this as a crabs like an apple yet i can tell what i can tell lear what canst tell boy fool shell taste as like this as a crab does to a crab thou canst tell why ones nose stands ithe middle ons face lear no fool why to keep ones eyes of either sides nose that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into lear i did her wrong fool canst tell how an oyster makes his shell lear no fool nor i neither but i can tell why a snail has a house lear why fool why to puts head in not to give it away to his daughters and leave his horns without a case lear i will forget my nature so kind a father be my horses ready fool thy asses are gone about em the reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason lear because they are not eight fool yes indeed thou wouldst make a good fool lear to takt again perforce monster ingratitude fool if thou wert my fool nuncle ild have thee beaten for being old before thy time lear hows that fool thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise lear o let me not be mad not mad sweet heaven keep me in temper i would not be mad enter gentleman how now are the horses ready gentleman ready my lord lear come boy fool she thats a maid now and laughs at my departure shall not be a maid long unless things be cut shorter exeunt act ii scene i a court within the castle of the earl of gloucester enter edmund and curan meeting edmund save thee curan 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 this night edmund how comes that curan nay i know not you have heard of the news abroad i mean the whispered ones for they are yet but ear kissing arguments edmund not i pray you what are they curan have you heard of no likely wars toward twixt the two dukes of cornwall and albany edmund not a word curan you may do then in time fare you well sir exit edmund the duke be here tonight 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 enter edgar 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 hes 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 edgar i am sure ont not a word edmund 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 exit edgar some blood drawn on me would beget opinion of my more fierce endeavour wounds his arm i have seen drunkards do more than this in sport father father stop stop no help enter gloucester and servants with torches gloucester now edmund wheres the villain edmund here stood he in the dark his sharp sword out mumbling of wicked charms conjuring the moon to stand auspicious mistress gloucester but where is he edmund look sir i bleed gloucester where is the villain edmund edmund fled this way sir when by no means he could gloucester pursue him ho go after exeunt servants by no means what edmund 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 latchd mine arm but when he saw my best alarumd spirits bold in the quarrels right rousd to thencounter or whether gasted by the noise i made full suddenly he fled gloucester let him fly far not in this land shall he remain uncaught and found dispatchd the noble duke my master my worthy arch and patron comes tonight 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 edmund when i dissuaded him from his intent and found him pight to do it with curst speech i threatend 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 faithd no what i should deny as this i would ay though thou didst produce my very character id 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 gloucester o strange and fastned villain would he deny his letter said he i never got him tucket within hark the dukes trumpets i know not why he comes all ports ill 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 ill work the means to make thee capable enter cornwall regan and attendants cornwall how now my noble friend since i came hither which i can call but now i have heard strange news regan if it be true all vengeance comes too short which can pursue thoffender how dost my lord gloucester o madam my old heart is crackd its crackd regan what did my fathers godson seek your life he whom my father namd your edgar gloucester o lady lady shame would have it hid regan was he not companion with the riotous knights that tend upon my father gloucester i know not madam tis too bad too bad edmund yes madam he was of that consort regan no marvel then though he were ill affected tis they have put him on the old mans death to have the expense and waste of his revenues i have this present evening from my sister been well informd of them and with such cautions that if they come to sojourn at my house ill not be there cornwall nor i assure thee regan edmund i hear that you have shown your father a childlike office edmund it was my duty sir gloucester he did bewray his practice and receivd this hurt you see striving to apprehend him cornwall is he pursued gloucester ay my good lord cornwall if he be taken he shall never more be feard 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 edmund i shall serve you sir truly however else gloucester for him i thank your grace cornwall you know not why we came to visit you regan thus out of season threading dark eyd night occasions noble gloucester of some poise 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 business which craves the instant use gloucester i serve you madam your graces are right welcome exeunt flourish scene ii before gloucesters castle enter kent and oswald severally oswald good dawning to thee friend art of this house kent ay oswald where may we set our horses kent i the mire oswald prythee if thou lovst me tell me kent i love thee not oswald why then i care not for thee kent if i had thee in lipsbury pinfold i would make thee care for me oswald why dost thou use me thus i know thee not kent fellow i know thee oswald what dost thou know me for kent a knave a rascal an eater of broken meats a base proud shallow beggarly three suited hundred pound filthy worsted stocking knave a lily livered action taking whoreson glass gazing super serviceable 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 pander 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 oswald why what a monstrous fellow art thou thus to rail on one thats neither known of thee nor knows thee kent what a brazen faced varlet art thou to deny thou knowest me is it two days ago since i tripped up thy heels and beat thee before the king draw you rogue for though it be night yet the moon shines ill make a sop o the moonshine of you draw you whoreson cullionly barber monger draw drawing his sword oswald away i have nothing to do with thee kent draw you rascal you come with letters against the king and take vanity the puppets part against the royalty of her father draw you rogue or ill so carbonado your shanks draw you rascal come your ways oswald help ho murder help kent strike you slave stand rogue stand you neat slave strike beating him oswald help ho murder murder enter edmund cornwall regan gloucester and servants edmund how now whats the matter part kent with you goodman boy if you please come ill flesh ye come on young master gloucester weapons arms whats the matter here cornwall keep peace upon your lives he dies that strikes again what is the matter regan the messengers from our sister and the king cornwall what is your difference speak oswald i am scarce in breath my lord kent no marvel you have so bestirrd your valour you cowardly rascal nature disclaims in thee a tailor made thee cornwall thou art a strange fellow a tailor make a man kent ay a tailor sir a stonecutter or a painter could not have made him so ill though he had been but two years at the trade cornwall speak yet how grew your quarrel oswald this ancient ruffian sir whose life i have spared at suit of his grey beard kent thou whoreson zed thou unnecessary letter my lord if youll give me leave i will tread this unbolted villain into mortar and daub the walls of a jakes with him spare my grey beard you wagtail cornwall peace sirrah you beastly knave know you no reverence kent yes sir but anger hath a privilege cornwall why art thou angry kent 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 intrince tunloose 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 naught 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 id drive ye cackling home to camelot cornwall what art thou mad old fellow gloucester how fell you out say that kent no contraries hold more antipathy than i and such a knave cornwall why dost thou call him knave what is his fault kent his countenance likes me not cornwall no more perchance does mine or his or hers kent 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 cornwall this is some fellow who having been praisd 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 hes 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 kent sir in good faith in sincere verity under thallowance of your great aspect whose influence like the wreath of radiant fire on flickering phoebus front cornwall what meanst by this kent 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 tot cornwall what was the offence you gave him oswald i never gave him any it pleasd the king his master very late to strike at me upon his misconstruction when he compact and flattering his displeasure trippd me behind being down insulted raild and put upon him such a deal of man that worthied him got praises of the king for him attempting who was self subdud and in the fleshment of this dread exploit drew on me here again kent none of these rogues and cowards but ajax is their fool cornwall fetch forth the stocks you stubborn ancient knave you reverent braggart well teach you kent 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 cornwall fetch forth the stocks as i have life and honour there shall he sit till noon regan till noon till night my lord and all night too kent why madam if i were your fathers dog you should not use me so regan sir being his knave i will stocks brought out cornwall this is a fellow of the selfsame colour our sister speaks of come bring away the stocks gloucester let me beseech your grace not to do so his fault is much and the good king his master will check him fort your purposd low correction is such as basest and contemnedst wretches for pilferings and most common trespasses are punishd with the king must take it ill that he so slightly valued in his messenger should have him thus restrained cornwall ill answer that regan my sister may receive it much more worse to have her gentleman abusd assaulted for following her affairs put in his legs kent is put in the stocks cornwall come my good lord away exeunt all but gloucester and kent gloucester i am sorry for thee friend tis the dukes pleasure whose disposition all the world well knows will not be rubbd nor stoppd ill entreat for thee kent pray do not sir i have watchd and travelld hard some time i shall sleep out the rest ill whistle a good mans fortune may grow out at heels give you good morrow gloucester the dukes to blame in this twill be ill taken exit kent good king that must approve the common saw thou out of heavens benediction comst 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 informd of my obscured course and shall find time from this enormous state seeking to give losses their remedies all weary and oerwatchd take vantage heavy eyes not to behold this shameful lodging fortune good night smile once more turn thy wheel he sleeps scene iii the open country enter edgar edgar i heard myself proclaimd and by the happy hollow of a tree escapd 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 ill 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 numbd 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 turlygod poor tom thats something yet edgar i nothing am exit scene iv before gloucesters castle kent in the stocks enter lear fool and gentleman lear tis strange that they should so depart from home and not send back my messenger gentleman as i learnd the night before there was no purpose in them of this remove kent hail to thee noble master lear ha makst thou this shame thy pastime kent no my lord fool ha ha he wears cruel garters horses are tied by the heads dogs and bears by the neck monkeys by the loins and men by the legs when a man is overlusty at legs then he wears wooden nether stocks lear whats he that hath so much thy place mistook to set thee here kent it is both he and she your son and daughter lear no kent yes lear no i say kent i say yea lear no no they would not kent yes they have lear by jupiter i swear no kent by juno i swear ay lear they durst not dot they could not would not dot 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 kent my lord when at their home i did commend your highness letters to them ere i was risen from the place that showd my duty kneeling came there a reeking post stewd in his haste half breathless panting forth from goneril his mistress salutations deliverd letters spite of intermission which presently they read on those contents they summond 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 perceivd had poisond mine being the very fellow which of late displayd so saucily against your highness having more man than wit about me drew he raisd the house with loud and coward cries your son and daughter found this trespass worth the shame which here it suffers fool winters 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 neer turns the key to th poor but for all this thou shalt have as many dolours for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year lear o how this mother swells up toward my heart hysterica passio down thou climbing sorrow thy elements below where is this daughter kent with the earl sir here within lear follow me not stay here exit gentleman made you no more offence but what you speak of kent none how chance the king comes with so small a number fool an thou hadst been set i the stocks for that question thou hadst well deserved it kent why fool fool well set thee to school to an ant to teach thee theres no labouring ithe winter all that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men and theres not a nose among twenty but can smell him thats 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 upward 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 kent where learnd you this fool fool not i the stocks fool enter lear and gloucester lear deny to speak with me they are sick they are weary they have travelld all the night mere fetches the images of revolt and flying off fetch me a better answer gloucester my dear lord you know the fiery quality of the duke how unremovable and fixd he is in his own course lear vengeance plague death confusion fiery what quality why gloucester gloucester id speak with the duke of cornwall and his wife gloucester well my good lord i have informd them so lear informd them dost thou understand me man gloucester ay my good lord lear the king would speak with cornwall the dear father would with his daughter speak commands tends service are they informd of this my breath and blood fiery the fiery duke tell the hot duke that no but not yet maybe he is not well infirmity doth still neglect all office whereto our health is bound we are not ourselves when nature being oppressd commands the mind to suffer with the body ill forbear and am fallen out with my more headier will to take the indisposd and sickly fit for the sound man looking on kent 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 ands wife id speak with them now presently bid them come forth and hear me or at their chamber door ill beat the drum till it cry sleep to death gloucester i would have all well betwixt you exit lear o me my heart my rising heart but down fool 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 enter cornwall regan gloucester and servants lear good morrow to you both cornwall hail to your grace kent here set at liberty regan i am glad to see your highness lear 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 mothers tomb sepulchring an adultress to kent o are you free some other time for that beloved regan thy sisters naught o regan she hath tied sharp toothd unkindness like a vulture here points to his heart i can scarce speak to thee thoult not believe with how depravd a quality o regan regan i pray you sir take patience i have hope you less know how to value her desert than she to scant her duty lear say how is that regan i cannot think my sister in the least would fail her obligation if sir perchance she have restraind the riots of your followers tis on such ground and to such wholesome end as clears her from all blame lear my curses on her regan o sir you are old nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine you should be ruld 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 wrongd her sir lear ask her forgiveness do you but mark how this becomes the house dear daughter i confess that i am old kneeling age is unnecessary on my knees i beg that youll vouchsafe me raiment bed and food regan good sir no more these are unsightly tricks return you to my sister lear rising never regan she hath abated me of half my train lookd black upon me struck me with her tongue most serpent like upon the very heart all the stord vengeances of heaven fall on her ingrateful top strike her young bones you taking airs with lameness cornwall fie sir fie lear you nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames into her scornful eyes infect her beauty you fen suckd fogs drawn by the powerful sun to fall and blast her pride regan o the blest gods so will you wish on me when the rash mood is on lear no regan thou shalt never have my curse thy tender hefted nature shall not give thee oer 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 knowst 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 endowd regan good sir to the purpose lear who put my man i the stocks tucket within cornwall what trumpets that regan i knowt my sisters this approves her letter that she would soon be here enter oswald is your lady come lear this is a slave whose easy borrowed pride dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows out varlet from my sight cornwall what means your grace lear who stockd my servant regan i have good hope thou didst not know ont who comes here o heavens enter goneril 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 to goneril art not ashamd to look upon this beard o regan wilt thou take her by the hand goneril why not by the hand sir how have i offended alls not offence that indiscretion finds and dotage terms so lear o sides you are too tough will you yet hold how came my man i the stocks cornwall i set him there sir but his own disorders deservd much less advancement lear you did you regan 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 lear return to her and fifty men dismissd 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 necessitys 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 pointing to oswald goneril at your choice sir lear i prythee daughter do not make me mad i will not trouble thee my child farewell well no more meet no more see one another but yet thou art my flesh my blood my daughter or rather a disease thats in my flesh which i must needs call mine thou art a boil a plague sore or embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood but ill 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 regan not altogether so i lookd 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 lear is this well spoken regan 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 goneril why might not you my lord receive attendance from those that she calls servants or from mine regan why not my lord if then they chancd to slack ye 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 lear i gave you all regan and in good time you gave it lear made you my guardians my depositaries but kept a reservation to be followed with such a number what must i come to you with five and twenty regan said you so regan and speakt again my lord no more with me lear those wicked creatures yet do look well favourd when others are more wicked not being the worst stands in some rank of praise to goneril ill go with thee thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty and thou art twice her love goneril 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 regan what need one lear o reason not the need our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous allow not nature more than nature needs mans life is cheap as beasts thou art a lady if only to go warm were gorgeous why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wearst 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 stirs these daughters hearts against their father fool me not so much to bear it tamely touch me with noble anger and let not womens weapons water drops stain my mans 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 ill weep no ill not weep storm and tempest i have full cause of weeping but this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws or ere ill weep o fool i shall go mad exeunt lear gloucester kent and fool cornwall let us withdraw twill be a storm regan this house is little the old man and his people cannot be well bestowd goneril tis his own blame hath put himself from rest and must needs taste his folly regan for his particular ill receive him gladly but not one follower goneril so am i purposd where is my lord of gloucester enter gloucester cornwall followed the old man forth he is returnd gloucester the king is in high rage cornwall whither is he going gloucester he calls to horse but will i know not whither cornwall tis best to give him way he leads himself goneril my lord entreat him by no means to stay gloucester alack the night comes on and the high winds do sorely ruffle for many miles about theres scarce a bush regan 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 abusd wisdom bids fear cornwall shut up your doors my lord tis a wild night my regan counsels well come out o the storm exeunt act iii scene i a heath a storm with thunder and lightning enter kent and a gentleman severally kent whos there besides foul weather gentleman one minded like the weather most unquietly kent i know you wheres the king gentleman 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 outscorn 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 kent but who is with him gentleman none but the fool who labours to out jest his heart struck injuries kent 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 coverd with mutual cunning twixt albany and cornwall who have as who have not that their great stars throned 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 scatterd 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 gentleman i will talk further with you kent 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 fear 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 gentleman give me your hand have you no more to say kent few words but to effect more than all yet that when we have found the king in which your pain that way ill this he that first lights on him holla the other exeunt scene ii another part of the heath storm continues enter lear and fool lear blow winds and crack your cheeks rage blow you cataracts and hurricanoes spout till you have drenchd our steeples drownd 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 natures moulds all germens spill at once that make ingrateful man fool 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 heres a night pities neither wise men nor fools lear rumble thy bellyful 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 calld you children you owe me no subscription then let fall your horrible pleasure here i stand your slave a poor infirm weak and despisd old man but yet i call you servile ministers that will with two pernicious daughters join your high engenderd battles gainst a head so old and white as this o o tis foul fool he that has a house to puts head in has a good head piece the codpiece 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 lear no i will be the pattern of all patience i will say nothing enter kent kent whos there fool marry heres grace and a codpiece thats a wise man and a fool kent 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 mans nature cannot carry thaffliction nor the fear lear let the great gods that keep this dreadful pudder oer our heads find out their enemies now tremble thou wretch that hast within thee undivulged crimes unwhippd of justice hide thee thou bloody hand thou perjurd and thou simular of virtue that art incestuous caitiff to pieces shake that under covert and convenient seeming hast practisd on mans life close pent up guilts rive your concealing continents and cry these dreadful summoners grace i am a man more sinnd against than sinning kent alack bareheaded gracious my lord hard by here is a hovel some friendship will it lend you gainst the tempest repose you there whilst i to this hard house more harder than the stones whereof tis raisd which even but now demanding after you denied me to come in return and force their scanted courtesy lear 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 thats sorry yet for thee fool singing he that has and a little tiny wit with heigh ho the wind and the rain must make content with his fortunes fit though the rain it raineth every day lear true boy come bring us to this hovel exeunt lear and kent fool this is a brave night to cool a courtezan ill 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 burnd 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 cut purses 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 seet that going shall be usd with feet this prophecy merlin shall make for i live before his time exit scene iii a room in gloucesters castle enter gloucester and edmund gloucester 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 perpetual displeasure neither to speak of him entreat for him or any way sustain him edmund most savage and unnatural gloucester 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 theres part of a power already footed we must incline to the king i will look 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 exit edmund 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 exit scene iv a part of the heath with a hovel storm continues enter lear kent and fool kent here is the place my lord good my lord enter the tyranny of the open nights too rough for nature to endure lear let me alone kent good my lord enter here lear wilt break my heart kent i had rather break mine own good my lord enter lear thou thinkst tis much that this contentious storm invades us to the skin so tis to thee but where the greater malady is fixd the lesser is scarce felt thoudst shun a bear but if thy flight lay toward the raging sea thoudst meet the bear i the mouth when the minds free the bodys 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 tot 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 kent good my lord enter here lear prythee go in thyself seek thine own ease this tempest will not give me leave to ponder on things would hurt me more but ill go in to the fool in boy go first you houseless poverty nay get thee in ill pray and then ill sleep fool goes in poor naked wretches wheresoeer you are that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm how shall your houseless heads and unfed sides your loopd and windowd raggedness defend you from seasons such as these o i have taen 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 edgar within fathom and half fathom and half poor tom the fool runs out from the hovel fool come not in here nuncle heres a spirit help me help me kent give me thy hand whos there fool a spirit a spirit he says his names poor tom kent what art thou that dost grumble there i the straw come forth enter edgar disguised as a madman edgar away the foul fiend follows me through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind humh go to thy cold bed and warm thee lear didst thou give all to thy two daughters and art thou come to this edgar who gives anything to poor tom whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame through ford and whirlpool oer 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 toms a cold o do de do de do de bless thee from whirlwinds star blasting 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 storm continues lear what have his daughters brought him to this pass couldst thou save nothing didst thou give em all fool nay he reservd a blanket else we had been all shamed lear now all the plagues that in the pendulous air hang fated oer mens faults light on thy daughters kent he hath no daughters sir lear death traitor nothing could have subdud 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 edgar pillicock sat on pillicock hill alow alow loo loo fool this cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen edgar take heed o th foul fiend obey thy parents keep thy word justly swear not commit not with mans sworn spouse set not thy sweet heart on proud array toms a cold lear what hast thou been edgar a serving man proud in heart and mind that curled my hair wore gloves in my cap served the lust of my mistress 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 paramourd 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 book and defy the foul fiend still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind says suum mun nonny dolphin my boy boy sessa let him trot by storm still continues lear 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 heres three ons 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 tears off his clothes fool prythee nuncle be contented tis a naughty night to swim in now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lechers heart a small spark all the rest ons body cold look here comes a walking fire edgar 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 nightmare and her nine fold bid her alight and her troth plight and aroint thee witch aroint thee kent how fares your grace enter gloucester with a torch lear whats he kent whos there what ist you seek gloucester what are you there your names edgar poor tom that eats the swimming frog the toad the todpole 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 stocked 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 toms food for seven long year beware my follower peace smulkin peace thou fiend gloucester what hath your grace no better company edgar the prince of darkness is a gentleman modo hes calld and mahu gloucester our flesh and blood my lord is grown so vile that it doth hate what gets it edgar poor toms a cold gloucester go in with me my duty cannot suffer tobey 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 venturd to come seek you out and bring you where both fire and food is ready lear first let me talk with this philosopher what is the cause of thunder kent good my lord take his offer go into the house lear ill talk a word with this same learned theban what is your study edgar how to prevent the fiend and to kill vermin lear let me ask you one word in private kent importune him once more to go my lord his wits begin tunsettle gloucester canst thou blame him his daughters seek his death ah that good kent he said it would be thus poor banishd man thou sayest the king grows mad ill tell thee friend i am almost mad myself i had a son now outlawd from my blood he sought my life but lately very late i lovd him friend no father his son dearer true to tell thee storm continues the grief hath crazd my wits what a nights this i do beseech your grace lear o cry you mercy sir noble philosopher your company edgar toms a cold gloucester in fellow there into the hovel keep thee warm lear come lets in all kent this way my lord lear with him i will keep still with my philosopher kent good my lord soothe him let him take the fellow gloucester take him you on kent sirrah come on go along with us lear come good athenian gloucester no words no words hush edgar child rowland to the dark tower came his word was still fie foh and fum i smell the blood of a british man exeunt scene v a room in gloucesters castle enter cornwall and edmund cornwall i will have my revenge ere i depart his house edmund how my lord i may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty something fears me to think of cornwall i now perceive it was not altogether your brothers evil disposition made him seek his death but a provoking merit set a work by a reproveable badness in himself edmund 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 cornwall go with me to the duchess edmund if the matter of this paper be certain you have mighty business in hand cornwall true or false it hath made thee earl of gloucester seek out where thy father is that he may be ready for our apprehension edmund aside 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 cornwall i will lay trust upon thee and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love exeunt scene vi a chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle enter gloucester lear kent fool and edgar gloucester 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 kent all the power of his wits have given way to his impatience the gods reward your kindness exit gloucester edgar frateretto calls me and tells me nero is an angler in the lake of darkness pray innocent and beware the foul fiend fool prythee nuncle tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman lear a king a king fool no hes a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son for hes a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him lear to have a thousand with red burning spits come hissing in upon em edgar the foul fiend bites my back fool hes mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf a horses health a boys love or a whores oath lear it shall be done i will arraign them straight to edgar come sit thou here most learned justicer to the fool thou sapient sir sit here now you she foxes edgar look where he stands and glares wantst thou eyes at trial madam come oer the bourn bessy to me fool her boat hath a leak and she must not speak why she dares not come over to thee edgar the foul fiend haunts poor tom in the voice of a nightingale hoppedance cries in toms belly for two white herring croak not black angel i have no food for thee kent how do you sir stand you not so amazd will you lie down and rest upon the cushions lear ill see their trial first bring in their evidence to edgar thou robed man of justice take thy place to the fool and thou his yokefellow of equity bench by his side to kent you are o the commission sit you too edgar 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 lear arraign her first tis goneril i here take my oath before this honourable assembly she kicked the poor king her father fool come hither mistress is your name goneril lear she cannot deny it fool cry you mercy i took you for a joint stool lear and heres another whose warpd 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 edgar bless thy five wits kent o pity sir where is the patience now that you so oft have boasted to retain edgar aside my tears begin to take his part so much they mar my counterfeiting lear the little dogs and all trey blanch and sweetheart see they bark at me edgar 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 him 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 lear then let them anatomize regan see what breeds about her heart is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts to edgar you sir i entertain you for one of my hundred only i do not like the fashion of your garments youll say they are persian but let them be changed kent now good my lord lie here and rest awhile lear make no noise make no noise draw the curtains so so well go to supper i the morning fool and ill go to bed at noon enter gloucester gloucester come hither friend where is the king my master kent here sir but trouble him not his wits are gone gloucester good friend i prythee take him in thy arms i have oerheard a plot of death upon him there is a litter ready lay him int and drive towards 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 kent oppressed nature sleeps this rest might yet have balmd thy broken sinews which if convenience will not allow stand in hard cure come help to bear thy master to the fool thou must not stay behind gloucester come come away exeunt kent gloucester and the fool bearing off lear edgar 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 oerskip 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 fathered tom away mark the high noises and thyself bewray when false opinion whose wrong thoughts defile thee in thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee what will hap more tonight safe scape the king lurk lurk exit scene vii a room in gloucesters castle enter cornwall regan goneril edmund and servants cornwall post speedily to my lord your husband show him this letter the army of france is landed seek out the traitor gloucester exeunt some of the servants regan hang him instantly goneril pluck out his eyes cornwall 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 enter oswald how now wheres the king oswald my lord of gloucester hath conveyd 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 lords dependants are gone with him toward dover where they boast to have well armed friends cornwall get horses for your mistress goneril farewell sweet lord and sister cornwall edmund farewell exeunt goneril edmund and oswald go seek the traitor gloucester pinion him like a thief bring him before us exeunt other servants 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 whos there the traitor enter gloucester and servants regan ingrateful fox tis he cornwall bind fast his corky arms gloucester what mean your graces good my friends consider you are my guests do me no foul play friends cornwall bind him i say servants bind him regan hard hard o filthy traitor gloucester unmerciful lady as you are im none cornwall to this chair bind him villain thou shalt find regan plucks his beard gloucester by the kind gods tis most ignobly done to pluck me by the beard regan so white and such a traitor gloucester 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 cornwall come sir what letters had you late from france regan be simple answerd for we know the truth cornwall and what confederacy have you with the traitors late footed in the kingdom regan to whose hands have you sent the lunatic king speak gloucester i have a letter guessingly set down which came from one thats of a neutral heart and not from one opposd cornwall cunning regan and false cornwall where hast thou sent the king gloucester to dover regan wherefore to dover wast thou not chargd at peril cornwall wherefore to dover let him first answer that gloucester i am tied to the stake and i must stand the course regan wherefore to dover sir gloucester 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 endurd would have buoyd up and quenchd the stelled fires yet poor old heart he holp the heavens to rain if wolves had at thy gate howld that stern time thou shouldst have said good porter turn the key all cruels else subscribd but i shall see the winged vengeance overtake such children cornwall seet shalt thou never fellows hold the chair upon these eyes of thine ill set my foot gloucester is held down in his chair while cornwall plucks out one of his eyes and sets his foot on it gloucester he that will think to live till he be old give me some help o cruel o you gods regan one side will mock another the other too cornwall if you see vengeance first servant hold your hand my lord i have servd you ever since i was a child but better service have i never done you than now to bid you hold regan how now you dog first servant if you did wear a beard upon your chin id shake it on this quarrel what do you mean cornwall my villain draws and runs at him first servant nay then come on and take the chance of anger draws they fight cornwall is wounded regan to another servant give me thy sword a peasant stand up thus snatches a sword comes behind and stabs him first servant o i am slain my lord you have one eye left to see some mischief on him o dies cornwall lest it see more prevent it out vile jelly where is thy lustre now tears out gloucesters other eye and throws it on the ground gloucester all dark and comfortless wheres my son edmund edmund enkindle all the sparks of nature to quit this horrid act regan out treacherous villain thou callst on him that hates thee it was he that made the overture of thy treasons to us who is too good to pity thee gloucester o my follies then edgar was abusd kind gods forgive me that and prosper him regan go thrust him out at gates and let him smell his way to dover how ist my lord how look you cornwall i have receivd 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 exit cornwall led by regan servants unbind gloucester and lead him out second servant ill never care what wickedness i do if this man come to good third servant if she live long and in the end meet the old course of death women will all turn monsters second servant lets follow the old earl and get the bedlam to lead him where he would his roguish madness allows itself to anything third servant go thou ill fetch some flax and whites of eggs to apply to his bleeding face now heaven help him exeunt act iv scene i the heath enter edgar edgar yet better thus and known to be contemnd than still contemnd and flatterd 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 enter gloucester led by an old man 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 old man o my good lord i have been your tenant and your fathers tenant these fourscore years gloucester away get thee away good friend be gone thy comforts can do me no good at all thee they may hurt old man you cannot see your way gloucester 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 o dear son edgar the food of thy abused fathers wrath might i but live to see thee in my touch id say i had eyes again old man how now whos there edgar aside o gods who ist can say i am at the worst i am worse than eer i was old man tis poor mad tom edgar aside and worse i may be yet the worst is not so long as we can say this is the worst old man fellow where goest gloucester is it a beggar man old man madman and beggar too gloucester he has some reason else he could not beg i the last nights 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 edgar aside how should this be bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow angering itself and others bless thee master gloucester is that the naked fellow old man ay my lord gloucester then prythee get thee away if for my sake thou wilt oertake us hence a mile or twain i the way toward dover do it for ancient love and bring some covering for this naked soul which ill entreat to lead me old man alack sir he is mad gloucester tis the times plague when madmen lead the blind do as i bid thee or rather do thy pleasure above the rest be gone old man ill bring him the best parel that i have come ont what will exit gloucester sirrah naked fellow edgar poor toms a cold aside i cannot daub it further gloucester come hither fellow edgar aside and yet i must bless thy sweet eyes they bleed gloucester knowst thou the way to dover edgar both stile and gate horseway and footpath poor tom hath been scared out of his good wits bless thee good mans son from the foul fiend five fiends have been in poor tom at once of lust as obidicut hobbididence prince of darkness mahu of stealing modo of murder flibbertigibbet of mopping and mowing who since possesses chambermaids and waiting women so bless thee master gloucester 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 does not feel feel your power quickly so distribution should undo excess and each man have enough dost thou know dover edgar ay master gloucester 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 ill repair the misery thou dost bear with something rich about me from that place i shall no leading need edgar give me thy arm poor tom shall lead thee exeunt scene ii before the duke of albanys palace enter goneril edmund oswald meeting them goneril welcome my lord i marvel our mild husband not met us on the way now wheres your master oswald madam within but never man so changd i told him of the army that was landed he smild at it i told him you were coming his answer was the worse of gloucesters treachery and of the loyal service of his son when i informd him then he calld me sot and told me i had turnd the wrong side out what most he should dislike seems pleasant to him what like offensive goneril to edmund then shall you go no further it is the cowish terror of his spirit that dares not undertake hell 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 names at home and give the distaff into my husbands hands this trusty servant shall pass between us ere long you are like to hear if you dare venture in your own behalf a mistresss command giving a favour 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 edmund yours in the ranks of death exit edmund goneril my most dear gloucester o the difference of man and man to thee a womans services are due my fool usurps my body oswald madam here comes my lord exit enter albany goneril i have been worth the whistle albany 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 bordered certain in itself she that herself will sliver and disbranch from her material sap perforce must wither and come to deadly use goneril no more the text is foolish albany wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile filths savour but themselves what have you done tigers not daughters what have you performd a father and a gracious aged man whose reverence even the head luggd 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 benefitted 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 goneril milk liverd man that bearst a cheek for blows a head for wrongs who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning thine honour from thy suffering that not knowst fools do those villains pity who are punishd ere they have done their mischief wheres thy drum france spreads his banners in our noiseless land with plumed helm thy state begins to threat whilst thou a moral fool sittst still and criest alack why does he so albany see thyself devil proper deformity seems not in the fiend so horrid as in woman goneril o vain fool albany thou changed and self coverd thing for shame be monster not thy feature weret my fitness to let these hands obey my blood they are apt enough to dislocate and tear thy flesh and bones howeer thou art a fiend a womans shape doth shield thee goneril marry your manhood mew enter a messenger albany what news messenger o my good lord the duke of cornwalls dead slain by his servant going to put out the other eye of gloucester albany gloucesters eyes messenger a servant that he bred thrilld with remorse opposd against the act bending his sword to his great master who thereat enragd flew on him and amongst them felld him dead but not without that harmful stroke which since hath pluckd him after albany 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 messenger both both my lord this letter madam craves a speedy answer tis from your sister goneril aside 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 the news is not so tart ill read and answer exit albany where was his son when they did take his eyes messenger come with my lady hither albany he is not here messenger no my good lord i met him back again albany knows he the wickedness messenger ay my good lord twas he informd against him and quit the house on purpose that their punishment might have the freer course albany gloucester i live to thank thee for the love thou showdst the king and to revenge thine eyes come hither friend tell me what more thou knowst exeunt scene iii the french camp near dover enter kent and a gentleman kent why the king of france is so suddenly gone back know you no reason gentleman 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 kent who hath he left behind him general gentleman the mareschal of france monsieur la far kent did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief gentleman ay sir she took them read them in my presence and now and then an ample tear trilld down her delicate cheek it seemd she was a queen over her passion who most rebel like sought to be king oer her kent o then it movd her gentleman 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 day those happy smilets that playd on her ripe lip seemd not to know what guests were in her eyes which parted thence as pearls from diamonds droppd in brief sorrow would be a rarity most belovd if all could so become it kent made she no verbal question gentleman faith once or twice she heavd the name of father pantingly forth as if it pressd her heart cried sisters sisters shame of ladies sisters kent father sisters what i the storm i the night let pity not be believd there she shook the holy water from her heavenly eyes and clamour masterd her then away she started to deal with grief alone kent 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 gentleman no kent was this before the king returnd gentleman no since kent well sir the poor distressed lears 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 gentleman why good sir kent a sovereign shame so elbows him his own unkindness that strippd her from his benediction turnd 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 gentleman alack poor gentleman kent of albanys and cornwalls powers you heard not gentleman tis so they are afoot kent well sir ill 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 exeunt scene iv the french camp a tent enter with drum and colours cordelia physician and soldiers cordelia alack tis he why he was met even now as mad as the vexd sea singing aloud crownd with rank fumiter and furrow weeds with harlocks 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 exit an officer what can mans wisdom in the restoring his bereaved sense he that helps him take all my outward worth physician 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 cordelia all blessd secrets all you unpublishd virtues of the earth spring with my tears be aidant and remediate in the good mans distress seek seek for him lest his ungovernd rage dissolve the life that wants the means to lead it enter a messenger messenger news madam the british powers are marching hitherward cordelia 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 agd fathers right soon may i hear and see him exeunt scene v a room in gloucesters castle enter regan and oswald regan but are my brothers powers set forth oswald ay madam regan himself in person there oswald madam with much ado your sister is the better soldier regan lord edmund spake not with your lord at home oswald no madam regan what might import my sisters letter to him oswald i know not lady regan faith he is posted hence on serious matter it was great ignorance gloucesters 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 thenemy oswald i must needs after him madam with my letter regan our troops set forth tomorrow stay with us the ways are dangerous oswald i may not madam my lady chargd my duty in this business regan why should she write to edmund might not you transport her purposes by word belike somethings i know not what ill love thee much let me unseal the letter oswald madam i had rather regan i know your lady does not love her husband i am sure of that and at her late being here she gave strange oeillades and most speaking looks to noble edmund i know you are of her bosom oswald i madam regan i speak in understanding yare i knowt therefore i do advise you take this note my lord is dead edmund and i have talkd and more convenient is he for my hand than for your ladys 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 oswald would i could meet him madam i should show what party i do follow regan fare thee well exeunt scene vi the country near dover enter gloucester and edgar dressed like a peasant gloucester when shall i come to the top of that same hill edgar you do climb up it now look how we labour gloucester methinks the ground is even edgar horrible steep hark do you hear the sea gloucester no truly edgar why then your other senses grow imperfect by your eyes anguish gloucester so may it be indeed methinks thy voice is alterd and thou speakst in better phrase and matter than thou didst edgar yare much deceivd in nothing am i changd but in my garments gloucester methinks youre better spoken edgar come on sir heres the place stand still how fearful and dizzy tis to cast ones 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 diminishd to her cock her cock a buoy almost too small for sight the murmuring surge that on thunnumberd idle pebble chafes cannot be heard so high ill look no more lest my brain turn and the deficient sight topple down headlong gloucester set me where you stand edgar give me your hand you are now within a foot of thextreme verge for all beneath the moon would i not leap upright gloucester let go my hand here friend s another purse in it a jewel well worth a poor mans taking fairies and gods prosper it with thee go thou further off bid me farewell and let me hear thee going edgar now fare ye well good sir seems to go gloucester with all my heart edgar aside why i do trifle thus with his despair is done to cure it gloucester 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 edgar gone sir farewell gloucester leaps and falls along 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 gloucester away and let me die edgar hadst thou been aught but gossamer feathers air so many fathom down precipitating thoudst shiverd like an egg but thou dost breathe hast heavy substance bleedst not speakst art sound ten masts at each make not the altitude which thou hast perpendicularly fell thy life is a miracle speak yet again gloucester but have i falln or no edgar from the dread summit of this chalky bourn look up a height the shrill gorgd lark so far cannot be seen or heard do but look up gloucester alack i have no eyes is wretchedness deprivd that benefit to end itself by death twas yet some comfort when misery could beguile the tyrants rage and frustrate his proud will edgar give me your arm up so how ist feel you your legs you stand gloucester too well too well edgar this is above all strangeness upon the crown o the cliff what thing was that which parted from you gloucester a poor unfortunate beggar edgar as i stood here below methought his eyes were two full moons he had a thousand noses horns whelkd and waved like the enraged sea it was some fiend therefore thou happy father think that the clearest gods who make them honours of mens impossibilities have preservd thee gloucester i do remember now henceforth ill 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 edgar bear free and patient thoughts but who comes here enter lear fantastically dressed up with flowers the safer sense will neer accommodate his master thus lear no they cannot touch me for coining i am the king himself edgar o thou side piercing sight lear natures above art in that respect theres your press money that fellow handles his bow like a crow keeper draw me a clothiers yard look look a mouse peace peace this piece of toasted cheese will dot theres my gauntlet ill prove it on a giant bring up the brown bills o well flown bird i the clout i the clout hewgh give the word edgar sweet marjoram lear pass gloucester i know that voice lear ha goneril with a white beard they flattered 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 to 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 everything tis a lie i am not ague proof gloucester the trick of that voice i do well remember ist not the king lear ay every inch a king when i do stare see how the subject quakes i pardon that mans life what was thy cause adultery thou shalt not die die for adultery no the wren goes tot and the small gilded fly does lecher in my sight let copulation thrive for gloucesters bastard son was kinder to his father than my daughters got tween the lawful sheets tot luxury pell mell for i lack soldiers behold yond simpring dame whose face between her forks presages snow that minces virtue and does shake the head to hear of pleasures name the fitchew nor the soiled horse goes tot 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 theres hell theres 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 theres money for thee gloucester o let me kiss that hand lear let me wipe it first it smells of mortality gloucester o ruind piece of nature this great world shall so wear out to naught dost thou know me lear i remember thine eyes well enough dost thou squiny at me no do thy worst blind cupid ill not love read thou this challenge mark but the penning of it gloucester were all the letters suns i could not see one edgar i would not take this from report it is and my heart breaks at it lear read gloucester what with the case of eyes lear 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 gloucester i see it feelingly lear what art mad a man may see how the world goes with no eyes look with thine ears see how yon 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 farmers dog bark at a beggar gloucester ay sir lear and the creature run from the cur there thou mightst behold the great image of authority a dogs obeyed in office thou rascal beadle hold thy bloody hand why dost thou lash that whore strip thine own back thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind for which thou whippst her the usurer hangs the cozener through tatterd clothes great vices do appear robes and furrd gowns hide all plate sin with gold and the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks arm it in rags a pygmys straw does pierce it none does offend none i say none ill able em take that of me my friend who have the power to seal the accusers 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 edgar o matter and impertinency mixd reason in madness lear 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 knowst the first time that we smell the air we wawl and cry i will preach to thee mark gloucester alack alack the day lear 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 ill putt in proof and when i have stoln upon these son in laws then kill kill kill kill kill kill enter a gentleman with attendants gentleman o here he is lay hand upon him sir your most dear daughter lear 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 gentleman you shall have anything lear no seconds all myself why this would make a man a man of salt to use his eyes for garden water pots ay and for laying autumns dust gentleman good sir lear i will die bravely like a smug bridegroom what i will be jovial come come i am a king my masters know you that gentleman you are a royal one and we obey you lear then theres life int come and you get it you shall get it by running sa sa sa sa exit running attendants follow gentleman 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 edgar hail gentle sir gentleman sir speed you whats your will edgar do you hear aught sir of a battle toward gentleman most sure and vulgar everyone hears that which can distinguish sound edgar but by your favour how nears the other army gentleman near and on speedy foot the main descry stands on the hourly thought edgar i thank you sir thats all gentleman though that the queen on special cause is here her army is movd on edgar i thank you sir exit gentleman gloucester you ever gentle gods take my breath from me let not my worser spirit tempt me again to die before you please edgar well pray you father gloucester now good sir what are you edgar a most poor man made tame to fortunes blows who by the art of known and feeling sorrows am pregnant to good pity give me your hand ill lead you to some biding gloucester hearty thanks the bounty and the benison of heaven to boot and boot enter oswald oswald a proclaimd prize most happy that eyeless head of thine was first framd flesh to raise my fortunes thou old unhappy traitor briefly thyself remember the sword is out that must destroy thee gloucester now let thy friendly hand put strength enough tot edgar interposes oswald wherefore bold peasant darst thou support a publishd traitor hence lest that thinfection of his fortune take like hold on thee let go his arm edgar chill not let go zir without vurther casion oswald let go slave or thou diest edgar good gentleman go your gait and let poor volke 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 thold man keep out che vor ye or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder chill be plain with you oswald out dunghill edgar chill pick your teeth zir come no matter vor your foins they fight and edgar knocks him down oswald slave thou hast slain me villain take my purse if ever thou wilt thrive bury my body and give the letters which thou findst about me to edmund earl of gloucester seek him out upon the british party o untimely death dies edgar i know thee well a serviceable villain as duteous to the vices of thy mistress as badness would desire gloucester what is he dead edgar sit you down father rest you lets see these pockets the letters that he speaks of may be my friends hes dead i am only sorry he had no other deathsman let us see leave gentle wax and manners blame us not to know our enemies minds we rip their hearts their papers is more lawful reads 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 goneril o indistinguishd space of womans will a plot upon her virtuous husbands life and the exchange my brother here in the sands thee ill rake up the post unsanctified of murderous lechers and in the mature time with this ungracious paper strike the sight of the death practisd duke for him tis well that of thy death and business i can tell exit edgar dragging out the body gloucester 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 severd from my griefs and woes by wrong imaginations lose the knowledge of themselves a drum afar off edgar give me your hand far off methinks i hear the beaten drum come father ill bestow you with a friend exeunt scene vii a tent in the french camp lear on a bed asleep soft music playing physician gentleman and others attending enter cordelia and kent cordelia 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 kent to be acknowledgd madam is oerpaid all my reports go with the modest truth nor more nor clippd but so cordelia be better suited these weeds are memories of those worser hours i prythee put them off kent pardon 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 cordelia then bet so my good lord to the physician how does the king physician madam sleeps still cordelia o you kind gods cure this great breach in his abused nature the untund and jarring senses o wind up of this child changed father physician so please your majesty that we may wake the king he hath slept long cordelia be governd by your knowledge and proceed i the sway of your own will is he arrayd physician 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 cordelia very well physician please you draw near louder the music there cordelia 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 kent kind and dear princess cordelia had you not been their father these white flakes did challenge pity of them was this a face to be opposd 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 enemys 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 physician madam do you tis fittest cordelia how does my royal lord how fares your majesty lear 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 cordelia sir do you know me lear you are a spirit i know when did you die cordelia still still far wide physician hes scarce awake let him alone awhile lear where have i been where am i fair daylight i am mightily abusd i should een die with pity to see another thus i know not what to say i will not swear these are my hands lets see i feel this pin prick would i were assurd of my condition cordelia o look upon me sir and hold your hands in benediction oer me no sir you must not kneel lear pray do not mock me i am a very foolish fond old man fourscore and upward not an hour more nor 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 cordelia and so i am i am lear 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 cordelia no cause no cause lear am i in france kent in your own kingdom sir lear do not abuse me physician be comforted good madam the great rage you see is killd in him and yet it is danger to make him even oer the time he has lost desire him to go in trouble him no more till further settling cordelia willt please your highness walk lear you must bear with me pray you now forget and forgive i am old and foolish exeunt lear cordelia physician and attendants gentleman holds it true sir that the duke of cornwall was so slain kent most certain sir gentleman who is conductor of his people kent as tis said the bastard son of gloucester gentleman they say edgar his banished son is with the earl of kent in germany kent report is changeable tis time to look about the powers of the kingdom approach apace gentleman the arbitrement is like to be bloody fare you well sir exit kent my point and period will be throughly wrought or well or ill as this days battles fought exit act v scene i the camp of the british forces near dover enter with drum and colours edmund regan officers soldiers and others edmund know of the duke if his last purpose hold or whether since he is advisd by aught to change the course hes full of alteration and self reproving bring his constant pleasure to an officer who goes out regan our sisters man is certainly miscarried edmund tis to be doubted madam regan 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 edmund in honourd love regan but have you never found my brothers way to the forfended place edmund that thought abuses you regan i am doubtful that you have been conjunct and bosomd with her as far as we call hers edmund no by mine honour madam regan i never shall endure her dear my lord be not familiar with her edmund fear not she and the duke her husband enter with drum and colours albany goneril and soldiers goneril aside i had rather lose the battle than that sister should loosen him and me albany 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 forcd 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 edmund sir you speak nobly regan why is this reasond goneril combine together gainst the enemy for these domestic and particular broils are not the question here albany lets then determine with the ancient of war on our proceeding edmund i shall attend you presently at your tent regan sister youll go with us goneril no regan tis most convenient pray you go with us goneril aside o ho i know the riddle i will go exeunt edmund regan goneril officers soldiers and attendants as they are going out enter edgar disguised edgar if eer your grace had speech with man so poor hear me one word albany ill overtake you speak edgar 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 albany stay till i have read the letter edgar i was forbid it when time shall serve let but the herald cry and ill appear again albany why fare thee well i will oerlook thy paper exit edgar enter edmund edmund the enemys in view draw up your powers here is the guess of their true strength and forces by diligent discovery but your haste is now urgd on you albany we will greet the time exit edmund 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 enjoyd 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 well 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 exit scene ii a field between the two camps alarum within enter with drum and colours lear cordelia and their forces and exeunt enter edgar and gloucester edgar 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 ill bring you comfort gloucester grace go with you sir exit edgar alarum and retreat within enter edgar edgar away old man give me thy hand away king lear hath lost he and his daughter taen give me thy hand come on gloucester no further sir a man may rot even here edgar what in ill thoughts again men must endure their going hence even as their coming hither ripeness is all come on gloucester and thats true too exeunt scene iii the british camp near dover enter in conquest with drum and colours edmund lear and cordelia as prisoners officers soldiers etc edmund some officers take them away good guard until their greater pleasures first be known that are to censure them cordelia we are not the first who with best meaning have incurrd the worst for thee oppressed king i am cast down myself could else out frown false fortunes frown shall we not see these daughters and these sisters lear no no no no come lets away to prison we two alone will sing like birds i the cage when thou dost ask me blessing ill kneel down and ask of thee forgiveness so well live and pray and sing and tell old tales and laugh at gilded butterflies and hear poor rogues talk of court news and well talk with them too who loses and who wins whos in whos out and take upons the mystery of things as if we were gods spies and well wear out in a walld prison packs and sects of great ones that ebb and flow by the moon edmund take them away lear 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 good years shall devour them flesh and fell ere they shall make us weep well see em starve first come exeunt lear and cordelia guarded edmund come hither captain hark take thou this note giving a paper go follow them to prison one step i have advancd 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 thoult dot or thrive by other means captain ill dot my lord edmund about it and write happy when thou hast done mark i say instantly and carry it so as i have set it down captain i cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats if it be mans work ill dot exit flourish enter albany goneril regan officers and attendants albany sir you have showd today your valiant strain and fortune led you well you have the captives who were the opposites of this days strife i do require them of you so to use them as we shall find their merits and our safety may equally determine edmund 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 impressd lances in our eyes which do command them with him i sent the queen my reason all the same and they are ready tomorrow 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 cursd by those that feel their sharpness the question of cordelia and her father requires a fitter place albany sir by your patience i hold you but a subject of this war not as a brother regan thats 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 goneril not so hot in his own grace he doth exalt himself more than in your addition regan in my rights by me invested he compeers the best albany that were the most if he should husband you regan jesters do oft prove prophets goneril holla holla that eye that told you so lookd but asquint regan 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 goneril mean you to enjoy him albany the let alone lies not in your good will edmund nor in thine lord albany half blooded fellow yes regan to edmund let the drum strike and prove my title thine albany stay yet hear reason edmund i arrest thee on capital treason and in thine arrest this gilded serpent pointing to goneril 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 loves to me my lady is bespoke goneril an interlude albany thou art armd gloucester let the trumpet sound if none appear to prove upon thy person thy heinous manifest and many treasons there is my pledge throwing down a glove ill make it on thy heart ere i taste bread thou art in nothing less than i have here proclaimd thee regan sick o sick goneril aside if not ill neer trust medicine edmund theres my exchange throwing down a glove what in the world he is that names me traitor villain like he lies call by thy trumpet he that dares approach on him on you who not i will maintain my truth and honour firmly albany a herald ho enter a herald trust to thy single virtue for thy soldiers all levied in my name have in my name took their discharge regan my sickness grows upon me albany she is not well convey her to my tent exit regan led come hither herald let the trumpet sound and read out this officer sound trumpet a trumpet sounds herald reads 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 by the third sound of the trumpet he is bold in his defence edmund sound first trumpet herald again second trumpet herald again third trumpet trumpet answers within enter edgar armed preceded by a trumpet albany ask him his purposes why he appears upon this call o the trumpet herald what are you your name your quality and why you answer this present summons edgar know my name is lost by treasons tooth bare gnawn and canker bit yet am i noble as the adversary i come to cope albany which is that adversary edgar whats he that speaks for edmund earl of gloucester edmund himself what sayst thou to him edgar 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 beneath 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 edmund in wisdom i should ask thy name but since thy outside looks so fair and warlike 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 those treasons to thy head with the hell hated lie oerwhelm 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 alarums they fight edmund falls albany save him save him goneril this is mere practice gloucester by the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer an unknown opposite thou art not vanquishd but cozend and beguild albany 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 gives the letter to edmund goneril say if i do the laws are mine not thine who can arraign me fort exit albany most monstrous o knowst thou this paper edmund ask me not what i know albany to an officer who goes out go after her shes desperate govern her edmund what you have chargd 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 thourt noble i do forgive thee edgar lets exchange charity i am no less in blood than thou art edmund if more the more thou hast wrongd me my name is edgar and thy fathers 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 edmund thou hast spoken right tis true the wheel is come full circle i am here albany 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 edgar worthy prince i knowt albany where have you hid yourself how have you known the miseries of your father edgar 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 followd me so near o our lives sweetness that with the pain of death wed hourly die rather than die at once taught me to shift into a madmans rags tassume a semblance that very dogs disdaind and in this habit met i my father with his bleeding rings their precious stones new lost became his guide led him beggd for him savd him from despair never o fault reveald myself unto him until some half hour past when i was armd not sure though hoping of this good success i askd his blessing and from first to last told him my pilgrimage but his flawd heart alack too weak the conflict to support twixt two extremes of passion joy and grief burst smilingly edmund this speech of yours hath movd me and shall perchance do good but speak you on you look as you had something more to say albany if there be more more woeful hold it in for i am almost ready to dissolve hearing of this edgar this would have seemd 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 shunnd my abhorrd society but then finding who twas that so endurd with his strong arms he fastened on my neck and bellowd out as hed burst heaven threw him on my father told the most piteous tale of lear and him that ever ear receivd which in recounting his grief grew puissant and the strings of life began to crack twice then the trumpets sounded and there i left him trancd albany but who was this edgar kent sir the banishd kent who in disguise followd his enemy king and did him service improper for a slave enter a gentleman hastily with a bloody knife gentleman help help o help edgar what kind of help albany speak man edgar what means this bloody knife gentleman tis hot it smokes it came even from the heart of o shes dead albany who dead speak man gentleman your lady sir your lady and her sister by her is poisoned she hath confesses it edmund i was contracted to them both all three now marry in an instant edgar here comes kent enter kent albany produce their bodies be they alive or dead this judgement 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 kent i am come to bid my king and master aye good night is he not here albany great thing of us forgot speak edmund wheres the king and wheres cordelia the bodies of goneril and regan are brought in seest thou this object kent kent alack why thus edmund yet edmund was belovd the one the other poisoned for my sake and after slew herself albany even so cover their faces edmund 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 albany run run o run edgar to who my lord who has the office send thy token of reprieve edmund well thought on take my sword give it the captain edgar haste thee for thy life exit edgar edmund he hath commission from thy wife and me to hang cordelia in the prison and to lay the blame upon her own despair that she fordid herself albany the gods defend her bear him hence awhile edmund is borne off enter lear with cordelia dead in his arms edgar officer and others following lear howl howl howl howl o you are men of stone had i your tongues and eyes ild use them so that heavens vault should crack shes gone for ever i know when one is dead and when one lives shes dead as earth lend me a looking glass if that her breath will mist or stain the stone why then she lives kent is this the promisd end edgar or image of that horror albany fall and cease lear this feather stirs she lives if it be so it is a chance which does redeem all sorrows that ever i have felt kent o my good master kneeling lear prythee away edgar tis noble kent your friend lear a plague upon you murderers traitors all i might have savd her now shes gone for ever cordelia cordelia stay a little ha what ist thou sayst her voice was ever soft gentle and low an excellent thing in woman i killd the slave that was a hanging thee officer tis true my lords he did lear 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 ill tell you straight kent if fortune brag of two she lovd and hated one of them we behold lear this is a dull sight are you not kent kent the same your servant kent where is your servant caius lear hes a good fellow i can tell you that hell strike and quickly too hes dead and rotten kent no my good lord i am the very man lear ill see that straight kent that from your first of difference and decay have followd your sad steps lear you are welcome hither kent nor no man else alls cheerless dark and deadly your eldest daughters have fordone themselves and desperately are dead lear ay so i think albany he knows not what he says and vain is it that we present us to him edgar very bootless enter an officer officer edmund is dead my lord albany thats 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 to edgar and kent 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 lear and my poor fool is hangd no no no life why should a dog a horse a rat have life and thou no breath at all thoult 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 dies edgar he faints my lord my lord kent break heart i prythee break edgar look up my lord kent vex not his ghost o let him pass he hates him that would upon the rack of this rough world stretch him out longer edgar he is gone indeed kent the wonder is he hath endurd so long he but usurpd his life albany bear them from hence our present business is general woe to edgar and kent friends of my soul you twain rule in this realm and the gord state sustain kent i have a journey sir shortly to go my master calls me i must not say no edgar 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 exeunt with a dead march loves labours lost dramatis personae ferdinand king of navarre berowne lord attending on the king longaville dumain boyet lord attending on the princess of france marcade don adriano de armado fantastical spaniard sir nathaniel a curate holofernes a schoolmaster dull a constable costard a clown moth page to armado a forester the princess of france rosaline lady attending on the princess maria katharine lady attending on the princess jaquenetta a country wench lords attendants etc scene navarre act i scene i navarre the kings park enter the king berowne longaville and dumain king let fame that all hunt after in their lives live registred upon our brazen tombs and then grace us in the disgrace of death when spite of cormorant devouring time th endeavour of this present breath may buy that honour which shall bate his scythes 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 worlds 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 dumain 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 passd and now subscribe your names that his own hand may strike his honour down that violates the smallest branch herein if you are armd to do as sworn to do subscribe to your deep oaths and keep it too longaville i am resolvd 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 dumain my loving lord dumain is mortified the grosser manner of these worlds delights he throws upon the gross worlds baser slaves to love to wealth to pomp i pine and die with all these living in philosophy berowne 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 king your oath is passd to pass away from these berowne 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 longaville you swore to that berowne and to the rest berowne by yea and nay sir then i swore in jest what is the end of study let me know king why that to know which else we should not know berowne things hid and barrd you mean from common sense king ay that is studys god like recompense berowne 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 studys gain be thus and this be so study knows that which yet it doth not know swear me to this and i will neer say no king these be the stops that hinder study quite and train our intellects to vain delight berowne why all delights are vain but that most vain which with pain purchasd 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 heavens glorious sun that will not be deep searchd with saucy looks small have continual plodders ever won save base authority from others books these earthly godfathers of heavens 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 king how well hes read to reason against reading dumain proceeded well to stop all good proceeding longaville he weeds the corn and still lets grow the weeding berowne the spring is near when green geese are a breeding dumain how follows that berowne fit in his place and time dumain in reason nothing berowne something then in rhyme longaville berowne is like an envious sneaping frost that bites the first born infants of the spring berowne well say i am why should proud summer boast before the birds have any cause to sing why should i joy in any abortive birth at christmas i no more desire a rose than wish a snow in mays new fangled shows but like of each thing that in season grows so you to study now it is too late climb oer the house to unlock the little gate king well sit out go home berowne adieu berowne 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 ill keep what i have swore and bide the penance of each three years day give me the paper let me read the same and to the strictest decrees ill write my name king how well this yielding rescues thee from shame berowne reads item that no woman shall come within a mile of my court hath this been proclaimed longaville four days ago berowne lets see the penalty reads on pain of losing her tongue who devisd this penalty longaville marry that did i berowne sweet lord and why longaville to fright them hence with that dread penalty berowne a dangerous law against gentility reads 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 kings daughter with yourself to speak a mild of grace and complete majesty about surrender up of aquitaine to her decrepit sick and bedrid father therefore this article is made in vain or vainly comes th admired princess hither king what say you lords why this was quite forgot berowne so study evermore is over shot 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 king we must of force dispense with this decree she must lie here on mere necessity berowne 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 mastred 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 subscribes and he that breaks them in the least degree stands in attainder of eternal shame suggestions are to other 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 king ay that there is our court you know is haunted with a refined traveller of spain a man in all the worlds new fashion planted that hath a mint of phrases in his brain one who 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 worlds 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 berowne armado is a most illustrious wight a man of fire new words fashions own knight longaville costard the swain and he shall be our sport and so to study three years is but short enter dull a constable with a letter and costard dull which is the dukes own person berowne this fellow what wouldst dull i myself reprehend his own person for i am his graces farborough but i would see his own person in flesh and blood berowne this is he dull signior arme arme commends you theres villainy abroad this letter will tell you more costard sir the contempts thereof are as touching me king a letter from the magnificent armado berowne how low soever the matter i hope in god for high words longaville a high hope for a low heaven god grant us patience berowne to hear or forbear hearing longaville to hear meekly sir and to laugh moderately or to forbear both berowne well sir be it as the style shall give us cause to climb in the merriness costard the matter is to me sir as concerning jaquenetta the manner of it is i was taken with the manner berowne in what manner costard 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 berowne for the following sir costard as it shall follow in my correction and god defend the right king will you hear this letter with attention berowne as we would hear an oracle costard such is the simplicity of man to hearken after the flesh king reads great deputy the welkins vicegerent and sole dominator of navarre my souls earths god and bodys fostring patron costard not a word of costard yet king reads so it is costard it may be so but if he say it is so he is in telling true but so king peace costard be to me and every man that dares not fight king no words costard of other mens secrets i beseech you king reads 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 upon it is ycleped thy park then for the place where where i mean i did encounter that obscene and most prepostrous 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 costard me king that unlettered small knowing soul costard me king that shallow vassal costard still me king which as i remember hight costard costard o me king sorted and consorted contrary to thy established proclaimed edict and continent canon which with o with but with this i passion to say wherewith costard with a wench king with a child of our grandmother eve a female or for thy more sweet understanding a woman him i as my ever esteemed duty pricks me on have sent to thee to receive the meed of punishment by thy sweet graces officer antony dull a man of good repute carriage bearing and estimation dull me ant shall please you i am antony dull king for jaquenetta so is the weaker vessel called which i apprehended with the aforesaid swain i keep her as a vessel of thy laws 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 don adriano de armado berowne this is not so well as i lookd for but the best that ever i heard king ay the best for the worst but sirrah what say you to this costard sir i confess the wench king did you hear the proclamation costard i do confess much of the hearing it but little of the marking of it king it was proclaimed a years imprisonment to be taken with a wench costard i was taken with none sir i was taken with a damsel king well it was proclaimed damsel costard this was no damsel neither sir she was a virgin king it is so varied too for it was proclaimed virgin costard if it were i deny her virginity i was taken with a maid king this maid not serve your turn sir costard this maid will serve my turn sir king sir i will pronounce your sentence you shall fast a week with bran and water costard i had rather pray a month with mutton and porridge king and don armado shall be your keeper my lord berowne see him delivered oer and go we lords to put in practice that which each to other hath so strongly sworn exeunt king longaville and dumain berowne ill lay my head to any good mans hat these oaths and laws will prove an idle scorn sirrah come on costard 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 exeunt scene ii the park enter armado and moth his page armado boy what sign is it when a man of great spirit grows melancholy moth a great sign sir that he will look sad armado why sadness is one and the self same thing dear imp moth no no o lord sir no armado how canst thou part sadness and melancholy my tender juvenal moth by a familiar demonstration of the working my tough signior armado why tough signior why tough signior moth why tender juvenal why tender juvenal armado i spoke it tender juvenal as a congruent epitheton appertaining to thy young days which we may nominate tender moth and i tough signior as an appertinent title to your old time which we may name tough armado pretty and apt moth how mean you sir i pretty and my saying apt or i apt and my saying pretty armado thou pretty because little moth little pretty because little wherefore apt armado and therefore apt because quick moth speak you this in my praise master armado in thy condign praise moth i will praise an eel with the same praise armado that an eel is ingenious moth that an eel is quick armado i do say thou art quick in answers thou heatst my blood moth i am answerd sir armado i love not to be crossd moth aside he speaks the mere contrary crosses love not him armado i have promised to study three years with the duke moth you may do it in an hour sir armado impossible moth how many is one thrice told armado i am ill at reckning it fitteth the spirit of a tapster moth you are a gentleman and a gamester sir armado i confess both they are both the varnish of a complete man moth then i am sure you know how much the gross sum of deuce ace amounts to armado it doth amount to one more than two moth which the base vulgar do call three armado true moth why sir is this such a piece of study now here is three studied ere yell 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 armado a most fine figure moth aside to prove you a cipher armado 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 devisd curtsy i think scorn to sigh methinks i should out swear cupid comfort me boy what great men have been in love moth hercules master armado most sweet hercules more authority dear boy name more and sweet my child let them be men of good repute and carriage moth samson master he was a man of good carriage great carriage for he carried the town gates on his back like a porter and he was in love armado 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 samsons love my dear moth moth a woman master armado of what complexion moth of all the four or the three or the two or one of the four armado tell me precisely of what complexion moth of the sea water green sir armado is that one of the four complexions moth as i have read sir and the best of them too armado 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 moth it was so sir for she had a green wit armado my love is most immaculate white and red moth most maculate thoughts master are maskd under such colours armado define define well educated infant moth my fathers wit my mothers tongue assist me armado sweet invocation of a child most pretty and pathetical moth if she be made of white and red her faults will neer 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 rhyme master against the reason of white and red armado is there not a ballad boy of the king and the beggar moth 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 armado i will have that subject newly writ oer 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 moth aside to be whipt and yet a better love than my master armado sing boy my spirit grows heavy in love moth and thats great marvel loving a light wench armado i say sing moth forbear till this company be past enter dull costard and jaquenetta dull sir the dukes pleasure is that you keep costard safe and you must suffer him to 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 allowd for the day woman fare you well armado i do betray myself with blushing maid jaquenetta man armado i will visit thee at the lodge jaquenetta thats hereby armado i know where it is situate jaquenetta lord how wise you are armado i will tell thee wonders jaquenetta with that face armado i love thee jaquenetta so i heard you say armado and so farewell jaquenetta fair weather after you dull come jaquenetta away exit with jaquenetta armado villain thou shalt fast for thy offences ere thou be pardoned costard well sir i hope when i do it i shall do it on a full stomach armado thou shalt be heavily punished costard i am more bound to you than your fellows for they are but lightly rewarded armado take away this villain shut him up moth come you transgressing slave away costard let me not be pent up sir i will fast being loose moth no sir that were fast and loose thou shalt to prison costard well if ever i do see the merry days of desolation that i have seen some shall see moth what shall some see costard 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 exeunt moth and costard armado 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 cupids butt shaft is too hard for hercules club and therefore too much odds for a spaniards rapier the first and second cause 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 rhyme for i am sure i shall turn sonnet devise wit write pen for i am for whole volumes in folio exit act ii scene ii the park enter the princess of france with three attending ladies rosaline maria katharine boyet and two other lords boyet now madam summon up your dearest spirits consider who the king your father sends to whom he sends and whats his embassy yourself held precious in the worlds 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 princess of france 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 uttred by base sale of chapmens 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 outwear three years no woman may approach his silent court therefore tos seemeth 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 visagd suitors his high will boyet proud of employment willingly i go princess of france all pride is willing pride and yours is so exit boyet who are the votaries my loving lords that are vow fellows with this virtuous duke first lord lord longaville is one princess of france know you the man maria i know him madam at a marriage feast between lord perigort and the beauteous heir of jaques falconbridge solemnized in normandy saw i this longaville a man of sovereign parts peerless esteemd well fitted in arts glorious in arms nothing becomes him ill that he would well the only soil of his fair virtues gloss if virtues gloss will stain with any soil is a sharp wit matchd with too blunt a will whose edge hath power to cut whose will still wills it should none spare that come within his power princess of france some merry mocking lord belike ist so maria they say so most that most his humours know princess of france such short livd wits do wither as they grow who are the rest katharine the young dumain a well accomplishd youth of all that virtue love for virtue loved 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 alencons once and much too little of that good i saw is my report to his great worthiness rosaline 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 hours 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 conceits 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 princess of france god bless my ladies are they all in love that every one her own hath garnished with such bedecking ornaments of praise first lord here comes boyet re enter boyet princess of france now what admittance lord boyet navarre had notice of your fair approach and he and his competitors in oath were all addressd 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 unpeopled house the ladies in waiting mask enter king longaville dumain berowne and attendants here comes navarre king fair princess welcome to the court of navarre princess of france 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 king you shall be welcome madam to my court princess of france i will be welcome then conduct me thither king hear me dear lady i have sworn an oath princess of france our lady help my lord hell be forsworn king not for the world fair madam by my will princess of france why will shall break it will and nothing else king your ladyship is ignorant what it is princess of france 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 giving a paper king madam i will if suddenly i may princess of france you will the sooner that i were away for youll prove perjurd if you make me stay berowne did not i dance with you in brabant once katharine did not i dance with you in brabant once berowne i know you did katharine how needless was it then to ask the question berowne you must not be so quick katharine tis long of you that spur me with such questions berowne your wit s too hot it speeds too fast twill tire katharine not till it leave the rider in the mire berowne what time o day katharine the hour that fools should ask berowne now fair befall your mask katharine fair fall the face it covers berowne and send you many lovers katharine amen so you be none berowne nay then will i be gone king 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 receivd 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 valued to the moneys 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 reasons yielding your fair self should make a yielding gainst some reason in my breast and go well satisfied to france again princess of france 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 king i do protest i never heard of it and if you prove it ill repay it back or yield up aquitaine princess of france we arrest your word boyet you can produce acquittances for such a sum from special officers of charles his father king satisfy me so boyet 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 king 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 within my gates but here without you shall be so receivd as you shall deem yourself lodgd 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 princess of france sweet health and fair desires consort your grace king thy own wish wish i thee in every place exit with attendants berowne lady i will commend you to mine own heart rosaline pray you do my commendations i would be glad to see it berowne i would you heard it groan rosaline is the fool sick berowne sick at the heart rosaline alack let it blood berowne would that do it good rosaline my physic says ay berowne will you prickt with your eye rosaline no point with my knife berowne now god save thy life rosaline and yours from long living berowne i cannot stay thanksgiving retiring dumain sir i pray you a word what lady is that same boyet the heir of alencon katharine her name dumain a gallant lady monsieur fare you well exit longaville i beseech you a word what is she in the white boyet a woman sometimes an you saw her in the light longaville perchance light in the light i desire her name boyet she hath but one for herself to desire that were a shame longaville pray you sir whose daughter boyet her mothers i have heard longaville gods blessing on your beard boyet good sir be not offended she is an heir of falconbridge longaville nay my choler is ended she is a most sweet lady boyet not unlike sir that may be exit longaville berowne whats her name in the cap boyet rosaline by good hap berowne is she wedded or no boyet to her will sir or so berowne you are welcome sir adieu boyet farewell to me sir and welcome to you exit berowne ladies unmask maria that last is berowne the merry mad cap lord not a word with him but a jest boyet and every jest but a word princess of france it was well done of you to take him at his word boyet i was as willing to grapple as he was to board katharine two hot sheeps marry boyet and wherefore not ships no sheep sweet lamb unless we feed on your lips katharine you sheep and i pasture shall that finish the jest boyet so you grant pasture for me offering to kiss her katharine not so gentle beast my lips are no common though several they be boyet belonging to whom katharine to my fortunes and me princess of france good wits will be jangling but gentles agree this civil war of wits were much better used on navarre and his book men for here tis abused boyet if my observation which very seldom lies by the hearts still rhetoric disclosed with eyes deceive me not now navarre is infected princess of france with what boyet with that which we lovers entitle affected princess of france your reason boyet 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 impressed proud with his form in his eye pride expressed 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 lockd in his eye as jewels in crystal for some prince to buy who tendring their own worth from where they were glassd did point you to buy them along as you passd his faces own margent did quote such amazes that all eyes saw his eyes enchanted with gazes ill give you aquitaine and all that is his an you give him for my sake but one loving kiss princess of france come to our pavilion boyet is disposd boyet but to speak that in words which his eye hath disclosd i only have made a mouth of his eye by adding a tongue which i know will not lie maria thou art an old love monger and speakest skilfully katharine he is cupids grandfather and learns news of him rosaline then was venus like her mother for her father is but grim boyet do you hear my mad wenches maria no boyet what then do you see maria ay our way to be gone boyet you are too hard for me exeunt act iii scene i the park enter armado and moth armado warble child make passionate my sense of hearing moth sings concolinel armado 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 moth master will you win your love with a french brawl armado how meanest thou brawling in french moth no my complete master but to jig off a tune at the tongues 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 with singing love sometime through the nose as if you snuffd up love by smelling love with your hat penthouse like oer the shop of your eyes with your arms crossd 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 armado how hast thou purchased this experience moth by my penny of observation armado but o but o moth the hobby horse is forgot armado callst thou my love hobby horse moth no master the hobby horse is but a colt and your love perhaps a hackney but have you forgot your love armado almost i had moth negligent student learn her by heart armado by heart and in heart boy moth and out of heart master all those three i will prove armado what wilt thou prove moth 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 armado i am all these three moth and three times as much more and yet nothing at all armado fetch hither the swain he must carry me a letter moth a message well sympathizd a horse to be ambassador for an ass armado ha ha what sayest thou moth marry sir you must send the ass upon the horse for he is very slow gaited but i go armado the way is but short away moth as swift as lead sir armado the meaning pretty ingenious is not lead a metal heavy dull and slow moth minime honest master or rather master no armado i say lead is slow moth you are too swift sir to say so is that lead slow which is fird from a gun armado sweet smoke of rhetoric he reputes me a cannon and the bullet thats he i shoot thee at the swain moth thump then and i flee exit armado 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 returnd re enter moth with costard moth a wonder master heres a costard broken in a shin armado some enigma some riddle come thy lenvoy begin costard no egma no riddle no lenvoy no salve in the mail sir o sir plantain a plain plantain no lenvoy no lenvoy no salve sir but a plantain armado 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 lenvoy and the word lenvoy for a salve moth do the wise think them other is not lenvoy a salve armado 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 theres the moral now the lenvoy moth i will add the lenvoy say the moral again armado the fox the ape and the humble bee were still at odds being but three moth until the goose came out of door and stayd the odds by adding four now will i begin your moral and do you follow with my lenvoy the fox the ape and the humble bee were still at odds being but three armado until the goose came out of door staying the odds by adding four moth a good lenvoy ending in the goose would you desire more costard the boy hath sold him a bargain a goose thats 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 lenvoy ay thats a fat goose armado come hither come hither how did this argument begin moth by saying that a costard was broken in a shin then calld you for the lenvoy costard true and i for a plantain thus came your argument in then the boys fat lenvoy the goose that you bought and he ended the market armado but tell me how was there a costard broken in a shin moth i will tell you sensibly costard thou hast no feeling of it moth i will speak that lenvoy i costard running out that was safely within fell over the threshold and broke my shin armado we will talk no more of this matter costard till there be more matter in the shin armado sirrah costard i will enfranchise thee costard o marry me to one frances i smell some lenvoy some goose in this armado by my sweet soul i mean setting thee at liberty enfreedoming thy person thou wert immured restrained captivated bound costard true true and now you will be my purgation and let me loose armado i give thee thy liberty set thee from durance and in lieu thereof impose on thee nothing but this bear this significant giving a letter to the country maid jaquenetta there is remuneration for the best ward of mine honour is rewarding my dependents moth follow exit moth like the sequel i signior costard adieu costard my sweet ounce of mans flesh my incony jew exit moth now will i look to his remuneration remuneration o thats the latin word for three farthings three farthings remuneration whats the price of this inkle one penny no ill 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 enter berowne berowne my good knave costard exceedingly well met costard pray you sir how much carnation ribbon may a man buy for a remuneration berowne what is a remuneration costard marry sir halfpenny farthing berowne why then three farthing worth of silk costard i thank your worship god be wi you berowne stay slave i must employ thee as thou wilt win my favour good my knave do one thing for me that i shall entreat costard when would you have it done sir berowne this afternoon costard well i will do it sir fare you well berowne thou knowest not what it is costard i shall know sir when i have done it berowne why villain thou must know first costard i will come to your worship to morrow morning berowne 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 seald up counsel theres thy guerdon go giving him a shilling costard gardon o sweet gardon better than remuneration a leven pence farthing better most sweet gardon i will do it sir in print gardon remuneration exit berowne and i forsooth in love i that have been loves whip a very beadle to a humorous sigh a critic nay a night watch constable a domineering pedant oer the boy than whom no mortal so magnificent this wimpled whining purblind wayward boy this senior junior giant dwarf dan cupid regent of love rhymes lord of folded arms th anointed sovereign of sighs and groans liege of all loiterers and malcontents 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 tumblers hoop what 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 watchd that it may still go right nay to be perjurd which is worst of all and among three to love the worst of all a whitely 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 exit act iv scene i the park enter the princess rosaline maria katharine boyet lords attendants and a forester princess of france was that the king that spurrd his horse so hard against the steep uprising of the hill boyet i know not but i think it was not he princess of france whoeer a was a showd 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 forester hereby upon the edge of yonder coppice a stand where you may make the fairest shoot princess of france i thank my beauty i am fair that shoot and thereupon thou speakst the fairest shoot forester pardon me madam for i meant not so princess of france what what first praise me and again say no o short livd pride not fair alack for woe forester yes madam fair princess of france nay never paint me now where fair is not praise cannot mend the brow here good my glass take this for telling true giving him money fair payment for foul words is more than due forester nothing but fair is that which you inherit princess of france see see my beauty will be savd 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 dot 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 fames 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 deers blood that my heart means no ill boyet do not curst wives hold that self sovereignty only for praise sake when they strive to be lords oer their lords princess of france only for praise and praise we may afford to any lady that subdues a lord enter costard boyet here comes a member of the commonwealth costard god dig you den all pray you which is the head lady princess of france thou shalt know her fellow by the rest that have no heads costard which is the greatest lady the highest princess of france the thickest and the tallest costard 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 princess of france whats your will sir whats your will costard i have a letter from monsieur berowne to one lady rosaline princess of france o thy letter thy letter hes a good friend of mine stand aside good bearer boyet you can carve break up this capon boyet i am bound to serve this letter is mistook it importeth none here it is writ to jaquenetta princess of france we will read it i swear break the neck of the wax and every one give ear boyet reads 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 annothanize 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 who overcame he the beggar the conclusion is victory on whose side the kings the captive is enrichd on whose side the beggars the catastrophe is a nuptial on whose side the kings 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 are thou then food for his rage repasture for his den princess of france what plume of feathers is he that indited this letter what vane what weathercock did you ever hear better boyet i am much deceived but i remember the style princess of france else your memory is bad going oer it erewhile boyet 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 princess of france thou fellow a word who gave thee this letter costard i told you my lord princess of france to whom shouldst thou give it costard from my lord to my lady princess of france from which lord to which lady costard from my lord berowne a good master of mine to a lady of france that he calld rosaline princess of france thou hast mistaken his letter come lords away to rosaline here sweet put up this twill be thine another day exeunt princess and train boyet who is the shooter who is the shooter rosaline shall i teach you to know boyet ay my continent of beauty rosaline why she that bears the bow finely put off boyet my lady goes to kill horns but if thou marry hang me by the neck if horns that year miscarry finely put on rosaline well then i am the shooter boyet and who is your deer rosaline if we choose by the horns yourself come not near finely put on indeed maria you still wrangle with her boyet and she strikes at the brow boyet but she herself is hit lower have i hit her now rosaline 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 boyet so i may answer thee with one as old that was a woman when queen guinever of britain was a little wench as touching the hit it rosaline singing thou canst not hit it hit it hit it thou canst not hit it my good man boyet an i cannot cannot cannot an i cannot another can exeunt rosaline and katharine costard by my troth most pleasant how both did fit it maria a mark marvellous well shot for they both did hit it boyet a mark o mark but that mark a mark says my lady let the mark have a prick int to mete at if it may be maria wide o the bow hand i faith your hand is out costard indeed a must shoot nearer or hell neer hit the clout boyet an if my hand be out then belike your hand is in costard then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin maria come come you talk greasily your lips grow foul costard shes too hard for you at pricks sir challenge her to bowl boyet i fear too much rubbing good night my good owl exeunt boyet and maria costard 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 a th tone 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 a t other side that handful of wit ah heavens it is a most pathetical nit sola sola exit costard scene ii the park from the shooting within enter holofernes sir nathaniel and dull nathaniel very reverent sport truly and done in the testimony of a good conscience holofernes the deer was as you know sanguis in blood ripe as the pomewater who now hangeth like a jewel in the ear of caelo the sky the welkin the heaven and anon falleth like a crab on the face of terra the soil the land the earth nathaniel 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 holofernes sir nathaniel haud credo dull twas not a haud credo twas a pricket holofernes 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 dull i said the deer was not a haud credo twas a pricket holofernes twice sod simplicity bis coctus o thou monster ignorance how deformed dost thou look nathaniel sir he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred in 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 fathers mind many can brook the weather that love not the wind dull you two are book men can you tell me by your wit what was a month old at cains birth thats not five weeks old as yet holofernes dictynna goodman dull dictynna goodman dull dull what is dictynna nathaniel a title to phoebe to luna to the moon holofernes the moon was a month old when adam was no more and raught not to five weeks when he came to five score th allusion holds in the exchange dull tis true indeed the collusion holds in the exchange holofernes god comfort thy capacity i say th allusion holds in the exchange dull and i say the polusion holds in the exchange for the moon is never but a month old and i say beside that twas a pricket that the princess killd holofernes sir nathaniel will you hear an extemporal epitaph on the death of the deer and to humour the ignorant call the deer the princess killd a pricket nathaniel perge good master holofernes perge so it shall please you to abrogate scurrility holofernes i will something affect the letter for it argues facility the preyful princess piercd and prickd a pretty pleasing pricket some say a sore but not a sore till now made sore with shooting the dogs did yell put el 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 o sorel of one sore i an hundred make by adding but one more l nathaniel a rare talent dull aside if a talent be a claw look how he claws him with a talent holofernes 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 nourishd 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 nathaniel sir i praise the lord for you and so may my parishioners for their sons are well tutord by you and their daughters profit very greatly under you you are a good member of the commonwealth holofernes mehercle if their sons be ingenious 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 enter jaquenetta and costard jaquenetta god give you good morrow master person holofernes master person quasi pers one and if one should be piercd which is the one costard marry master schoolmaster he that is likest to a hogshead holofernes 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 jaquenetta 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 holofernes 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 ti vede non ti 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 nathaniel ay sir and very learned holofernes let me hear a staff a stanze a verse lege domine nathaniel reads if love make me forsworn how shall i swear to love ah never faith could hold if not to beauty vowed though to myself forsworn to thee ill faithful prove those thoughts to me were oaks to thee like osiers bowed 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 joves 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 singes heavens praise with such an earthly tongue holofernes 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 jaquenetta ay sir from one monsieur berowne one of the strange queens lords holofernes 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 ladyships in all desired employment berowne sir nathaniel this berowne is one of the votaries with the king and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queens which accidentally or by the way of progression hath miscarried trip and go my sweet deliver this paper into the royal hand of the king it may concern much stay not thy compliment i forgive thy duty adieu jaquenetta good costard go with me sir god save your life costard have with thee my girl exeunt costard and jaquenetta nathaniel sir you have done this in the fear of god very religiously and as a certain father saith holofernes sir tell not me of the father i do fear colourable colours but to return to the verses did they please you sir nathaniel nathaniel marvellous well for the pen holofernes i do dine to day at the fathers 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 nathaniel and thank you too for society saith the text is the happiness of life holofernes and certes the text most infallibly concludes it to dull sir i do invite you too you shall not say me nay pauca verba away the gentles are at their game and we will to our recreation exeunt scene iii the park enter berowne with a paper his band alone berowne the king he is hunting the deer i am coursing myself they have pitchd a toil i am tolling in a pitch pitch that defiles defile a foul word well set thee down sorrow for so they say the fool said and so say i and i am 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 rhyme and to be melancholy and here is part of my rhyme 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 climbs into a tree enter the king with a paper king ay me berowne shot by heaven proceed sweet cupid thou hast thumpd him with thy bird bolt under the left pap in faith secrets king reads 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 shinst 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 dost thou excel no thought can think nor tongue of mortal tell how shall she know my griefs ill drop the paper sweet leaves shade folly who is he comes here steps aside enter longaville with a paper what longaville and reading listen car berowne now in thy likeness one more fool appear longaville ay me i am forsworn berowne why he comes in like a perjure wearing papers king in love i hope sweet fellowship in shame berowne one drunkard loves another of the name longaville am i the first that have been perjurd so berowne i could put thee in comfort not by two that i know thou makest the triumviry the corner cap of society the shape of loves tyburn that hangs up simplicity longaville 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 berowne o rhymes are guards on wanton cupids hose disfigure not his slop longaville this same shall go he reads the sonnet 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 gaind cures all disgrace in me vows are but breath and breath a vapour is then thou fair sun which on my earth dost shine exhalst 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 berowne 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 th way enter dumain with a paper longaville by whom shall i send this company stay steps aside berowne all hid all hid an old infant play like a demigod here sit i in the sky and wretched fools secrets heedfully oer eye more sacks to the mill o heavens i have my wish dumain transformed four woodcocks in a dish dumain o most divine kate berowne o most profane coxcomb dumain by heaven the wonder in a mortal eye berowne by earth she is not corporal there you lie dumain her amber hairs for foul hath amber quoted berowne an amber colourd raven was well noted dumain as upright as the cedar berowne stoop i say her shoulder is with child dumain as fair as day berowne ay as some days but then no sun must shine dumain o that i had my wish longaville and i had mine king and i mine too good lord berowne amen so i had mine is not that a good word dumain i would forget her but a fever she reigns in my blood and will remembred be berowne a fever in your blood why then incision would let her out in saucers sweet misprision dumain once more ill read the ode that i have writ berowne once more ill mark how love can vary wit dumain reads 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 can passage find that the lover sick to death wishd himself the heavens breath air quoth he thy cheeks may blow air would i might triumph so but alack my hand is sworn neer 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 jove would swear juno but an ethiope 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 loves fasting pain o would the king berowne and longaville were lovers too ill to example ill would from my forehead wipe a perjurd note for none offend where all alike do dote longaville advancing dumain thy love is far from charity that in loves grief desirst society you may look pale but i should blush i know to be oerheard and taken napping so king advancing 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 markd you both and for you both did blush i heard your guilty rhymes observd 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 others eyes to longaville you would for paradise break faith and troth to dumain and jove for your love would infringe an oath what will berowne say when that he shall hear 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 berowne descending 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 youll not be perjurd tis a hateful thing tush none but minstrels like of sonneting but are you not ashamed nay are you not all three of you to be thus much oershot 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 foolry 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 dumain and gentle longaville where lies thy pain and where my lieges all about the breast a caudle ho king too bitter is thy jest are we betrayed thus to thy over view berowne not you by me but i betrayed to you i that am honest i that hold it sin to break the vow i am engaged in i am betrayed by keeping company with men like you men of inconstancy when shall you see me write a thing in rhyme or groan for joan or spend a minutes 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 a leg a limb king soft whither away so fast a true man or a thief that gallops so berowne i post from love good lover let me go enter jaquenetta and costard jaquenetta god bless the king king what present hast thou there costard some certain treason king what makes treason here costard nay it makes nothing sir king if it mar nothing neither the treason and you go in peace away together jaquenetta i beseech your grace let this letter be read our person misdoubts it twas treason he said king berowne read it over berowne reads the letter where hadst thou it jaquenetta of costard king where hadst thou it costard of dun adramadio dun adramadio berowne tears the letter king how now what is in you why dost thou tear it berowne a toy my liege a toy your grace needs not fear it longaville it did move him to passion and therefore lets hear it dumain it is berownes writing and here is his name gathering up the pieces berowne to costard ah you whoreson loggerhead you were born to do me shame guilty my lord guilty i confess i confess king what berowne that you three fools lackd 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 dumain now the number is even berowne true true we are four will these turtles be gone king hence sirs away costard walk aside the true folk and let the traitors stay exeunt costard and jaquenetta berowne 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 king what did these rent lines show some love of thine berowne did they quoth you who sees the heavenly rosaline that like a rude and savage man of inde at the first opning 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 king what zeal what fury hath inspird thee now my love her mistress is a gracious moon she an attending star scarce seen a light berowne my eyes are then no eyes nor i berowne o but for my love day would turn to night of all complexions the culld 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 sellers praise belongs she passes praise then praise too short doth blot a witherd 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 cradles infancy o tis the sun that maketh all things shine king by heaven thy love is black as ebony berowne 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 king o paradox black is the badge of hell the hue of dungeons and the school of night and beautys crest becomes the heavens well berowne devils soonest tempt resembling spirits of light o if in black my ladys brows be deckt 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 dumain to look like her are chimney sweepers black longaville and since her time are colliers counted bright king and ethiopes of their sweet complexion crack dumain dark needs no candles now for dark is light berowne your mistresses dare never come in rain for fear their colours should be washd away king twere good yours did for sir to tell you plain ill find a fairer face not washd to day berowne ill prove her fair or talk till doomsday here king no devil will fright thee then so much as she dumain i never knew man hold vile stuff so dear longaville look heres thy love my foot and her face see showing his shoe berowne o if the streets were paved with thine eyes her feet were much too dainty for such tread dumain o vile then as she goes what upward lies the street should see as she walkd overhead king but what of this are we not all in love berowne nothing so sure and thereby all forsworn king then leave this chat and good berowne now prove our loving lawful and our faith not torn dumain ay marry there some flattery for this evil longaville o some authority how to proceed some tricks some quillets how to cheat the devil dumain some salve for perjury berowne tis more than need have at you then affections 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 you have vowd to study lords in that each of you have 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 studys excellence without the beauty of a womans face from womens 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 womans face you have in that forsworn the use of eyes and study too the causer of your vow for where is author in the world teaches such beauty as a womans eye learning is but an adjunct to ourself and where we are our learning likewise is then when ourselves we see in ladies eyes with ourselves 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 beautys tutors have enrichd 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 ladys 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 lovers eyes will gaze an eagle blind a lovers ear will hear the lowest sound when the suspicious head of theft is stoppd loves feeling is more soft and sensible than are the tender horns of cockled snails loves 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 apollos lute strung with his hair and when love speaks the voice of all the gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony never durst poet touch a pen to write until his ink were tempred with loves sighs o then his lines would ravish savage ears and plant in tyrants mild humility from womens 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 wisdoms sake a word that all men love or for loves sake a word that loves all men or for mens sake the authors of these women or womens 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 king saint cupid then and soldiers to the field berowne advance your standards and upon them lords pell mell down with them be first advisd in conflict that you get the sun of them longaville now to plain dealing lay these glozes by shall we resolve to woo these girls of france king and win them too therefore let us devise some entertainment for them in their tents berowne 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 king away away no time shall be omitted that will betime and may by us be fitted berowne allons allons sowd cockle reapd 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 exeunt act v scene i the park enter holofernes sir nathaniel and dull holofernes satis quod sufficit nathaniel 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 kings who is intituled nominated or called don adriano de armado holofernes novi hominem tanquam te his humour is lofty his discourse peremptory his tongue filed 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 nathaniel a most singular and choice epithet draws out his table book holofernes 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 abbominable it insinuateth me of insanie ne intelligis domine to make frantic lunatic nathaniel laus deo bone intelligo holofernes bone bone for bene priscian a little scratchd twill serve enter armado moth and costard nathaniel videsne quis venit holofernes video et gaudeo armado to moth chirrah holofernes quare chirrah not sirrah armado men of peace well encountred holofernes most military sir salutation moth aside to costard they have been at a great feast of languages and stoln the scraps costard o they have livd long on the alms basket of words i marvel thy master hath not eaten thee for a word for thou are not so long by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus thou art easier swallowed than a flap dragon moth peace the peal begins armado to holofernes monsieur are you not lettred moth yes yes he teaches boys the hornbook what is a b spelt backward with the horn on his head holofernes ba pueritia with a horn added moth ba most silly sheep with a horn you hear his learning holofernes quis quis thou consonant moth the third of the five vowels if you repeat them or the fifth if i holofernes i will repeat them a e i moth the sheep the other two concludes it o u armado now by the salt wave of the mediterraneum a sweet touch a quick venue of wit snip snap quick and home it rejoiceth my intellect true wit moth offerd by a child to an old man which is wit old holofernes what is the figure what is the figure moth horns holofernes thou disputes like an infant go whip thy gig moth lend me your horn to make one and i will whip about your infamy circum circa a gig of a cuckolds horn costard an i had but one penny in the world thou shouldst have it to buy ginger bread 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 holofernes o i smell false latin dunghill for unguem armado arts man preambulate we will be singuled from the barbarous do you not educate youth at the charge house on the top of the mountain holofernes or mons the hill armado at your sweet pleasure for the mountain holofernes i do sans question armado sir it is the kings 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 holofernes the posterior of the day most generous sir is liable congruent and measurable for the afternoon the word is well culld chose sweet and apt i do assure you sir i do assure armado 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 courtesy 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 antic or firework 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 holofernes 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 rendred by our assistance the kings command and this most gallant illustrate and learned gentleman before the princess i say none so fit as to present the nine worthies nathaniel where will you find men worthy enough to present them holofernes joshua yourself myself alexander this gallant gentleman judas maccabaeus this swain because of his great limb or joint shall pass pompey the great the page hercules armado pardon sir error he is not quantity enough for that worthys thumb he is not so big as the end of his club holofernes 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 moth 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 armado for the rest of the worthies holofernes i will play three myself moth thrice worthy gentleman armado shall i tell you a thing holofernes we attend armado we will have if this fadge not an antic i beseech you follow holofernes via goodman dull thou has spoken no word all this while dull nor understood none neither sir holofernes allons we will employ thee dull ill make one in a dance or so or i will play on the tabor to the worthies and let them dance the hay holofernes most dull honest dull to our sport away exeunt scene ii the park enter the princess maria katharine and rosaline princess of france sweet hearts we shall be rich ere we depart if fairings come thus plentifully in a lady walld about with diamonds look you what i have from the loving king rosaline madam came nothing else along with that princess of france nothing but this yes as much love in rhyme as would be crammd up in a sheet of paper writ o both sides the leaf margent and all that he was fain to seal on cupids name rosaline that was the way to make his godhead wax for he hath been five thousand year a boy katharine ay and a shrewd unhappy gallows too rosaline youll neer be friends with him a killd your sister katharine 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 a been a grandam ere she died and so may you for a light heart lives long rosaline whats your dark meaning mouse of this light word katharine a light condition in a beauty dark rosaline we need more light to find your meaning out katharine youll mar the light by taking it in snuff therefore ill darkly end the argument rosaline look what you do you do it still i th dark katharine so do not you for you are a light wench rosaline indeed i weigh not you and therefore light katharine you weigh me not o thats you care not for me rosaline great reason for past cure is still past care princess of france well bandied both a set of wit well playd but rosaline you have a favour too who sent it and what is it rosaline 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 numbring too i were the fairest goddess on the ground i am compard to twenty thousand fairs o he hath drawn my picture in his letter princess of france anything like rosaline much in the letters nothing in the praise princess of france beauteous as ink a good conclusion katharine fair as a text b in a copy book rosaline ware pencils ho let me not die your debtor my red dominical my golden letter o that your face were not so full of os katharine a pox of that jest and i beshrew all shrows princess of france but katharine what was sent to you from fair dumain katharine madam this glove princess of france did he not send you twain katharine yes madam and moreover some thousand verses of a faithful lover a huge translation of hypocrisy vilely compild profound simplicity maria this and these pearl to me sent longaville the letter is too long by half a mile princess of france i think no less dost thou not wish in heart the chain were longer and the letter short maria ay or i would these hands might never part princess of france we are wise girls to mock our lovers so rosaline they are worse fools to purchase mocking so that same berowne ill torture ere i go o that i knew he were but in by th 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 rhymes and shape his service wholly to my hests and make him proud to make me proud that jests so pertaunt like would i oersway his state that he should be my fool and i his fate princess of france none are so surely caught when they are catchd as wit turnd fool folly in wisdom hatchd hath wisdoms warrant and the help of school and wits own grace to grace a learned fool rosaline the blood of youth burns not with such excess as gravitys revolt to wantonness maria folly in fools bears not so strong a note as foolry in the wise when wit doth dote since all the power thereof it doth apply to prove by wit worth in simplicity enter boyet princess of france here comes boyet and mirth is in his face boyet o i am stabbd with laughter wheres her grace princess of france thy news boyet boyet prepare madam prepare arm wenches arm encounters mounted are against your peace love doth approach disguisd armed in arguments youll be surprisd muster your wits stand in your own defence or hide your heads like cowards and fly hence princess of france saint dennis to saint cupid what are they that charge their breath against us say scout say boyet under the cool shade of a sycamore i thought to close mine eyes some half an hour when lo to interrupt my purposd 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 disguisd they will be here their herald is a pretty knavish page that well by heart hath connd 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 feard her had she been a devil with that all laughd and clappd him on the shoulder making the bold wag by their praises bolder one rubbd his elbow thus and fleerd and swore a better speech was never spoke before another with his finger and his thumb cried via we will dot come what will come the third he caperd and cried all goes well the fourth turnd 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 passions solemn tears princess of france but what but what come they to visit us boyet they do they do and are apparelld thus like muscovites or russians as i guess their purpose is to parley court and dance and every one his love feat will advance unto his several mistress which theyll know by favours several which they did bestow princess of france and will they so the gallants shall be taskd for ladies we will every one be maskd and not a man of them shall have the grace despite of suit to see a ladys 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 deceivd by these removes rosaline come on then wear the favours most in sight katharine but in this changing what is your intent princess of france 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 mockd withal upon the next occasion that we meet with visages displayd to talk and greet rosaline but shall we dance if they desire us tot princess of france no to the death we will not move a foot nor to their pennd speech render we no grace but while tis spoke each turn away her face boyet why that contempt will kill the speakers heart and quite divorce his memory from his part princess of france therefore i do it and i make no doubt the rest will neer come in if he be out theres no such sport as sport by sport oerthrown to make theirs ours and ours none but our own so shall we stay mocking intended game and they well mockd depart away with shame trumpet sounds within boyet the trumpet sounds be maskd the maskers come the ladies mask enter blackamoors music moth as prologue the king and his lords as maskers in the guise of russians moth all hail the richest heauties on the earth boyet beauties no richer than rich taffeta moth a holy parcel of the fairest dames the ladies turn their backs to him that ever turnd their backs to mortal views berowne their eyes villain their eyes moth that ever turnd their eyes to mortal views out boyet true out indeed moth out of your favours heavenly spirits vouchsafe not to behold berowne once to behold rogue moth once to behold with your sun beamed eyes with your sun beamed eyes boyet they will not answer to that epithet you were best call it daughter beamed eyes moth they do not mark me and that brings me out berowne is this your perfectness be gone you rogue exit moth rosaline 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 boyet what would you with the princess berowne nothing but peace and gentle visitation rosaline what would they say they boyet nothing but peace and gentle visitation rosaline why that they have and bid them so be gone boyet she says you have it and you may be gone king say to her we have measurd many miles to tread a measure with her on this grass boyet they say that they have measurd many a mile to tread a measure with you on this grass rosaline it is not so ask them how many inches is in one mile if they have measured many the measure then of one is easly told boyet if to come hither you have measurd miles and many miles the princess bids you tell how many inches doth fill up one mile berowne tell her we measure them by weary steps boyet she hears herself rosaline how many weary steps of many weary miles you have oergone are numbred in the travel of one mile berowne 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 rosaline my face is but a moon and clouded too king blessed are clouds to do as such clouds do vouchsafe bright moon and these thy stars to shine those clouds removed upon our watery eyne rosaline o vain petitioner beg a greater matter thou now requests but moonshine in the water king then in our measure do but vouchsafe one change thou bidst me beg this begging is not strange rosaline play music then nay you must do it soon not yet no dance thus change i like the moon king will you not dance how come you thus estranged rosaline you took the moon at full but now shes changed king yet still she is the moon and i the man the music plays vouchsafe some motion to it rosaline our ears vouchsafe it king but your legs should do it rosaline since you are strangers and come here by chance well not be nice take hands we will not dance king why take we hands then rosaline only to part friends curtsy sweet hearts and so the measure ends king more measure of this measure be not nice rosaline we can afford no more at such a price king price you yourselves what buys your company rosaline your absence only king that can never be rosaline then cannot we be bought and so adieu twice to your visor and half once to you king if you deny to dance lets hold more chat rosaline in private then king i am best pleasd with that they converse apart berowne white handed mistress one sweet word with thee princess of france honey and milk and sugar there is three berowne nay then two treys an if you grow so nice metheglin wort and malmsey well run dice theres half a dozen sweets princess of france seventh sweet adieu since you can cog ill play no more with you berowne one word in secret princess of france let it not be sweet berowne thou grievest my gall princess of france gall bitter berowne therefore meet they converse apart dumain will you vouchsafe with me to change a word maria name it dumain fair lady maria say you so fair lord take that for your fair lady dumain please it you as much in private and ill bid adieu they converse apart katharine what was your vizard made without a tongue longaville i know the reason lady why you ask katharine o for your reason quickly sir i long longaville you have a double tongue within your mask and would afford my speechless vizard half katharine veal quoth the dutchman is not veal a calf longaville a calf fair lady katharine no a fair lord calf longaville lets part the word katharine no ill not be your half take all and wean it it may prove an ox longaville look how you butt yourself in these sharp mocks will you give horns chaste lady do not so katharine then die a calf before your horns do grow longaville one word in private with you ere i die katharine bleat softly then the butcher hears you cry they converse apart boyet the tongues of mocking wenches are as keen as is the razors 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 rosaline not one word more my maids break off break off berowne by heaven all dry beaten with pure scoff king farewell mad wenches you have simple wits exeunt king lords and blackamoors princess of france twenty adieus my frozen muscovits are these the breed of wits so wondered at boyet tapers they are with your sweet breaths puffd out rosaline well liking wits they have gross gross fat fat princess of france o poverty in wit kingly poor flout will they not think you hang themselves to night or ever but in vizards show their faces this pert berowne was out of countnance quite rosaline they were all in lamentable cases the king was weeping ripe for a good word princess of france berowne did swear himself out of all suit maria dumain was at my service and his sword no point quoth i my servant straight was mute katharine lord longaville said i came oer his heart and trow you what he calld me princess of france qualm perhaps katharine yes in good faith princess of france go sickness as thou art rosaline well better wits have worn plain statute caps but will you hear the king is my love sworn princess of france and quick berowne hath plighted faith to me katharine and longaville was for my service born maria dumain is mine as sure as bark on tree boyet 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 princess of france will they return boyet 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 princess of france how blow how blow speak to be understood boyet fair ladies maskd are roses in their bud dismaskd their damask sweet commixture shown are angels vailing clouds or roses blown princess of france avaunt perplexity what shall we do if they return in their own shapes to woo rosaline good madam if by me youll be advisd lets mock them still as well known as disguisd let us complain to them what fools were here disguisd like muscovites in shapeless gear and wonder what they were and to what end their shallow shows and prologue vilely pennd and their rough carriage so ridiculous should be presented at our tent to us boyet ladies withdraw the gallants are at hand princess of france whip to our tents as roes run oer land exeunt princess rosaline katharine and maria re enter the king berowne longaville and dumain in their proper habits king fair sir god save you wheres the princess boyet gone to her tent please it your majesty command me any service to her thither king that she vouchsafe me audience for one word boyet i will and so will she i know my lord exit berowne this fellow pecks up wit as pigeons pease and utters it again when god doth please he is wits 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 a can carve too and lisp why this is he that kissd 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 flowr 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 tongued boyet king a blister on his sweet tongue with my heart that put armados page out of his part re enter the princess ushered by boyet rosaline maria and katharine berowne see where it comes behaviour what wert thou till this man showd thee and what art thou now king all hail sweet madam and fair time of day princess of france fair in all hail is foul as i conceive king construe my speeches better if you may princess of france then wish me better i will give you leave king we came to visit you and purpose now to lead you to our court vouchsafe it then princess of france this field shall hold me and so hold your vow nor god nor i delights in perjurd men king rebuke me not for that which you provoke the virtue of your eye must break my oath princess of france you nickname virtue vice you should have spoke for virtues office never breaks mens 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 houses guest so much i hate a breaking cause to be of heavenly oaths vowed with integrity king o you have livd in desolation here unseen unvisited much to our shame princess of france not so my lord it is not so i swear we have had pastimes here and pleasant game a mess of russians left us but of late king how madam russians princess of france ay in truth my lord trim gallants full of courtship and of state rosaline 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 stayed an hour and talkd 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 fain have drink berowne this jest is dry to me fair gentle sweet your wit makes wise things foolish when we greet with eyes best seeing heavens 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 rosaline this proves you wise and rich for in my eye berowne i am a fool and full of poverty rosaline but that you take what doth to you belong it were a fault to snatch words from my tongue berowne o i am yours and all that i possess rosaline all the fool mine berowne i cannot give you less rosaline which of the vizards was it that you wore berowne where when what vizard why demand you this rosaline there then that vizard that superfluous case that hid the worse and showd the better face king we were descried theyll mock us now downright dumain let us confess and turn it to a jest princess of france amazd my lord why looks your highness sad rosaline help hold his brows hell swoon why look you pale sea sick i think coming from muscovy berowne 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 pennd nor to the motion of a school boys tongue nor never come in vizard to my friend nor woo in rhyme like a blind harpers song taffeta phrases silken terms precise three pild 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 expressd in russet yeas and honest kersey noes and to begin wench so god help me law my love to thee is sound sans crack or flaw rosaline sans sans i pray you berowne yet i have a trick of the old rage bear with me i am sick ill 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 lords tokens on you do i see princess of france no they are free that gave these tokens to us berowne our states are forfeit seek not to undo us rosaline it is not so for how can this be true that you stand forfeit being those that sue berowne peace for i will not have to do with you rosaline nor shall not if i do as i intend berowne speak for yourselves my wit is at an end king teach us sweet madam for our rude transgression some fair excuse princess of france the fairest is confession were not you here but even now disguisd king madam i was princess of france and were you well advisd king i was fair madam princess of france when you then were here what did you whisper in your ladys ear king that more than all the world i did respect her princess of france when she shall challenge this you will reject her king upon mine honour no princess of france peace peace forbear your oath once broke you force not to forswear king despise me when i break this oath of mine princess of france i will and therefore keep it rosaline what did the russian whisper in your ear rosaline 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 princess of france god give thee joy of him the noble lord most honourably doth uphold his word king what mean you madam by my life my troth i never swore this lady such an oath rosaline by heaven you did and to confirm it plain you gave me this but take it sir again king my faith and this the princess i did give i knew her by this jewel on her sleeve princess of france 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 berowne neither of either i remit both twain i see the trick ont 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 shes disposd told our intents before which once disclosd the ladies did change favours and then we following the signs wood 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 to boyet and might not you forestall our sport to make us thus untrue do not you know my ladys foot by th squier 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 allowd die when you will a smock shall be your shroud you leer upon me do you theres an eye wounds like a leaden sword boyet full merrily hath this brave manage this career been run berowne lo he is tilting straight peace i have done enter costard welcome pure wit thou partst a fair fray costard o lord sir they would know whether the three worthies shall come in or no berowne what are there but three costard no sir but it is vara fine for every one pursents three berowne and three times thrice is nine costard 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 berowne is not nine costard under correction sir we know whereuntil it doth amount berowne by jove i always took three threes for nine costard o lord sir it were pity you should get your living by reckning sir berowne how much is it costard 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 berowne art thou one of the worthies costard it pleased them to think me worthy of pompey the great for mine own part i know not the degree of the worthy but i am to stand for him berowne go bid them prepare costard we will turn it finely off sir we will take some care exit costard king berowne they will shame us let them not approach berowne we are shame proof my lord and tis some policy to have one show worse than the kings and his company king i say they shall not come princess of france nay my good lord let me oerrule you now that sport best pleases that doth least know how where zeal strives to content and the contents dies in the zeal of that which it presents their form confounded makes most form in mirth when great things labouring perish in their birth berowne a right description of our sport my lord enter armado armado anointed i implore so much expense of thy royal sweet breath as will utter a brace of words converses apart with the king and delivers a paper princess of france doth this man serve god berowne why ask you princess of france a speaks not like a man of god his making armado that is 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 exit armado king here is like to be a good presence of worthies he presents hector of troy the swain pompey the great the parish curate alexander arinados page hercules the pedant judas maccabaeus and if these four worthies in their first show thrive these four will change habits and present the other five berowne there is five in the first show king you are deceived tis not so berowne the pedant the braggart the hedge priest 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 king the ship is under sail and here she comes amain enter costard armed for pompey costard i pompey am berowne you lie you are not he costard i pompey am boyet with libbards head on knee berowne well said old mocker i must needs be friends with thee costard i pompey am pompey surnamd the big dumain the great costard it is great sir pompey surnamd the great that oft in field with targe and shield did make my foe to sweat and travelling along this coast i bere 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 princess of france great thanks great pompey costard tis not so much worth but i hope i was perfect i made a little fault in great berowne my hat to a halfpenny pompey proves the best worthy enter sir nathaniel for alexander nathaniel when in the world i livd i was the worlds commander by east west north and south i spread my conquering might my scutcheon plain declares that i am alisander boyet your nose says no you are not for it stands to right berowne your nose smells no in this most tender smelling knight princess of france the conqueror is dismayd proceed good alexander nathaniel when in the world i livd i was the worlds commander boyet most true tis right you were so alisander berowne pompey the great costard your servant and costard berowne take away the conqueror take away alisander costard to sir nathaniel o sir you have overthrown alisander the conqueror you will be scrapd out of the painted cloth for this your lion that holds his poleaxe sitting on a close stool will be given to ajax he will be the ninth worthy a conqueror and afeard to speak run away for shame alisander sir nathaniel retires there ant shall please you a foolish mild man an honest man look you and soon dashd he is a marvellous good neighbour faith and a very good bowler but for alisander alas you see how tis a little oerparted but there are worthies a coming will speak their mind in some other sort princess of france stand aside good pompey enter holofernes for judas and moth for hercules holofernes great hercules is presented by this imp whose club killd cerberus that three headed canus and when be 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 moth retires judas i am dumain a judas holofernes not iscariot sir judas i am ycliped maccabaeus dumain judas maccabaeus clipt is plain judas berowne a kissing traitor how art thou provd judas holofernes judas i am dumain the more shame for you judas holofernes what mean you sir boyet to make judas hang himself holofernes begin sir you are my elder berowne well followed judas was hanged on an elder holofernes i will not be put out of countenance berowne because thou hast no face holofernes what is this boyet a cittern head dumain the head of a bodkin berowne a deaths face in a ring longaville the face of an old roman coin scarce seen boyet the pommel of coesars falchion dumain the carvd bone face on a flask berowne saint georges half cheek in a brooch dumain ay and in a brooch of lead berowne ay and worn in the cap of a tooth drawer and now forward for we have put thee in countenance holofernes you have put me out of countenance berowne false we have given thee faces holofernes but you have outfacd them all berowne an thou wert a lion we would do so boyet therefore as he is an ass let him go and so adieu sweet jude nay why dost thou stay dumain for the latter end of his name berowne for the ass to the jude give it him jud as away holofernes this is not generous not gentle not humble boyet a light for monsieur judas it grows dark he may stumble holofernes retires princess of france alas poor maccabaeus how hath he been baited enter armado for hector berowne hide thy head achilles here comes hector in arms dumain though my mocks come home by me i will now be merry king hector was but a troyan in respect of this boyet but is this hector dumain i think hector was not so clean timberd longaville his leg is too big for hectors dumain more calf certain boyet no he is best indued in the small berowne this cannot be hector dumain hes a god or a painter for he makes faces armado the armipotent mars of lances the almighty gave hector a gift dumain a gilt nutmeg berowne a lemon longaville stuck with cloves dumain no cloven armado peace the armipotent mars of lances the almighty gave hector a gift the heir of ilion a man so breathed that certain he would fight ye from morn till night out of his pavilion i am that flower dumain that mint longaville that columbine armado sweet lord longaville rein thy tongue longaville i must rather give it the rein for it runs against hector dumain ay and hectors a greyhound armado 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 to the princess sweet royalty bestow on me the sense of hearing berowne steps forth and speaks to costard princess of france speak brave hector we are much delighted armado i do adore thy sweet graces slipper boyet aside to dumain loves her by the foot dumain aside to boyet he may not by the yard armado this hector far surmounted hannibal costard the party is gone fellow hector she is gone she is two months on her way armado what meanest thou costard faith unless you play the honest troyan the poor wench is cast away shes quick the child brags in her belly already tis yours armado dost thou infamonize me among potentates thou shalt die costard then shall hector be whipt for jaquenetta that is quick by him and hangd for pompey that is dead by him dumain most rare pompey boyet renowned pompey berowne greater than great great great great pompey pompey the huge dumain hector trembles berowne pompey is moved more ates more ates stir them on stir them on dumain hector will challenge him berowne ay if a have no more mans blood in his belly than will sup a flea armado by the north pole i do challenge thee costard i will not fight with a pole like a northern man ill slash ill do it by the sword i bepray you let me borrow my arms again dumain room for the incensed worthies costard ill do it in my shirt dumain most resolute pompey moth master let me take you a buttonhole lower do you not see pompey is uncasing for the combat what mean you you will lose your reputation armado gentlemen and soldiers pardon me i will not combat in my shirt dumain you may not deny it pompey hath made the challenge armado sweet bloods i both may and will berowne what reason have you for t armado the naked truth of it is i have no shirt i go woolward for penance boyet true and it was enjoined him in rome for want of linen since when ill be sworn he wore none but a dishclout of jaquenettas and that a wears next his heart for a favour enter as messenger monsieur marcade marcade god save you madam princess of france welcome marcade but that thou interruptest our merriment marcade i am sorry madam for the news i bring is heavy in my tongue the king your father princess of france dead for my life marcade even so my tale is told berowne worthies away the scene begins to cloud armado for mine 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 exeunt worthies king how fares your majesty princess of france boyet prepare i will away to night king madam not so i do beseech you stay princess of france 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 too short of thanks for my great suit so easily obtaind king the extreme parts 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 loves argument was first on foot let not the cloud of sorrow justle it from what it purposd since to wail friends lost is not by much so wholesome profitable as to rejoice at friends but newly found princess of france i understand you not my griefs are double berowne honest plain words best pierce the ear of grief and by these badges understand the king for your fair sakes have we neglected time playd foul play with our oaths your beauty ladies hath much deformed us fashioning our humours even to the opposed end of our intents and what in us hath seemd ridiculous as love is full of unbefitting strains all wanton as a child skipping and vain formd by the eye and therefore like the eye full of strange 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 misbecomd 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 princess of france we have receivd your letters full of love your favours the ambassadors 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 dumain our letters madam showd much more than jest longaville so did our looks rosaline we did not quote them so king now at the latest minute of the hour grant us your loves princess of france a time methinks too short to make a world without end bargain in no no my lord your grace is perjurd 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 the 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 woeful self up in a mournful house raining the tears of lamentation for the remembrance of my fathers death if this thou do deny let our hands part neither intitled in the others heart king 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 hermit then my heart is in thy breast berowne and what to me my love and what to me rosaline you must he purged too your sins are rackd 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 dumain but what to me my love but what to me a wife katharine a beard fair health and honesty with threefold love i wish you all these three dumain o shall i say i thank you gentle wife katharine no so my lord a twelvemonth and a day ill mark no words that smooth facd wooers say come when the king doth to my lady come then if i have much love ill give you some dumain ill serve thee true and faithfully till then katharine yet swear not lest ye be forsworn again longaville what says maria maria at the twelvemonths end ill change my black gown for a faithful friend longaville ill stay with patience but the time is long maria the liker you few taller are so young berowne 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 rosaline oft have i heard of you my lord berowne before i saw you and the worlds 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 berowne to move wild laughter in the throat of death it cannot be it is impossible mirth cannot move a soul in agony rosaline why thats the way to choke a gibing spirit whose influence is begot of that loose grace which shallow laughing hearers give to fools a jests prosperity lies in the ear of him that hears it never in the tongue of him that makes it then if sickly ears deafd with the clamours of their own dear groans will hear your idle scorns continue then 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 berowne a twelvemonth well befall what will befall ill jest a twelvemonth in an hospital princess of france to the king ay sweet my lord and so i take my leave king no madam we will bring you on your way berowne our wooing doth not end like an old play jack hath not jill these ladies courtesy might well have made our sport a comedy king come sir it wants a twelvemonth an a day and then twill end berowne thats too long for a play re enter armado armado sweet majesty vouchsafe me princess of france was not that not hector dumain the worthy knight of troy armado i will kiss thy royal finger and take leave i am a votary i have vowd to jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three year 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 king call them forth quickly we will do so armado holla approach enter all this side is hiems winter this ver the spring the one maintained by the owl th other by the cuckoo ver begin spring 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 when shepherds pipe on oaten straws and merry larks are ploughmens 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 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 nippd 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 when all aloud the wind doth blow and coughing drowns the parsons saw and birds sit brooding in the snow and marians nose looks red and raw when roasted crabs hiss in the bowl then nightly sings the staring owl tu who tu whit to who a merry note while greasy joan doth keel the pot armado the words of mercury are harsh after the songs of apollo you that way we this way exeunt the end the tragedy of macbeth dramatis personae duncan king of scotland macbeth thane of glamis and cawdor a general in the kings army lady macbeth his wife macduff thane of fife a nobleman of scotland lady macduff his wife malcolm elder son of duncan donalbain younger son of duncan banquo thane of lochaber a general in the kings army fleance his son lennox nobleman of scotland ross nobleman of scotland menteith nobleman of scotland angus nobleman of scotland caithness nobleman of scotland siward earl of northumberland general of the english forces young siward his son seyton attendant to macbeth hecate queen of the witches the three witches boy son of macduff gentlewoman attending on lady macbeth an english doctor a scottish doctor a sergeant a porter an old man the ghost of banquo and other apparitions lords gentlemen officers soldiers murtherers attendants and messengers scene scotland and england act i scene i a desert place thunder and lightning enter three witches first witch when shall we three meet again in thunder lightning or in rain second witch when the hurlyburlys done when the battles lost and won third witch that will be ere the set of sun first witch where the place second witch upon the heath third witch there to meet with macbeth first witch i come graymalkin all paddock calls anon fair is foul and foul is fair hover through the fog and filthy air exeunt scene ii a camp near forres alarum within enter duncan malcolm donalbain lennox with attendants meeting a bleeding sergeant duncan what bloody man is that he can report as seemeth by his plight of the revolt the newest state malcolm 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 sergeant 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 villainies of nature do swarm upon him from the western isles of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied and fortune on his damned quarrel smiling showd like a rebels whore but alls too weak for brave macbeth well he deserves that name disdaining fortune with his brandishd steel which smoked with bloody execution like valors minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave which neer shook hands nor bade farewell to him till he unseamd him from the nave to the chaps and fixd his head upon our battlements duncan o valiant cousin worthy gentleman sergeant as whence the sun gins his reflection shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break so from that spring whence comfort seemd to come discomfort swells mark king of scotland mark no sooner justice had with valor armd compelld these skipping kerns to trust their heels but the norweyan lord surveying vantage with furbishd arms and new supplies of men began a fresh assault duncan dismayd not this our captains macbeth and banquo sergeant yes as sparrows eagles or the hare the lion if i say sooth i must report they were as cannons overcharged 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 duncan so well thy words become thee as thy wounds they smack of honor both go get him surgeons exit sergeant attended who comes here enter ross malcolm the worthy thane of ross lennox what a haste looks through his eyes so should he look that seems to speak things strange ross god save the king duncan whence camest thou worthy thane ross 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 bellonas bridegroom lappd 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 duncan great happiness ross that now sweno the norways king craves composition nor would we deign him burial of his men till he disbursed at saint colmes inch ten thousand dollars to our general use duncan no more that thane of cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest go pronounce his present death and with his former title greet macbeth ross ill see it done duncan what he hath lost noble macbeth hath won exeunt scene iii a heath thunder enter the three witches first witch where hast thou been sister second witch killing swine third witch sister where thou first witch a sailors wife had chestnuts in her lap and mounchd and mounchd and mounchd give me quoth i aroint thee witch the rump fed ronyon cries her husbands to aleppo gone master the tiger but in a sieve ill thither sail and like a rat without a tail ill do ill do and ill do second witch ill give thee a wind first witch thourt kind third witch and i another first witch i myself have all the other and the very ports they blow all the quarters that they know i the shipmans card i will drain him dry as hay sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid he shall live a man forbid weary sennights nine times nine shall he dwindle peak and pine though his bark cannot be lost yet it shall be tempest tossd look what i have second witch show me show me first witch here i have a pilots thumb wreckd as homeward he did come drum within third witch a drum a drum macbeth doth come all 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 charms wound up enter macbeth and banquo macbeth so foul and fair a day i have not seen banquo how far ist calld to forres what are these so witherd and so wild in their attire that look not like the inhabitants o the earth and yet are ont 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 macbeth speak if you can what are you first witch all hail macbeth hail to thee thane of glamis second witch all hail macbeth hail to thee thane of cawdor third witch all hail macbeth that shalt be king hereafter banquo 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 favors nor your hate first witch hail second witch hail third witch hail first witch lesser than macbeth and greater second witch not so happy yet much happier third witch thou shalt get kings though thou be none so all hail macbeth and banquo first witch banquo and macbeth all hail macbeth stay you imperfect speakers tell me more by sinels 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 witches vanish banquo the earth hath bubbles as the water has and these are of them whither are they vanishd macbeth into the air and what seemd corporal melted as breath into the wind would they had stayd banquo were such things here as we do speak about or have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner macbeth your children shall be kings banquo you shall be king macbeth and thane of cawdor too went it not so banquo to the selfsame tune and words whos here enter ross and angus ross the king hath happily received 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 silenced with that in viewing oer the rest o the selfsame 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 kingdoms great defense and pourd them down before him angus we are sent to give thee from our royal master thanks only to herald thee into his sight not pay thee ross and for an earnest of a greater honor he bade me from him call thee thane of cawdor in which addition hail most worthy thane for it is thine banquo what can the devil speak true macbeth the thane of cawdor lives why do you dress me in borrowd robes angus who was the thane lives yet but under heavy judgement bears that life which he deserves to lose whether he was combined with those of norway or did line the rebel with hidden help and vantage or that with both he labord in his countrys wreck i know not but treasons capital confessd and proved have overthrown him macbeth aside glamis and thane of cawdor the greatest is behind to ross and angus thanks for your pains aside to banquo do you not hope your children shall be kings when those that gave the thane of cawdor to me promised no less to them banquo aside to macbeth 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 betrays in deepest consequence cousins a word i pray you macbeth aside two truths are told as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme i thank you gentlemen aside 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 murther yet is but fantastical shakes so my single state of man that function is smotherd in surmise and nothing is but what is not banquo look how our partners rapt macbeth aside if chance will have me king why chance may crown me without my stir banquo new honors come upon him like our strange garments cleave not to their mould but with the aid of use macbeth aside come what come may time and the hour runs through the roughest day banquo worthy macbeth we stay upon your leisure macbeth give me your favor my dull brain was wrought with things forgotten kind gentlemen your pains are registerd where every day i turn the leaf to read them let us toward the king think upon what hath chanced and at more time the interim having weighd it let us speak our free hearts each to other banquo very gladly macbeth till then enough come friends exeunt scene iv forres the palace flourish enter duncan malcolm donalbain lennox and attendants duncan is execution done on cawdor are not those in commission yet returnd malcolm 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 confessd his treasons implored 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 owed as twere a careless trifle duncan theres no art to find the minds construction in the face he was a gentleman on whom i built an absolute trust enter macbeth banquo ross and angus 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 deserved 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 macbeth the service and the loyalty lowe 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 honor duncan welcome hither i have begun to plant thee and will labor to make thee full of growing noble banquo that hast no less deserved nor must be known no less to have done so let me infold thee and hold thee to my heart banquo there if i grow the harvest is your own duncan my plenteous joys wanton in fullness 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 honor 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 macbeth the rest is labor which is not used for you ill be myself the harbinger and make joyful the hearing of my wife with your approach so humbly take my leave duncan my worthy cawdor macbeth aside the prince of cumberland that is a step on which i must fall down or else oerleap 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 exit duncan true worthy banquo he is full so valiant and in his commendations i am fed it is a banquet to me lets after him whose care is gone before to bid us welcome it is a peerless kinsman flourish exeunt scene v inverness macbeths castle enter lady macbeth reading a letter lady macbeth 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 shalt be this have i thought good to deliver thee my dearest partner of greatness that thou mightst 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 promised 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 wouldst thou holily wouldst not play false and yet wouldst wrongly win thouldst 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 valor of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crownd withal enter a messenger what is your tidings messenger the king comes here tonight lady macbeth thourt mad to say it is not thy master with him who weret so would have informd for preparation messenger 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 lady macbeth give him tending he brings great news exit messenger 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 womans breasts and take my milk for gall your murthering ministers wherever in your sightless substances you wait on natures 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 enter macbeth 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 macbeth my dearest love duncan comes here tonight lady macbeth and when goes hence macbeth tomorrow as he purposes lady macbeth 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 it he thats coming must be provided for and you shall put this nights great business into my dispatch which shall to all our nights and days to come give solely sovereign sway and masterdom macbeth we will speak further lady macbeth only look up clear to alter favor ever is to fear leave all the rest to me exeunt scene vi before macbeths castle hautboys and torches enter duncan malcolm donalbain banquo lennox macduff ross angus and attendants duncan this castle hath a pleasant seat the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses banquo this guest of summer the temple haunting martlet does approve by his loved mansionry that the heavens breath smells wooingly here no jutty frieze buttress nor coign of vantage but this bird hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle where they most breed and haunt i have observed the air is delicate enter lady macbeth duncan see see our honord 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 ield us for your pains and thank us for your trouble lady macbeth all our service in every point twice done and then done double were poor and single business to contend against those honors deep and broad wherewith your majesty loads our house for those of old and the late dignities heapd up to them we rest your hermits duncan wheres the thane of cawdor we coursed 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 tonight lady macbeth 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 duncan give me your hand conduct me to mine host we love him highly and shall continue our graces towards him by your leave hostess exeunt scene vii macbeths castle hautboys and torches enter a sewer and divers servants with dishes and service who pass over the stage then enter macbeth macbeth 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 weld jump the life to come but in these cases we still have judgement here that we but teach bloody instructions which being taught return to plague the inventor this even handed justice commends the ingredients of our poisond chalice to our own lips hes 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 murtherer 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 tongued against the deep damnation of his taking off and pity like a naked new born babe striding the blast or heavens cherubin horsed 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 oerleaps itself and falls on the other enter lady macbeth how now what news lady macbeth he has almost suppd why have you left the chamber macbeth hath he askd for me lady macbeth know you not he has macbeth we will proceed no further in this business he hath honord 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 lady macbeth was the hope drunk wherein you dressd 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 valor as thou art in desire wouldst thou have that which thou esteemst 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 macbeth prithee peace i dare do all that may become a man who dares do more is none lady macbeth what beast wast 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 pluckd my nipple from his boneless gums and dashd the brains out had i so sworn as you have done to this macbeth if we should fail lady macbeth we fail but screw your courage to the sticking place and well not fail when duncan is asleep whereto the rather shall his days 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 macbeth bring forth men children only for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males will it not be received when we have markd with blood those sleepy two of his own chamber and used their very daggers that they have donet lady macbeth who dares receive it other as we shall make our griefs and clamor roar upon his death macbeth 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 exeunt act ii scene i inverness court of macbeths castle enter banquo and fleance bearing a torch before him banquo how goes the night boy fleance the moon is down i have not heard the clock banquo and she goes down at twelve fleance i taket tis later sir banquo hold take my sword theres 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 enter macbeth and a servant with a torch give me my sword whos there macbeth a friend banquo what sir not yet at rest the kings abed 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 macbeth being unprepared our will became the servant to defect which else should free have wrought banquo alls well i dreamt last night of the three weird sisters to you they have showd some truth macbeth 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 banquo at your kindst leisure macbeth if you shall cleave to my consent when tis it shall make honor for you banquo so i lose none in seeking to augment it but still keep my bosom franchised and allegiance clear i shall be counseld macbeth good repose the while banquo thanks sir the like to you exeunt banquo and fleance macbeth go bid thy mistress when my drink is ready she strike upon the bell get thee to bed exit servant 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 marshalst 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 theres no such thing it is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes now oer the one half world nature seems dead and wicked dreams abuse the curtaind sleep witchcraft celebrates pale hecates offerings and witherd murther alarumd by his sentinel the wolf whose howls his watch thus with his stealthy pace with tarquins ravishing strides towards 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 a bell rings 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 exit scene ii the same enter lady macbeth lady macbeth that which hath made them drunk hath made me bold what hath quenchd them hath given me fire hark peace it was the owl that shriekd the fatal bellman which gives the sternst good night he is about it the doors are open and the surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores i have druggd their possets that death and nature do contend about them whether they live or die macbeth within whos there what ho lady macbeth alack i am afraid they have awaked and tis not done the attempt and not the deed confounds us hark i laid their daggers ready he could not miss em had he not resembled my father as he slept i had donet enter macbeth my husband macbeth i have done the deed didst thou not hear a noise lady macbeth i heard the owl scream and the crickets cry did not you speak macbeth when lady macbeth now macbeth as i descended lady macbeth ay macbeth hark who lies i the second chamber lady macbeth donalbain macbeth this is a sorry sight looks on his hands lady macbeth a foolish thought to say a sorry sight macbeth theres one did laugh in s sleep and one cried murther that they did wake each other i stood and heard them but they did say their prayers and addressd them again to sleep lady macbeth there are two lodged together macbeth one cried god bless us and amen the other as they had seen me with these hangmans hands listening their fear i could not say amen when they did say god bless us lady macbeth consider it not so deeply macbeth but wherefore could not i pronounce amen i had most need of blessing and amen stuck in my throat lady macbeth these deeds must not be thought after these ways so it will make us mad macbeth i heard a voice cry sleep no more macbeth does murther sleep the innocent sleep sleep that knits up the raveld sleave of care the death of each days life sore labors bath balm of hurt minds great natures second course chief nourisher in lifes feast lady macbeth what do you mean macbeth still it cried sleep no more to all the house glamis hath murtherd sleep and therefore cawdor shall sleep no more macbeth shall sleep no more lady macbeth 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 macbeth ill go no more i am afraid to think what i have done look ont again i dare not lady macbeth 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 ill gild the faces of the grooms withal for it must seem their guilt exit knocking within macbeth whence is that knocking how ist with me when every noise appals me what hands are here ha they pluck out mine eyes will all great neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand no this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine making the green one red re enter lady macbeth lady macbeth my hands are of your color but i shame to wear a heart so white knocking within i hear 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 knocking within hark more knocking get on your nightgown lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers be not lost so poorly in your thoughts macbeth to know my deed twere best not know myself knocking within wake duncan with thy knocking i would thou couldst exeunt scene iii the same enter a porter knocking within porter heres a knocking indeed if a man were porter of hell gate he should have old turning the key knocking within knock knock knock whos there i the name of belzebub heres a farmer that hanged himself on th expectation of plenty come in time have napkins enow about you here youll sweat fort knocking within knock knock whos there in th other devils name faith heres an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against either scale who committed treason enough for gods sake yet could not equivocate to heaven o come in equivocator knocking within knock knock knock whos there faith heres 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 ill 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 opens the gate enter macduff and lennox macduff was it so late friend ere you went to bed that you do lie so late porter faith sir we were carousing till the second cock and drink sir is a great provoker of three things macduff what three things does drink especially provoke porter marry sir nose 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 macduff i believe drink gave thee the lie last night porter that it did sir i the very throat on me but requited him for his lie and i think being too strong for him though he took up my legs sometime yet i made shift to cast him macduff is thy master stirring enter macbeth our knocking has awaked him here he comes lennox good morrow noble sir macbeth morrow both macduff is the king stirring worthy thane macbeth not yet macduff he did command me to call timely on him i have almost slippd the hour macbeth ill bring you to him macduff i know this is a joyful trouble to you but yet tis one macbeth the labor we delight in physics pain this is the door macduff ill make so bold to call for tis my limited service exit lennox goes the king hence today macbeth he does he did appoint so lennox the night has been unruly where we lay our chimneys 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 confused events new hatchd to the woeful time the obscure bird clamord the livelong night some say the earth was feverous and did shake macbeth twas a rough fight lennox my young remembrance cannot parallel a fellow to it re enter macduff macduff o horror horror horror tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee macbeth lennox whats the matter macduff confusion now hath made his masterpiece most sacrilegious murther hath broke ope the lords anointed temple and stole thence the life o the building macbeth what ist you say the life lennox mean you his majesty macduff approach the chamber and destroy your sight with a new gorgon do not bid me speak see and then speak yourselves exeunt macbeth and lennox awake awake ring the alarum bell murther and treason banquo and donalbain malcolm awake shake off this downy sleep deaths counterfeit and look on death itself up up and see the great dooms image malcolm banquo as from your graves rise up and walk like sprites to countenance this horror ring the bell bell rings enter lady macbeth lady macbeth whats the business that such a hideous trumpet calls to parley the sleepers of the house speak speak macduff o gentle lady tis not for you to hear what i can speak the repetition in a womans ear would murther as it fell enter banquo o banquo banquo our royal masters murtherd lady macbeth woe alas what in our house banquo too cruel anywhere dear duff i prithee contradict thyself and say it is not so re enter macbeth and lennox with ross macbeth had i but died an hour before this chance i had lived a blessed time for from this instant theres 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 enter malcolm and donalbain donalbain what is amiss macbeth you are and do not knowt the spring the head the fountain of your blood is stopped the very source of it is stoppd macduff your royal fathers murtherd malcolm o by whom lennox those of his chamber as it seemd had donet their hands and faces were all badged with blood so were their daggers which unwiped we found upon their pillows they stared and were distracted no mans life was to be trusted with them macbeth o yet i do repent me of my fury that i did kill them macduff wherefore did you so macbeth who can be wise amazed temperate and furious loyal and neutral in a moment no man the expedition of my violent love outrun the pauser reason here lay duncan his silver skin laced with his golden blood and his gashd stabs lookd like a breach in nature for ruins wasteful entrance there the murtherers steepd in the colors of their trade their daggers unmannerly breechd with gore who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make s love known lady macbeth help me hence ho macduff look to the lady malcolm aside to donalbain why do we hold our tongues that most may claim this argument for ours donalbain aside to malcolm what should be spoken here where our fate hid in an auger hole may rush and seize us lets away our tears are not yet brewd malcolm aside to donalbain nor our strong sorrow upon the foot of motion banquo look to the lady lady macbeth is carried out 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 undivulged pretense i fight of treasonous malice macduff and so do i all so all macbeth lets briefly put on manly readiness and meet i the hall together all well contented exeunt all but malcolm and donalbain malcolm what will you do lets not consort with them to show an unfelt sorrow is an office which the false man does easy ill to england donalbain to ireland i our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer where we are theres daggers in mens smiles the near in blood the nearer bloody malcolm this murtherous shaft thats 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 theres warrant in that theft which steals itself when theres no mercy left exeunt scene iv outside macbeths castle enter ross with an old man old man 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 ross ah good father thou seest the heavens as troubled with mans act threaten his bloody stage by the clock tis day and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp ist nights predominance or the days shame that darkness does the face of earth entomb when living light should kiss it old man tis unnatural even like the deed thats done on tuesday last a falcon towering in her pride of place was by a mousing owl hawkd at and killd ross and duncans horses a thing most strange and certain beauteous and swift the minions of their race turnd wild in nature broke their stalls flung out contending gainst obedience as they would make war with mankind old man tis said they eat each other ross they did so to the amazement of mine eyes that lookd upont enter macduff here comes the good macduff how goes the world sir now macduff why see you not ross ist known who did this more than bloody deed macduff those that macbeth hath slain ross alas the day what good could they pretend macduff they were subornd malcolm and donalbain the kings two sons are stoln away and fled which puts upon them suspicion of the deed ross gainst nature still thriftless ambition that wilt ravin up thine own lifes means then tis most like the sovereignty will fall upon macbeth macduff he is already named and gone to scone to be invested ross where is duncans body macduff carried to colmekill the sacred storehouse of his predecessors and guardian of their bones ross will you to scone macduff no cousin ill to fife ross well i will thither macduff well may you see things well done there adieu lest our old robes sit easier than our new ross farewell father old man gods benison go with you and with those that would make good of bad and friends of foes exeunt act iii scene i forres the palace enter banquo banquo thou hast it now king cawdor glamis all as the weird women promised and i fear thou playdst most foully fort 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 sennet sounds enter macbeth as king lady macbeth as queen lennox ross lords ladies and attendants macbeth heres our chief guest lady macbeth if he had been forgotten it had been as a gap in our great feast and all thing unbecoming macbeth tonight we hold a solemn supper sir and ill request your presence banquo let your highness command upon me to the which my duties are with a most indissoluble tie forever knit macbeth ride you this afternoon banquo ay my good lord macbeth we should have else desired your good advice which still hath been both grave and prosperous in this days council but well take tomorrow ist far you ride banquo 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 macbeth fail not our feast banquo my lord i will not macbeth we hear our bloody cousins are bestowd in england and in ireland not confessing their cruel parricide filling their hearers with strange invention but of that tomorrow 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 banquo ay my good lord our time does call upon s macbeth i wish your horses swift and sure of foot and so i do commend you to their backs farewell exit banquo 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 exeunt all but macbeth and an attendant sirrah a word with you attend those men our pleasure attendant they are my lord without the palace gate macbeth bring them before us exit attendant 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 feard tis much he dares and to that dauntless temper of his mind he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor to act in safety there is none but he whose being i do fear and under him my genius is rebuked as it is said mark antonys was by caesar he chid the sisters when first they put the name of king upon me and bade them speak to him then prophet like they haild him father to a line of kings upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren sceptre in my gripe thence to be wrenchd with an unlineal hand no son of mine succeeding ift be so for banquos issue have i filed my mind for them the gracious duncan have i murtherd put rancors 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 whos there re enter attendant with two murtherers now go to the door and stay there till we call exit attendant was it not yesterday we spoke together first murtherer it was so please your highness macbeth well then now have you considerd 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 passd in probation with you how you were borne in hand how crossd the instruments who wrought with them and all things else that might to half a soul and to a notion crazed say thus did banquo first murtherer you made it known to us macbeth 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 gospeld to pray for this good man and for his issue whose heavy hand hath bowd you to the grave and beggard yours forever first murtherer we are men my liege macbeth ay in the catalogue ye go for men as hounds and greyhounds mongrels spaniels curs shoughs waterrugs and demi wolves are clept all by the name of dogs the valued file distinguishes the swift the slow the subtle the housekeeper the hunter every one according to the gift which bounteous nature hath in him closed 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 second murtherer i am one my liege whom the vile blows and buffets of the world have so incensed that i am reckless what i do to spite the world first murtherer and i another so weary with disasters tuggd with fortune that i would set my life on any chance to mend it or be rid ont macbeth both of you know banquo was your enemy both murtherers true my lord macbeth so is he mine and in such bloody distance that every minute of his being thrusts against my nearst of life and though i could with barefaced 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 who 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 second murtherer we shall my lord perform what you command us first murtherer though our lives macbeth 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 ont fort must be done tonight 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 fathers must embrace the fate of that dark hour resolve yourselves apart ill come to you anon both murtherers we are resolved my lord macbeth ill call upon you straight abide within exeunt murtherers it is concluded banquo thy souls flight if it find heaven must find it out tonight exit scene ii the palace enter lady macbeth and a servant lady macbeth is banquo gone from court servant ay madam but returns again tonight lady macbeth say to the king i would attend his leisure for a few words servant madam i will exit lady macbeth noughts had alls spent where our desire is got without content tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy enter macbeth 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 whats done is done macbeth we have scotchd the snake not killd it shell 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 lifes fitful fever he sleeps well treason has done his worst nor steel nor poison malice domestic foreign levy nothing can touch him further lady macbeth come on gentle my lord sleek oer your rugged looks be bright and jovial among your guests tonight macbeth 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 honors in these flattering streams and make our faces vizards to our hearts disguising what they are lady macbeth you must leave this macbeth o full of scorpions is my mind dear wife thou knowst that banquo and his fleance lives lady macbeth but in them natures copys not eterne macbeth theres comfort yet they are assailable then be thou jocund ere the bat hath flown his cloisterd flight ere to black hecates summons the shard borne beetle with his drowsy hums hath rung nights yawning peal there shall be done a deed of dreadful note lady macbeth whats to be done macbeth 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 nights black agents to their preys do rouse thou marvelst at my words but hold thee still things bad begun make strong themselves by ill so prithee go with me exeunt scene iii a park near the palace enter three murtherers first murtherer but who did bid thee join with us third murtherer macbeth second murtherer he needs not our mistrust since he delivers our offices and what we have to do to the direction just first murtherer then stand with us the west yet glimmers with some streaks of day now spurs the lated traveler apace to gain the timely inn and near approaches the subject of our watch third murtherer hark i hear horses banquo within give us a light there ho second murtherer then tis he the rest that are within the note of expectation already are i the court first murtherer his horses go about third murtherer almost a mile but he does usually so all men do from hence to the palace gate make it their walk second murtherer a light a light enter banquo and fleance with a torch third murtherer tis he first murtherer stand tot banquo it will be rain tonight first murtherer let it come down they set upon banquo banquo o treachery fly good fleance fly fly fly thou mayst revenge o slave dies fleance escapes third murtherer who did strike out the light first murtherer wast not the way third murtherer theres but one down the son is fled second murtherer we have lost best half of our affair first murtherer well lets away and say how much is done exeunt scene iv a hall in the palace a banquet prepared enter macbeth lady macbeth ross lennox lords and attendants macbeth you know your own degrees sit down at first and last the hearty welcome lords thanks to your majesty macbeth ourself will mingle with society and play the humble host our hostess keeps her state but in best time we will require her welcome lady macbeth pronounce it for me sir to all our friends for my heart speaks they are welcome enter first murtherer to the door macbeth see they encounter thee with their hearts thanks both sides are even here ill sit i the midst be large in mirth anon well drink a measure the table round approaches the door theres blood upon thy face murtherer tis banquos then macbeth tis better thee without than he within is he dispatchd murtherer my lord his throat is cut that i did for him macbeth thou art the best o the cut throats yet hes good that did the like for fleance if thou didst it thou art the nonpareil murtherer most royal sir fleance is scaped macbeth aside 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 cabind cribbd confind bound in to saucy doubts and fears but banquos safe murtherer ay my good lord safe in a ditch he bides with twenty trenched gashes on his head the least a death to nature macbeth thanks for that there the grown serpent lies the worm thats fled hath nature that in time will venom breed no teeth for the present get thee gone tomorrow well hear ourselves again exit murtherer lady macbeth my royal lord you do not give the cheer the feast is sold that is not often vouchd while tis amaking tis given with welcome to feed were best at home from thence the sauce to meat is ceremony meeting were bare without it macbeth sweet remembrancer now good digestion wait on appetite and health on both lennox mayt please your highness sit the ghost of banquo enters and sits in macbeths place macbeth here had we now our countrys honor roofd were the graced person of our banquo present who may i rather challenge for unkindness than pity for mischance ross his absence sir lays blame upon his promise pleaset your highness to grace us with your royal company macbeth the tables full lennox here is a place reserved sir macbeth where lennox here my good lord what ist that moves your highness macbeth which of you have done this lords what my good lord macbeth thou canst not say i did it never shake thy gory locks at me ross gentlemen rise his highness is well lady macbeth 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 macbeth ay and a bold one that dare look on that which might appal the devil lady macbeth 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 womans story at a winters fire authorized by her grandam shame itself why do you make such faces when alls done you look but on a stool macbeth 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 exit ghost lady macbeth what quite unmannd in folly macbeth if i stand here i saw him lady macbeth fie for shame macbeth blood hath been shed ere now i the olden time ere humane statute purged the gentle weal ay and since too murthers have been performd too terrible for the ear the time has been that when the brains were out the man would die and there an end but now they rise again with twenty mortal murthers on their crowns and push us from our stools this is more strange than such a murther is lady macbeth my worthy lord your noble friends do lack you macbeth 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 ill sit down give me some wine fill full i drink to the general joy o 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 lords our duties and the pledge re enter ghost macbeth 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 lady macbeth think of this good peers but as a thing of custom tis no other only it spoils the pleasure of the time macbeth what man dare i dare approach thou like the rugged russian bear the armd 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 desert with thy sword if trembling i inhabit then protest me the baby of a girl hence horrible shadow unreal mockery hence exit ghost why so being gone i am a man again pray you sit still lady macbeth you have displaced the mirth broke the good meeting with most admired disorder macbeth can such things be and overcome us like a summers 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 is blanchd with fear ross what sights my lord lady macbeth 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 lennox good night and better health attend his majesty lady macbeth a kind good night to all exeunt all but macbeth and lady macbeth macbeth will have blood they say blood will have blood stones have been known to move and trees to speak augures and understood relations have by maggot pies and choughs and rooks brought forth the secretst man of blood what is the night lady macbeth almost at odds with morning which is which macbeth how sayst thou that macduff denies his person at our great bidding lady macbeth did you send to him sir macbeth i hear it by the way but i will send theres not a one of them but in his house i keep a servant feed i will tomorrow 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 steppd in so far that should i wade no more returning were as tedious as go oer strange things i have in head that will to hand which must be acted ere they may be scannd lady macbeth you lack the season of all natures sleep macbeth come well to sleep my strange and self abuse is the initiate fear that wants hard use we are yet but young in deed exeunt scene v a heath thunder enter the three witches meeting hecate first witch why how now hecate you look angerly hecate 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 calld 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 everything beside i am for the air this night ill 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 ill catch it ere it come to ground and that distilld 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 music and a song within come away come away hark i am calld my little spirit see sits in a foggy cloud and stays for me exit first witch come lets make haste shell soon be back again exeunt scene vi forres the palace enter lennox and another lord lennox my former speeches have but hit your thoughts which can interpret farther only i say things have been strangely borne the gracious duncan was pitied of macbeth marry he was dead and the right valiant banquo walkd too late whom you may say ift please you fleance killd 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 angerd any heart alive to hear the men denyt so that i say he has borne all things well and i do think that had he duncans sons under his key as ant 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 faild his presence at the tyrants feast i hear macduff lives in disgrace sir can you tell where he bestows himself lord the son of duncan from whom this tyrant holds the due of birth lives in the english court and is received 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 warlike 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 honors all which we pine for now and this report hath so exasperate the king that he prepares for some attempt of war lennox sent he to macduff lord he did and with an absolute sir not i the cloudy messenger turns me his back and hums as who should say youll rue the time that clogs me with this answer lennox 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 accursed lord ill send my prayers with him exeunt act iv scene i a cavern in the middle a boiling cauldron thunder enter the three witches first witch thrice the brinded cat hath mewd second witch thrice and once the hedge pig whined third witch harpier cries tis time tis time first witch round about the cauldron go in the poisond entrails throw toad that under cold stone days and nights has thirty one swelterd venom sleeping got boil thou first i the charmed pot all double double toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble second witch 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 adders fork and blind worms sting lizards leg and howlets wing for a charm of powerful trouble like a hell broth boil and bubble all double double toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble third witch scale of dragon tooth of wolf witchs mummy maw and gulf of the ravind salt sea shark root of hemlock diggd i the dark liver of blaspheming jew gall of goat and slips of yew sliverd in the moons eclipse nose of turk and tartars lips finger of birth strangled babe ditch deliverd by a drab make the gruel thick and slab add thereto a tigers chawdron for the ingredients of our cawdron all double double toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble second witch cool it with a baboons blood then the charm is firm and good enter hecate to the other three witches hecate o well done i commend your pains and everyone shall share i the gains and now about the cauldron sing like elves and fairies in a ring enchanting all that you put in music and a song black spirits hecate retires second witch by the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes open locks whoever knocks enter macbeth macbeth how now you secret black and midnight hags what ist you do all a deed without a name macbeth i conjure you by that which you profess howeer 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 lodged 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 natures germaines tumble all together even till destruction sicken answer me to what i ask you first witch speak second witch demand third witch well answer first witch say if thoudst rather hear it from our mouths or from our masters macbeth call em let me see em first witch pour in sows blood that hath eaten her nine farrow grease thats sweaten from the murtherers gibbet throw into the flame all come high or low thyself and office deftly show thunder first apparition an armed head macbeth tell me thou unknown power first witch he knows thy thought hear his speech but say thou nought first apparition macbeth macbeth macbeth beware macduff beware the thane of fife dismiss me enough descends macbeth whateer thou art for thy good caution thanks thou hast harpd my fear aright but one word more first witch he will not be commanded heres another more potent than the first thunder second apparition a bloody child second apparition macbeth macbeth macbeth macbeth had i three ears id hear thee second apparition be bloody bold and resolute laugh to scorn the power of man for none of woman born shall harm macbeth descends macbeth then live macduff what need i fear of thee but yet ill 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 thunder third apparition a child crowned with a tree in his hand what is this that rises like the issue of a king and wears upon his baby brow the round and top of sovereignty all listen but speak not tot third apparition be lion mettled proud and take no care who chafes who frets or where conspirers are macbeth shall never vanquishd be until great birnam wood to high dunsinane hill shall come against him descends macbeth that will never be who can impress the forest bid the tree unfix his earth bound root sweet bodements good rebellions head rise never till the wood of birnam rise and our high placed 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 banquos issue ever reign in this kingdom all seek to know no more macbeth 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 hautboys first witch show second witch show third witch show all show his eyes and grieve his heart come like shadows so depart a show of eight kings the last with a glass in his hand banquos ghost following macbeth thou are 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 ill see no more and yet the eighth appears who bears a glass which shows me many more and some i see that twofold balls and treble sceptres carry horrible sight now i see tis true for the blood bolterd banquo smiles upon me and points at them for his what is this so first witch 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 ill charm the air to give a sound while you perform your antic round that this great king may kindly say our duties did his welcome pay music the witches dance and then vanish with hecate macbeth are they gone let this pernicious hour stand ay accursed in the calendar come in without there enter lennox lennox whats your graces will macbeth saw you the weird sisters lennox no my lord macbeth came they not by you lennox no indeed my lord macbeth infected be the air whereon they ride and damnd all those that trust them i did hear the galloping of horse who wast came by lennox tis two or three my lord that bring you word macduff is fled to england macbeth fled to england lennox ay my good lord macbeth aside time thou anticipatest my dread exploits the flighty purpose never is oertook 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 o the sword his wife his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line no boasting like a fool this deed ill do before this purpose cool but no more sights where are these gentlemen come bring me where they are exeunt scene ii fife macduffs castle enter lady macduff her son and ross lady macduff what had he done to make him fly the land ross you must have patience madam lady macduff he had none his flight was madness when our actions do not our fears do make us traitors ross you know not whether it was his wisdom or his fear lady macduff 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 ross 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 rumor 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 ill be here again things at the worst will cease or else climb upward to what they were before my pretty cousin blessing upon you lady macduff fatherd he is and yet hes fatherless ross i am so much a fool should i stay longer it would be my disgrace and your discomfort i take my leave at once exit lady macduff sirrah your fathers dead and what will you do now how will you live son as birds do mother lady macduff what with worms and flies son with what i get i mean and so do they lady macduff poor bird thouldst never fear the net nor lime the pitfall nor the gin son why should i mother poor birds they are not set for my father is not dead for all your saying lady macduff yes he is dead how wilt thou do for father son nay how will you do for a husband lady macduff why i can buy me twenty at any market son then youll buy em to sell again lady macduff thou speakst with all thy wit and yet i faith with wit enough for thee son was my father a traitor mother lady macduff ay that he was son what is a traitor lady macduff why one that swears and lies son and be all traitors that do so lady macduff everyone that does so is a traitor and must be hanged son and must they all be hanged that swear and lie lady macduff everyone son who must hang them lady macduff why the honest men son then the liars and swearers are fools for there are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and hang up them lady macduff now god help thee poor monkey but how wilt thou do for a father son if he were dead yould weep for him if you would not it were a good sign that i should quickly have a new father lady macduff poor prattler how thou talkst enter a messenger messenger bless you fair dame i am not to you known though in your state of honor i am perfect i doubt some danger does approach you nearly if you will take a homely mans 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 exit lady macduff 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 defense to say i have done no harm what are these faces enter murtherers first murtherer where is your husband lady macduff i hope in no place so unsanctified where such as thou mayst find him first murtherer hes a traitor son thou liest thou shag eard villain first murtherer what you egg stabs him young fry of treachery son he has killd me mother run away i pray you dies exit lady macduff crying murther exeunt murtherers following her scene iii england before the kings palace enter malcolm and macduff malcolm let us seek out some desolate shade and there weep our sad bosoms empty macduff let us rather hold fast the mortal sword and like good men bestride our downfalln birthdom each new morn new widows howl new orphans cry new sorrows strike heaven on the face that it resounds as if it felt with scotland and yelld out like syllable of dolor malcolm what i believe ill wall 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 whose sole name blisters our tongues was once thought honest you have loved him well he hath not touchd 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 macduff i am not treacherous malcolm 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 macduff i have lost my hopes malcolm 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 dishonors but mine own safeties you may be rightly just whatever i shall think macduff bleed bleed poor country great tyranny lay thou thy basis sure for goodness dare not check thee wear thou thy wrongs the title is affeerd fare thee well lord i would not be the villain that thou thinkst for the whole space thats in the tyrants grasp and the rich east to boot malcolm 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 tyrants 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 macduff what should he be malcolm it is myself i mean in whom i know all the particulars of vice so grafted that when they shall be opend black macbeth will seem as pure as snow and the poor state esteem him as a lamb being compared with my confineless harms macduff not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damnd in evils to top macbeth malcolm i grant him bloody luxurious avaricious false deceitful sudden malicious smacking of every sin that has a name but theres no bottom none in my voluptuousness your wives your daughters your matrons and your maids could not fill up the cestern of my lust and my desire all continent impediments would oerbear that did oppose my will better macbeth than such an one to reign macduff boundless intemperance in nature is a tyranny it hath been the 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 inclined malcolm with this there grows in my most ill composed affection such a stanchless avarice that were i king i should cut off the nobles for their lands desire his jewels and this others 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 macduff 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 weighd malcolm 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 macduff o scotland scotland malcolm if such a one be fit to govern speak i am as i have spoken macduff fit to govern no not to live o nation miserable with an untitled tyrant bloody scepterd when shalt thou see thy wholesome days again since that the truest issue of thy throne by his own interdiction stands accursed and does blaspheme his breed thy royal father was a most sainted king the queen that bore thee oftener upon her knees than on her feet died every day she lived fare thee well these evils thou repeatst upon thyself have banishd me from scotland o my breast thy hope ends here malcolm macduff this noble passion child of integrity hath from my soul wiped the black scruples reconciled my thoughts to thy good truth and honor 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 countrys to command whither indeed before thy here approach old siward with ten thousand warlike men already at a point was setting forth now well together and the chance of goodness be like our warranted quarrel why are you silent macduff such welcome and unwelcome things at once tis hard to reconcile enter a doctor malcolm well more anon comes the king forth i pray you doctor 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 malcolm i thank you doctor exit doctor macduff whats the disease he means malcolm tis calld 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 enter ross macduff see who comes here malcolm my countryman but yet i know him not macduff my ever gentle cousin welcome hither malcolm i know him now good god betimes remove the means that makes us strangers ross sir amen macduff stands scotland where it did ross alas poor country almost afraid to know itself it cannot be calld our mother but our grave where nothing but who knows nothing is once seen to smile where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air are made not markd where violent sorrow seems a modern ecstasy the dead mans knell is there scarce askd for who and good mens lives expire before the flowers in their caps dying or ere they sicken macduff o relation too nice and yet too true malcolm whats the newest grief ross that of an hours age doth hiss the speaker each minute teems a new one macduff how does my wife ross why well macduff and all my children ross well too macduff the tyrant has not batterd at their peace ross no they were well at peace when i did leave em macduff be not a niggard of your speech how goest ross when i came hither to transport the tidings which i have heavily borne there ran a rumor of many worthy fellows that were out which was to my belief witnessd the rather for that i saw the tyrants power afoot now is the time of help your eye in scotland would create soldiers make our women fight to doff their dire distresses malcolm bet 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 ross would i could answer this comfort with the like but i have words that would be howld out in the desert air where hearing should not latch them macduff what concern they the general cause or is it a fee grief due to some single breast ross no mind thats honest but in it shares some woe though the main part pertains to you alone macduff if it be mine keep it not from me quickly let me have it ross let not your ears despise my tongue forever which shall possess them with the heaviest sound that ever yet they heard macduff humh i guess at it ross your castle is surprised your wife and babes savagely slaughterd to relate the manner were on the quarry of these murtherd deer to add the death of you malcolm merciful heaven what man neer pull your hat upon your brows give sorrow words the grief that does not speak whispers the oerfraught heart and bids it break macduff my children too ross wife children servants all that could be found macduff and i must be from thence my wife killd too ross i have said malcolm be comforted lets make us medicines of our great revenge to cure this deadly grief macduff 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 malcolm dispute it like a man macduff 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 malcolm be this the whetstone of your sword let grief convert to anger blunt not the heart enrage it macduff 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 swords length set him if he scape heaven forgive him too malcolm 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 exeunt act v scene i dunsinane anteroom in the castle enter a doctor of physic and a waiting gentlewoman doctor i have two nights watched with you but can perceive no truth in your report when was it she last walked gentlewoman since his majesty went into the field have seen her rise from her bed throw her nightgown upon her unlock her closet take forth paper fold it write upont read it afterwards seal it and again return to bed yet all this while in a most fast sleep doctor 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 gentlewoman that sir which i will not report after her doctor you may to me and tis most meet you should gentlewoman neither to you nor anyone having no witness to confirm my speech enter lady macbeth with a taper lo you here she comes this is her very guise and upon my life fast asleep observe her stand close doctor how came she by that light gentlewoman why it stood by her she has light by her continually tis her command doctor you see her eyes are open gentlewoman ay but their sense is shut doctor what is it she does now look how she rubs her hands gentlewoman it is an accustomed action with her to seem thus washing her hands i have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour lady macbeth yet heres a spot doctor hark she speaks i will set down what comes from her to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly lady macbeth out damned spot out i say one two why then tis time to dot 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 doctor do you mark that lady macbeth the thane of fife had a wife where is she now what will these hands neer be clean no more o that my lord no more o that you mar all with this starting doctor go to go to you have known what you should not gentlewoman she has spoke what she should not i am sure of that heaven knows what she has known lady macbeth heres the smell of the blood still all the perfumes of arabia will not sweeten this little hand oh oh oh doctor what a sigh is there the heart is sorely charged gentlewoman i would not have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body doctor well well well gentlewoman pray god it be sir doctor this disease is beyond my practice yet i have known those which have walked in their sleep who have died holily in their beds lady macbeth wash your hands put on your nightgown look not so pale i tell you yet again banquos buried he cannot come out ons grave doctor even so lady macbeth to bed to bed theres knocking at the gate come come come come give me your hand whats done cannot be undone to bed to bed to bed exit doctor will she go now to bed gentlewoman directly doctor 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 amazed my sight i think but dare not speak gentlewoman good night good doctor exeunt scene ii the country near dunsinane drum and colors enter menteith caithness angus lennox and soldiers menteith 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 angus near birnam wood shall we well meet them that way are they coming caithness who knows if donalbain be with his brother lennox for certain sir he is not i have a file of all the gentry there is sewards son and many unrough youths that even now protest their first of manhood menteith what does the tyrant caithness great dunsinane he strongly fortifies some say hes mad others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury but for certain he cannot buckle his distemperd cause within the belt of rule angus now does he feel his secret murthers 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 giants robe upon a dwarfish thief menteith who then shall blame his pesterd senses to recoil and start when all that is within him does condemn itself for being there caithness well march we on to give obedience where tis truly owed meet we the medicine of the sickly weal and with him pour we in our countrys purge each drop of us lennox or so much as it needs to dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds make we our march towards birnam exeunt marching scene iii dunsinane a room in the castle enter macbeth doctor and attendants macbeth bring me no more reports let them fly all till birnam wood remove to dunsinane i cannot taint with fear whats the boy malcolm was he not born of woman the spirits that know all mortal consequences have pronounced me thus fear not macbeth no man thats born of woman shall eer 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 enter a servant the devil damn thee black thou cream faced loon where gotst thou that goose look servant there is ten thousand macbeth geese villain servant soldiers sir macbeth go prick thy face and over red thy fear thou lily liverd boy what soldiers patch death of thy soul those linen cheeks of thine are counselors to fear what soldiers whey face servant the english force so please you macbeth take thy face hence exit servant seyton i am sick at heart when i behold seyton i say this push will cheer me ever or disseat me now i have lived long enough my way of life is falln into the sear the yellow leaf and that which should accompany old age as honor love obedience troops of friends i must not look to have but in their stead curses not loud but deep mouth honor breath which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not seyton enter seyton seyton whats your gracious pleasure macbeth what news more seyton all is confirmd my lord which was reported macbeth ill fight til from my bones my flesh be hackd give me my armor seyton tis not needed yet macbeth ill put it on send out more horses skirr the country round hang those that talk of fear give me mine armor how does your patient doctor doctor not so sick my lord as she is troubled with thick coming fancies that keep her from her rest macbeth cure her of that canst thou not minister to a mind diseased pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow raze out the written troubles of the brain and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffd bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart doctor therein the patient must minister to himself macbeth throw physic to the dogs ill none of it come put mine armor 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 pullt off i say what rhubarb cyme or what purgative drug would scour these english hence hearst thou of them doctor ay my good lord your royal preparation makes us hear something macbeth bring it after me i will not be afraid of death and bane till birnam forest come to dunsinane doctor aside were i from dunsinane away and clear profit again should hardly draw me here exeunt scene iv country near birnam wood drum and colors enter malcolm old seward and his son macduff menteith caithness angus lennox ross and soldiers marching malcolm cousins i hope the days are near at hand that chambers will be safe menteith we doubt it nothing siward what wood is this before us menteith the wood of birnam malcolm let every soldier hew him down a bough and beart before him thereby shall we shadow the numbers of our host and make discovery err in report of us soldiers it shall be done siward we learn no other but the confident tyrant keeps still in dunsinane and will endure our setting down beforet malcolm 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 macduff let our just censures attend the true event and put we on industrious soldiership siward 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 exeunt marching scene v dunsinane within the castle enter macbeth seyton and soldiers with drum and colors macbeth hang out our banners on the outward walls the cry is still they come our castles strength will laugh a siege to scorn here let them lie till famine and the ague eat them up were they not forced with those that should be ours we might have met them dareful beard to beard and beat them backward home a cry of women within what is that noise seyton it is the cry of women my good lord exit macbeth i have almost forgot the taste of fears the time has been my senses would have coold to hear a night shriek and my fell of hair would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir as life were int i have suppd full with horrors direness familiar to my slaughterous thoughts cannot once start me re enter seyton wherefore was that cry seyton the queen my lord is dead macbeth she should have died hereafter there would have been a time for such a word tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow 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 lifes 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 enter a messenger thou comest to use thy tongue thy story quickly messenger gracious my lord i should report that which i say i saw but know not how to do it macbeth well say sir messenger as i did stand my watch upon the hill i lookd toward birnam and anon methought the wood began to move macbeth liar and slave messenger let me endure your wrath ift be not so within this three mile may you see it coming i say a moving grove macbeth if thou speakst 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 well die with harness on our back exeunt scene vi dunsinane before the castle enter malcolm old siward macduff and their army with boughs drum and colors malcolm 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 siward fare you well do we but find the tyrants power tonight let us be beaten if we cannot fight macduff make all our trumpets speak give them all breath those clamorous harbingers of blood and death exeunt scene vii dunsinane before the castle alarums enter macbeth macbeth they have tied me to a stake i cannot fly but bear like i must fight the course whats he that was not born of woman such a one am i to fear or none enter young siward young siward what is thy name macbeth thoult be afraid to hear it young siward no though thou callst thyself a hotter name than any is in hell macbeth my names macbeth young siward the devil himself could not pronounce a title more hateful to mine ear macbeth no nor more fearful young siward o thou liest abhorred tyrant with my sword ill prove the lie thou speakst they fight and young seward is slain macbeth thou wast born of woman but swords i smile at weapons laugh to scorn brandishd by man thats of a woman born exit alarums enter macduff macduff that way the noise is tyrant show thy face if thou best slain and with no stroke of mine my wife and childrens ghosts will haunt me still i cannot strike at wretched kerns whose arms are hired to bear their staves either thou macbeth or else my sword with an unbatterd 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 exit alarums enter malcolm and old siward siward this way my lord the castles gently renderd the tyrants 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 malcolm we have met with foes that strike beside us siward enter sir the castle exeunt alarum scene viii another part of the field enter macbeth macbeth why should i play the roman fool and die on mine own sword whiles i see lives the gashes do better upon them enter macduff macduff turn hell hound turn macbeth of all men else i have avoided thee but get thee back my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already macduff i have no words my voice is in my sword thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out they fight macbeth thou losest labor 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 macduff despair thy charm and let the angel whom thou still hast served tell thee macduff was from his mothers womb untimely rippd macbeth accursed be that tongue that tells me so for it hath cowd my better part of man and be these juggling fiends no more believed that patter with us in a double sense that keep the word of promise to our ear and break it to our hope ill not fight with thee macduff then yield thee coward and live to be the show and gaze o the time well have thee as our rarer monsters are painted upon a pole and underwrit here may you see the tyrant macbeth i will not yield to kiss the ground before young malcolms feet and to be baited with the rabbles curse though birnam wood be come to dunsinane and thou opposed being of no woman born yet i will try the last before my body i throw my warlike shield lay on macduff and damnd be him that first cries hold enough exeunt fighting alarums scene ix retreat flourish enter with drum and colors malcolm old siward ross the other thanes and soldiers malcolm i would the friends we miss were safe arrived siward some must go off and yet by these i see so great a day as this is cheaply bought malcolm macduff is missing and your noble son ross your son my lord has paid a soldiers debt he only lived but till he was a man the which no sooner had his prowess confirmd in the unshrinking station where he fought but like a man he died siward then he is dead ross ay and brought off the field your cause of sorrow must not be measured by his worth for then it hath no end siward had he his hurts before ross ay on the front siward why then gods 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 knolld malcolm hes worth more sorrow and that ill spend for him siward hes worth no more they say he parted well and paid his score and so god be with him here comes newer comfort re enter macduff with macbeths head macduff hail king for so thou art behold where stands the usurpers cursed head the time is free i see thee compassd with thy kingdoms pearl that speak my salutation in their minds whose voices i desire aloud with mine hail king of scotland all hail king of scotland flourish malcolm 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 honor named whats more to do which would be planted newly with the time as calling home our exiled 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 crownd at scone flourish exeunt the end measure for measure dramatis personae vincentio the duke angelo the deputy escalus an ancient lord claudio a young gentleman lucio a fantastic two other like gentlemen varrius a gentleman servant to the duke provost thomas friar peter friar a justice elbow a simple constable froth a foolish gentleman pompey a clown and servant to mistress overdone abhorson an executioner barnardine a dissolute prisoner isabella sister to claudio mariana betrothed to angelo juliet beloved of claudio francisca a nun mistress overdone a bawd lords officers citizens boy and attendants scene vienna act i scene i the dukes palace enter duke escalus lords and attendants duke escalus escalus my lord duke of government the properties to unfold would seem in me t 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 citys institutions and the terms for common justice yare 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 exit an attendant 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 dressd him with our love and given his deputation all the organs of our own power what think you of it escalus if any in vienna be of worth to undergo such ample grace and honour it is lord angelo enter angelo duke look where he comes angelo always obedient to your graces will i come to know your pleasure duke 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 touchd 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 angelo now good my lord let there be some more test made of my metal before so noble and so great a figure be stampd upon it duke no more evasion we have with a leavend 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 unquestiond 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 th hopeful execution do i leave you of your commissions angelo yet give leave my lord that we may bring you something on the way duke 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 ill 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 angelo the heavens give safety to your purposes escalus lead forth and bring you back in happiness duke i thank you fare you well exit escalus 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 powr i have but of what strength and nature i am not yet instructed angelo tis so with me let us withdraw together and we may soon our satisfaction have touching that point escalus ill wait upon your honour exeunt scene ii a street enter lucio and two other gentlemen lucio 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 first gentleman heaven grant us its peace but not the king of hungarys second gentleman amen lucio thou concludst like the sanctimonious pirate that went to sea with the ten commandments but scrapd one out of the table second gentleman thou shalt not steal lucio ay that he razd first gentleman why twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions they put forth to steal theres not a soldier of us all that in the thanksgiving before meat do relish the petition well that prays for peace second gentleman i never heard any soldier dislike it lucio i believe thee for i think thou never wast where grace was said second gentleman no a dozen times at least first gentleman what in metre lucio in any proportion or in any language first gentleman i think or in any religion lucio ay why not grace is grace despite of all controversy as for example thou thyself art a wicked villain despite of all grace first gentleman well there went but a pair of shears between us lucio i grant as there may between the lists and the velvet thou art the list first gentleman and thou the velvet thou art good velvet thourt a three pild piece i warrant thee i had as lief be a list of an english kersey as be pild as thou art pild for a french velvet do i speak feelingly now lucio 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 first gentleman i think i have done myself wrong have i not second gentleman yes that thou hast whether thou art tainted or free enter mistress overdone lucio behold behold where madam mitigation comes i have purchasd as many diseases under her roof as come to second gentleman to what i pray first gentleman judge second gentleman to three thousand dolours a year first gentleman ay and more lucio a french crown more first gentleman thou art always figuring diseases in me but thou art full of error i am sound lucio 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 first gentleman how now which of your hips has the most profound sciatica mrs overdone well well theres one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all first gentleman whos that i pray thee mrs overdone marry sir thats claudio signior claudio first gentleman claudio to prison tis not so mrs overdone 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 choppd off lucio but after all this fooling i would not have it so art thou sure of this mrs overdone i am too sure of it and it is for getting madam julietta with child lucio believe me this may be he promisd to meet me two hours since and he was ever precise in promise keeping second gentleman besides you know it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose first gentleman but most of all agreeing with the proclamation lucio away lets go learn the truth of it exeunt lucio and gentlemen mrs overdone thus what with the war what with the sweat what with the gallows and what with poverty i am custom shrunk enter pompey how now whats the news with you pompey yonder man is carried to prison mrs overdone well what has he done pompey a woman mrs overdone but whats his offence pompey groping for trouts in a peculiar river mrs overdone what is there a maid with child by him pompey no but theres a woman with maid by him you have not heard of the proclamation have you mrs overdone what proclamation man pompey all houses in the suburbs of vienna must be pluckd down mrs overdone and what shall become of those in the city pompey they shall stand for seed they had gone down too but that a wise burgher put in for them mrs overdone but shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulld down pompey to the ground mistress mrs overdone why heres a change indeed in the commonwealth what shall become of me pompey come fear not you good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place you need not change your trade ill 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 mrs overdone whats to do here thomas tapster lets withdraw pompey here comes signior claudio led by the provost to prison and theres madam juliet exeunt enter provost claudio juliet and officers lucio following claudio fellow why dost thou show me thus to th world bear me to prison where i am committed provost i do it not in evil disposition but from lord angelo by special charge claudio thus can the demigod 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 lucio why how now claudio whence comes this restraint claudio 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 lucio 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 whats thy offence claudio claudio what but to speak of would offend again lucio what ist murder claudio no lucio lechery claudio call it so provost away sir you must go claudio one word good friend lucio a word with you lucio a hundred if theyll do you any good is lechery so lookd after claudio thus stands it with me upon a true contract i got possession of juliettas 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 dowr 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 lucio with child perhaps claudio 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 unscourd armour hung by th 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 lucio 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 claudio i have done so but hes 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 lucio 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 ill to her claudio i thank you good friend lucio lucio within two hours claudio come officer away exeunt scene iii a monastery enter duke and friar thomas duke 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 friar may your grace speak of it duke my holy sir none better knows than you how i have ever lovd the life removed and held in idle price to haunt assemblies where youth and cost a witless bravery keeps i have deliverd to lord angelo a man of stricture and firm abstinence my absolute power and place here in vienna and he supposes me travelld to poland for so i have strewd it in the common ear and so it is received now pious sir you will demand of me why i do this friar gladly my lord duke we have strict statutes and most biting laws the needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds which for this fourteen years we have let slip even like an oergrown lion in a cave that goes not out to prey now as fond fathers having bound up the threatning twigs of birch only to stick it in their childrens sight for terror not to use in time the rod becomes more mockd than feard 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 friar it rested in your grace to unloose this tied up justice when you pleasd and it in you more dreadful would have seemd than in lord angelo duke 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 imposd the office who may in th ambush of my name strike home and yet my nature never in the fight to do in 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 exeunt scene iv a nunnery enter isabella and francisca isabella and have you nuns no farther privileges francisca are not these large enough isabella yes truly i speak not as desiring more but rather wishing a more strict restraint upon the sisterhood the votarists of saint clare lucio within ho peace be in this place isabella whos that which calls francisca it is a mans 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 vowd 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 exit francisca isabella peace and prosperity who ist that calls enter lucio lucio 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 isabella why her unhappy brother let me ask the rather for i now must make you know i am that isabella and his sister lucio gentle and fair your brother kindly greets you not to be weary with you hes in prison isabella woe me for what lucio for that which if myself might be his judge he should receive his punishment in thanks he hath got his friend with child isabella sir make me not your story lucio 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 enskied and sainted by your renouncement an immortal spirit and to be talkd with in sincerity as with a saint isabella you do blaspheme the good in mocking me lucio do not believe it fewness and truth tis thus your brother and his lover have embracd 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 isabella some one with child by him my cousin juliet lucio is she your cousin isabella adoptedly as school maids change their names by vain though apt affection lucio she it is isabella o let him marry her lucio 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 pickd out an act under whose heavy sense your brothers 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 thats my pith of business twixt you and your poor brother isabella doth he so seek his life lucio has censurd him already and as i hear the provost hath a warrant for his execution isabella alas what poor abilitys in me to do him good lucio assay the powr you have isabella my power alas i doubt lucio 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 isabella ill see what i can do lucio but speedily isabella 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 ill send him certain word of my success lucio i take my leave of you isabella good sir adieu exeunt act ii scene i a hall in angelos house enter angelo escalus a justice provost officers and other attendants angelo 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 escalus 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 coherd with place or place with wishing or that the resolute acting of our blood could have attaind th effect of your own purpose whether you had not sometime in your life errd in this point which now you censure him and pulld the law upon you angelo tis one thing to be tempted escalus another thing to fall i not deny the jury passing on the prisoners life may in the sworn twelve have a thief or two guiltier than him they try whats open made to justice that justice seizes what knows the laws that thieves do pass on thieves tis very pregnant the jewel that we find we stoop and taket 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 escalus be it as your wisdom will angelo where is the provost provost here if it like your honour angelo see that claudio be executed by nine to morrow morning bring him his confessor let him be prepard for thats the utmost of his pilgrimage exit provost escalus aside well heaven forgive him and forgive us all some rise by sin and some by virtue fall some run from breaks of ice and answer none and some condemned for a fault alone enter elbow and officers with froth and pompey elbow come bring them away if these be good people in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses i know no law bring them away angelo how now sir whats your name and whats the matter elbow if it please your honour i am the poor dukes constable and my name is elbow i do lean upon justice sir and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors angelo benefactors well what benefactors are they are they not malefactors elbow 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 escalus this comes off well heres a wise officer angelo go to what quality are they of elbow is your name why dost thou not speak elbow pompey he cannot sir hes out at elbow angelo what are you sir elbow he sir a tapster sir parcel bawd one that serves a bad woman whose house sir was as they say pluckd down in the suburbs and now she professes a hot house which i think is a very ill house too escalus how know you that elbow my wife sir whom i detest before heaven and your honour escalus how thy wife elbow ay sir whom i thank heaven is an honest woman escalus dost thou detest her therefore elbow i say sir i will detest myself also as well as she that this house if it be not a bawds house it is pity of her life for it is a naughty house escalus how dost thou know that constable elbow marry sir by my wife who if she had been a woman cardinally given might have been accusd in fornication adultery and all uncleanliness there escalus by the womans means elbow ay sir by mistress overdones means but as she spit in his face so she defied him pompey sir if it please your honour this is not so elbow prove it before these varlets here thou honourable man prove it escalus do you hear how he misplaces pompey sir she came in great with child and longing saving your honours reverence for stewd 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 escalus go to go to no matter for the dish sir pompey 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 froth no indeed pompey very well you being then if you be remembred cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes froth ay so i did indeed pompey why very well i telling you then if you be remembred 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 froth all this is true pompey why very well then escalus come you are a tedious fool to the purpose what was done to elbows wife that he hath cause to complain of come me to what was done to her pompey sir your honour cannot come to that yet escalus no sir nor i mean it not pompey sir but you shall come to it by your honours leave and i beseech you look into master froth here sir a man of fourscore pound a year whose father died at hallowmas wast not at hallowmas master froth froth all hallond eve pompey 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 froth i have so because it is an open room and good for winter pompey why very well then i hope here be truths angelo this will last out a night in russia when nights are longest there ill take my leave and leave you to the hearing of the cause hoping youll find good cause to whip them all escalus i think no less good morrow to your lordship exit angelo now sir come on what was done to elbows wife once more pompey once sir there was nothing done to her once elbow i beseech you sir ask him what this man did to my wife pompey i beseech your honour ask me escalus well sir what did this gentleman to her pompey i beseech you sir look in this gentlemans face good master froth look upon his honour tis for a good purpose doth your honour mark his face escalus ay sir very well pompey nay i beseech you mark it well escalus well i do so pompey doth your honour see any harm in his face escalus why no pompey ill be supposd 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 constables wife any harm i would know that of your honour escalus hes in the right constable what say you to it elbow first an it like you the house is a respected house next this is a respected fellow and his mistress is a respected woman pompey by this hand sir his wife is a more respected person than any of us all elbow varlet thou liest thou liest wicket varlet the time is yet to come that she was ever respected with man woman or child pompey sir she was respected with him before he married with her escalus which is the wiser here justice or iniquity is this true elbow 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 dukes officer prove this thou wicked hannibal or ill have mine action of battry on thee escalus if he took you a box o th ear you might have your action of slander too elbow marry i thank your good worship for it what ist your worships pleasure i shall do with this wicked caitiff escalus truly officer because he hath some offences in him that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst let him continue in his courses till thou knowst what they are elbow marry i thank your worship for it thou seest thou wicked varlet now whats come upon thee thou art to continue now thou varlet thou art to continue escalus where were you born friend froth here in vienna sir escalus are you of fourscore pounds a year froth yes ant please you sir escalus so what trade are you of sir pompey a tapster a poor widows tapster escalus your mistress name pompey mistress overdone escalus hath she had any more than one husband pompey nine sir overdone by the last escalus 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 froth i thank your worship for mine own part i never come into any room in a taphouse but i am drawn in escalus well no more of it master froth farewell exit froth come you hither to me master tapster whats your name master tapster pompey pompey escalus what else pompey bum sir escalus 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 pompey truly sir i am a poor fellow that would live escalus how would you live pompey by being a bawd what do you think of the trade pompey is it a lawful trade pompey if the law would allow it sir escalus but the law will not allow it pompey nor it shall not be allowed in vienna pompey does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city escalus no pompey pompey truly sir in my poor opinion they will tot then if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves you need not to fear the bawds escalus there is pretty orders beginning i can tell you but it is but heading and hanging pompey if you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together youll be glad to give out a commission for more heads if this law hold in vienna ten year ill rent the fairest house in it after threepence a bay if you live to see this come to pass say pompey told you so escalus 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 caesar to you in plain dealing pompey i shall have you whipt so for this time pompey fare you well pompey i thank your worship for your good counsel aside but i shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine whip me no no let carman whip his jade the valiant hearts not whipt out of his trade exit escalus come hither to me master elbow come hither master constable how long have you been in this place of constable elbow seven year and a half sir escalus i thought by the readiness in the office you had continued in it some time you say seven years together elbow and a half sir escalus alas it hath been great pains to you they do you wrong to put you so oft upont are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it elbow 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 escalus look you bring me in the names of some six or seven the most sufficient of your parish elbow to your worships house sir escalus to my house fare you well exit elbow whats oclock think you justice eleven sir escalus i pray you home to dinner with me justice i humbly thank you escalus it grieves me for the death of claudio but theres no remedy justice lord angelo is severe escalus 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 is no remedy come sir exeunt scene ii another room in angelos house enter provost and a servant servant hes hearing of a cause he will come straight ill tell him of you provost pray you do exit servant ill 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 t enter angelo angelo now whats the matter provost provost is it your will claudio shall die to morrow angelo did not i tell thee yea hadst thou not order why dost thou ask again provost lest i might be too rash under your good correction i have seen when after execution judgment hath repented oer his doom angelo go to let that be mine do you your office or give up your place and you shall well be spard provost i crave your honours pardon what shall be done sir with the groaning juliet shes very near her hour angelo dispose of her to some more fitter place and that with speed re enter servant servant here is the sister of the man condemnd desires access to you angelo hath he a sister provost ay my good lord a very virtuous maid and to be shortly of a sisterhood if not already angelo well let her be admitted exit servant see you the fornicatress be removd let her have needful but not lavish means there shall be order fort enter lucio and isabella provost going save your honour angelo stay a little while to isabella yare welcome whats your will isabella i am a woeful suitor to your honour please but your honour hear me angelo well whats your suit isabella 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 angelo well the matter isabella i have a brother is condemnd to die i do beseech you let it be his fault and not my brother provost aside heaven give thee moving graces angelo condemn the fault and not the actor of it why every faults condemnd 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 isabella o just but severe law i had a brother then heaven keep your honour lucio to isabella givet not oer 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 isabella must he needs die angelo maiden no remedy isabella yes i do think that you might pardon him and neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy angelo i will not dot isabella but can you if you would angelo look what i will not that i cannot do isabella but might you dot and do the world no wrong if so your heart were touchd with that remorse as mine is to him angelo hes sentencd tis too late lucio to isabella you are too cold isabella 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 kings crown nor the deputed sword the marshals truncheon nor the judges 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 slippd like him but he like you would not have been so stern angelo pray you be gone isabella 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 lucio to isabella ay touch him theres the vein angelo your brother is a forfeit of the law and you but waste your words isabella 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 angelo 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 isabella to morrow o thats sudden spare him spare him hes not prepard 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 theres many have committed it lucio aside ay well said angelo the law hath not been dead though it hath slept those many had not dard to do that evil if the first that did th edict infringe had answerd 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 now or by remissness new conceivd and so in progress to be hatchd and born are now to have no successive degrees but here they live to end isabella yet show some pity angelo i show it most of all when i show justice for then i pity those i do not know which a dismissd 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 isabella so you must be the first that gives this sentence and he that suffers o it is excellent to have a giants strength but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant lucio to isabella thats well said isabella could great men thunder as jove himself does jove would never 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 splits the unwedgeable and gnarled oak than the soft myrtle but man proud man dressd in a little brief authority most ignorant of what hes most assurd his glassy essence like an angry ape plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven as makes the angels weep who with our speens would all themselves laugh mortal lucio to isabella o to him to him wench he will relent hes coming i perceive t provost aside pray heaven she win him isabella we cannot weigh our brother with ourself great men may jest with saints tis wit in them but in the less foul profanation lucio to isabella thourt i th right girl more o that isabella that in the captains but a choleric word which in the soldier is flat blasphemy lucio to isabella art avisd o that more ont angelo why do you put these sayings upon me isabella because authority though it err like others hath yet a kind of medicine in itself that skins the vice o th top go to your bosom knock there and ask your heart what it doth know thats like my brothers fault if it confess a natural guiltiness such as is his let it not sound a thought upon your tongue against my brothers life angelo aside she speaks and tis such sense that my sense breeds with it fare you well isabella gentle my lord turn back angelo i will bethink me come again to morrow isabella hark how ill bribe you good my lord turn back angelo how bribe me isabella ay with such gifts that heaven shall share with you lucio to isabella you had marrd all else isabella not with fond sicles of the tested gold or stones whose rate 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 angelo well come to me to morrow lucio to isabella go to tis well away isabella heaven keep your honour safe angelo aside amen for i am that way going to temptation where prayers cross isabella at what hour to morrow shall i attend your lordship angelo at any time fore noon isabella save your honour exeunt all but angelo angelo from thee even from thy virtue whats this whats 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 flowr corrupt with virtuous season can it be that modesty may more betray our sense than womans 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 ist 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 smild and wondred how exit scene iii a prison enter severally duke disguised as a friar and provost duke hail to you provost so i think you are provost i am the provost whats your will good friar duke bound by my charity and my blest 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 provost i would do more than that if more were needful enter juliet look here comes one a gentlewoman of mine who falling in the flaws of her own youth hath blisterd her report she is with child and he that got it sentencd a young man more fit to do another such offence than die for this duke when must he die provost as i do think to morrow to juliet i have provided for you stay awhile and you shall be conducted duke repent you fair one of the sin you carry juliet i do and bear the shame most patiently duke ill teach you how you shall arraign your conscience and try your penitence if it be sound or hollowly put on juliet ill gladly learn duke love you the man that wrongd you juliet yes as i love the woman that wrongd him duke so then it seems your most offenceful act was mutually committed juliet mutually duke then was your sin of heavier kind than his juliet i do confess it and repent it father duke 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 juliet i do repent me as it is an evil and take the shame with joy duke there rest your partner as i hear must die to morrow and i am going with instruction to him grace go with you benedicite exit juliet must die to morrow o injurious law that respites me a life whose very comfort is still a dying horror provost tis pity of him exeunt scene iv angelos house enter angelo angelo 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 sere 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 lets write good angel on the devils horn tis not the devils crest enter servant how now whos there servant one isabel a sister desires access to you angelo teach her the way exit servant 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 swoons come all to help him and so stop the air by which he should revive and even so the general subject to a well wishd king quit their own part and in obsequious fondness crowd to his presence where their untaught love must needs appear offence enter isabella how now fair maid isabella i am come to know your pleasure angelo that you might know it would much better please me than to demand what tis your brother cannot live isabella even so heaven keep your honour angelo yet may he live awhile and it may be as long as you or i yet he must die isabella under your sentence angelo yea isabella when i beseech you that in his reprieve longer or shorter he may be so fitted that his soul sicken not angelo ha fie these filthy vices it were as good to pardon him that hath from nature stoln a man already made as to remit their saucy sweetness that do coin heavens 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 isabella tis set down so in heaven but not in earth angelo say you so then i shall pose you quickly which had you rather that the most just law now took your brothers life or to redeem him give up your body to such sweet uncleanness as she that he hath staind isabella sir believe this i had rather give my body than my soul angelo i talk not of your soul our compelld sins stand more for number than for accompt isabella how say you angelo nay ill 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 brothers life might there not be a charity in sin to save this brothers life isabella please you to dot ill take it as a peril to my soul it is no sin at all but charity angelo pleasd you to dot at peril of your soul were equal poise of sin and charity isabella that i do beg his life if it be sin heaven let me bear it you granting of my suit if that be sin ill make it my morn prayer to have it added to the faults of mine and nothing of your answer angelo nay but hear me your sense pursues not mine either you are ignorant or seem so craftily and thats not good isabella let me be ignorant and in nothing good but graciously to know i am no better angelo thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright when it doth tax itself as these black masks proclaim an enshielded beauty ten times louder than beauty could displayd but mark me to be received plain ill speak more gross your brother is to die isabella so angelo and his offence is so as it appears accountant to the law upon that pain isabella true angelo 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 desird of such a person whose credit with the judge or own great place could fetch your brother from the manacles of the all binding 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 supposed or else to let him suffer what would you do isabella as much for my poor brother as myself that is were i under the terms of death th impression of keen whips id wear as rubies and strip myself to death as to a bed that longing have been sick for ere id yield my body up to shame angelo then must your brother die isabella and twere the cheaper way better it were a brother died at once than that a sister by redeeming him should die for ever angelo were not you then as cruel as the sentence that you have slanderd so isabella ignominy in ransom and free pardon are of two houses lawful mercy is nothing kin to foul redemption angelo you seemd of late to make the law a tyrant and rather provd the sliding of your brother a merriment than a vice isabella 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 angelo we are all frail isabella else let my brother die if not a fedary but only he owe and succeed thy weakness angelo nay women are frail too isabella 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 angelo 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 youre none if you be one as you are well expressd by all external warrants show it now by putting on the destind livery isabella i have no tongue but one gentle my lord let me intreat you speak the former language angelo plainly conceive i love you isabella my brother did love juliet and you tell me that he shall die fort angelo he shall not isabel if you give me love isabella i know your virtue hath a license int which seems a little fouler than it is to pluck on others angelo believe me on mine honour my words express my purpose isabella ha little honour to be much believd and most pernicious purpose seeming seeming i will proclaim thee angelo look fort sign me a present pardon for my brother or with an outstretchd throat ill tell the world aloud what man thou art angelo who will believe thee isabel my unsoild name th austereness of my life my vouch against you and my place i th 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 lingring sufferance answer me to morrow or by the affection that now guides me most ill prove a tyrant to him as for you say what you can my false oerweighs your true exit isabella 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 curtsy to their will hooking both right and wrong to th appetite to follow as it draws ill to my brother though he hath falln 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 hed yield them up before his sister should her body stoop to such abhorrd pollution then isabel live chaste and brother die more than our brother is our chastity ill tell him yet of angelos request and fit his mind to death for his souls rest exit act iii scene i the prison enter duke disguised as before claudio and provost duke so then you hope of pardon from lord angelo claudio the miserable have no other medicine but only hope i have hope to eve and am prepard to die duke 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 keepst hourly afflict merely thou art deaths fool for him thou labourst by thy flight to shun and yet runst toward him still thou art not noble for all th accommodations that thou bearst are nursd by baseness thou rt 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 provokst yet grossly fearst thy death which is no more thou art not thyself for thou exists on many a thousand grains that issue out of dust happy thou art not for what thou hast not still thou strivst to get and what thou hast forgetst thou art not certain for thy complexion shifts to strange effects after the moon if thou art rich thourt poor for like an ass whose back with ingots bows thou bearst 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 dinners 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 whats 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 claudio i humbly thank you to sue to live i find i seek to die and seeking death find life let it come on isabella within what ho peace here grace and good company provost whos there come in the wish deserves a welcome duke dear sir ere long ill visit you again claudio most holy sir i thank you enter isabella isabella my business is a word or two with claudio provost and very welcome look signior heres your sister duke provost a word with you provost as many as you please duke bring me to hear them speak where i may be conceald exeunt duke and provost claudio now sister whats the comfort isabella 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 claudio is there no remedy isabella none but such remedy as to save a head to cleave a heart in twain claudio but is there any isabella yes brother you may live there is a devilish mercy in the judge if youll implore it that will free your life but fetter you till death claudio perpetual durance isabella ay just perpetual durance a restraint though all the worlds vastidity you had to a determind scope claudio but in what nature isabella in such a one as you consenting tot would bark your honour from that trunk you bear and leave you naked claudio let me know the point isabella 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 darst 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 claudio why give you me this shame think you i can a resolution fetch from flowry tenderness if i must die i will encounter darkness as a bride and hug it in mine arms isabella there spake my brother there my fathers 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 th head and follies doth enew as falcon doth the fowl is yet a devil his filth within being cast he would appear a pond as deep as hell claudio the precise angelo isabella o tis the cunning livery of hell the damnedst body to invest and cover in precise guards dost thou think claudio if i would yield him my virginity thou mightst be freed claudio o heavens it cannot be isabella yes he would givet thee from this rank offence so to offend him still this nights the time that i should do what i abhor to name or else thou diest to morrow claudio thou shalt not dot isabella o were it but my life id throw it down for your deliverance as frankly as a pin claudio thanks dear isabel isabella be ready claudio for your death to morrow claudio yes has he affections in him that thus can make him bite the law by th nose when he would force it sure it is no sin or of the deadly seven it is the least isabella which is the least claudio if it were damnable he being so wise why would he for the momentary trick be perdurably find o isabel isabella what says my brother claudio death is a fearful thing isabella and shamed life a hateful claudio 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 imprisond in the viewless winds and blown with restless violence round about the pendent world or to be worse than worst of those that lawless and incertain thought 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 isabella alas alas claudio sweet sister let me live what sin you do to save a brothers life nature dispenses with the deed so far that it becomes a virtue isabella o you beast o faithless coward o dishonest wretch wilt thou be made a man out of my vice ist not a kind of incest to take life from thine own sisters shame what should i think heaven shield my mother playd my father fair for such a warped slip of wilderness neer issud from his blood take my defiance die perish might but my bending down reprieve thee from thy fate it should proceed ill pray a thousand prayers for thy death no word to save thee claudio nay hear me isabel isabella o fie fie fie thy sins not accidental but a trade mercy to thee would prove itself a bawd tis best that thou diest quickly claudio o hear me isabella re enter duke duke vouchsafe a word young sister but one word isabella what is your will duke 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 isabella i have no superfluous leisure my stay must be stolen out of other affairs but i will attend you awhile walks apart duke son i have overheard what hath passd 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 claudio let me ask my sister pardon i am so out of love with life that i will sue to be rid of it duke hold you there farewell exit claudio provost a word with you re enter provost provost whats your will father duke that now you are come you will be gone leave me a while with the maid my mind promises with my habit no loss shall touch her by my company provost in good time exit provost duke 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 conveyd to my understanding and but that frailty hath examples for his falling i should wonder at angelo how will you do to content this substitute and to save your brother isabella 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 deceivd in angelo if ever he return and i can speak to him i will open my lips in vain or discover his government duke 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 isabella let me hear you speak farther i have spirit to do anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit duke 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 isabella i have heard of the lady and good words went with her name duke 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 wreckd 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 isabella can this be so did angelo so leave her duke 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 bestowd 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 isabella 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 duke 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 isabella show me how good father duke 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 isabella the image of it gives me content already and i trust it will grow to a most prosperous perfection duke 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 saint lukes there at the moated grange resides this dejected mariana at that place call upon me and dispatch with angelo that it may be quickly isabella i thank you for this comfort fare you well good father exeunt severally scene ii the street before the prison enter on one side duke disguised as before on the other elbow and officers with pompey elbow 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 duke o heavens what stuff is here pompey twas never merry world since of two usuries the merriest was put down and the worser allowd by order of law a furrd gown to keep him warm and furrd with fox on lamb skins too to signify that craft being richer than innocency stands for the facing elbow come your way sir bless you good father friar duke and you good brother father what offence hath this man made you sir elbow 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 duke 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 pompey indeed it does stink in some sort sir but yet sir i would prove duke 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 elbow 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 duke that we were all as some would seem to be from our faults as his faults from seeming free elbow his neck will come to your waist a cord sir enter lucio pompey i spy comfort i cry bail heres a gentleman and a friend of mine lucio how now noble pompey what at the wheels of caesar art thou led in triumph what is there none of pygmalions images newly made woman to be had now for putting the hand in the pocket and extracting it clutchd what reply ha what sayst thou to this tune matter and method ist not drownd i th last rain ha what sayst 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 duke still thus and thus still worse lucio how doth my dear morsel thy mistress procures she still ha pompey troth sir she hath eaten up all her beef and she is herself in the tub lucio why tis good it is the right of it it must be so ever your fresh whore and your powderd bawd an unshunnd consequence it must be so art going to prison pompey pompey yes faith sir lucio why tis not amiss pompey farewell go say i sent thee thither for debt pompey or how elbow for being a bawd for being a bawd lucio 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 pompey i hope sir your good worship will be my bail lucio 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 duke and you lucio does bridget paint still pompey ha elbow come your ways sir come pompey you will not bail me then sir lucio then pompey nor now what news abroad friar what news elbow come your ways sir come lucio go to kennel pompey go exeunt elbow pompey and officers what news friar of the duke duke i know none can you tell me of any lucio some say he is with the emperor of russia other some he is in rome but where is he think you duke i know not where but wheresoever i wish him well lucio 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 tot duke he does well int lucio a little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him something too crabbed that way friar duke it is too general a vice and severity must cure it lucio 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 duke how should he be made then lucio some report a sea maid spawnd him some that he was begot between two stock fishes but it is certain that when he makes water his urine is congeald ice that i know to be true and he is a motion generative thats infallible duke you are pleasant sir and speak apace lucio why what a ruthless thing is this in him for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man would the duke that is absent have done this ere he would have hangd 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 duke i never heard the absent duke much detected for women he was not inclind that way lucio o sir you are deceivd duke tis not possible lucio 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 duke you do him wrong surely lucio sir i was an inward of his a shy fellow was the duke and i believe i know the cause of his withdrawing duke what i prithee might be the cause lucio no pardon tis a secret must be lockd 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 duke wise why no question but he was lucio a very superficial ignorant unweighing fellow duke 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 darkned in your malice lucio sir i know him and i love him duke love talks with better knowledge and knowledge with dearer love lucio come sir i know what i know duke 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 lucio sir my name is lucio well known to the duke duke he shall know you better sir if i may live to report you lucio i fear you not duke 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 youll forswear this again lucio ill be hangd first thou art deceivd in me friar but no more of this canst thou tell if claudio die to morrow or no duke why should he die sir lucio why for filling a bottle with a tun dish i would the duke we talk of were returnd again this ungeniturd 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 returnd 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 hes 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 exit duke 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 enter escalus provost and officers with mistress overdone escalus go away with her to prison mrs overdone good my lord be good to me your honour is accounted a merciful man good my lord escalus double and treble admonition and still forfeit in the same kind this would make mercy swear and play the tyrant provost a bawd of eleven years continuance may it please your honour mrs overdone my lord this is one lucios information against me mistress kate keepdown was with child by him in the dukes time he promisd 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 escalus that fellow is a fellow of much license let him be calld before us away with her to prison go to no more words exeunt officers with mistress overdone provost my brother angelo will not be alterd claudio must die to morrow let him be furnishd with divines and have all charitable preparation if my brother wrought by my pity it should not be so with him provost so please you this friar hath been with him and advisd him for th entertainment of death escalus good even good father duke bliss and goodness on you escalus of whence are you duke 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 escalus what news abroad i th world duke none but that there is so great a fever on goodness that the dissolution of it must cure it novelty is only in request and as it is as dangerous to be aged in any kind of course as it is virtuous to be constant in any undertakeing there is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure but security enough to make fellowships accurst much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world this news is old enough yet it is every days news i pray you sir of what disposition was the duke escalus one that above all other strifes contended especially to know himself duke what pleasure was he given to escalus rather rejoicing to see another merry than merry at anything which professd 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 prepard i am made to understand that you have lent him visitation duke 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 he is resolvd to die escalus you have paid the heavens your function and the prisoner the very debt of your calling i have labourd for the poor gentleman to the extremest shore of my modesty but my brother justice have i found so severe that he hath forcd me to tell him he is indeed justice duke if his own life answer the straitness of his proceeding it shall become him well wherein if he chance to fail he hath sentencd himself escalus i am going to visit the prisoner fare you well duke peace be with you exeunt escalus and provost 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 may likeness made in crimes make a practice on the times to draw with idle spiders strings most ponderous and substantial things craft against vice i must apply with angelo to night shall lie his old betrothed but despised so disguise shall by th disguised pay with falsehood false exacting and perform an old contracting exit act iv scene i the moated grange at saint dukes enter mariana and boy singing song 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 seald in vain seald in vain enter duke disguised as before mariana break off thy song and haste thee quick away here comes a man of comfort whose advice hath often stilld my brawling discontent exit boy 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 displeasd but pleasd my woe duke 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 inquird for me here to day much upon this time have i promisd here to meet mariana you have not been inquird after i have sat here all day enter isabella duke 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 mariana i am always bound to you exit duke very well met and well come what is the news from this good deputy isabella he hath a garden circummurd with brick whose western side is with a vineyard backd 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 duke but shall you on your knowledge find this way isabella i have taen a due and wary note upont with whispering and most guilty diligence in action all of precept he did show me the way twice oer duke are there no other tokens between you greed concerning her observance isabella no none but only a repair i th dark and that i have possessd 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 duke tis well borne up i have not yet made known to mariana a word of this what ho within come forth re enter mariana i pray you be acquainted with this maid she comes to do you good isabella i do desire the like duke do you persuade yourself that i respect you mariana good friar i know you do and have found it duke 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 mariana willt please you walk aside exeunt mariana and isabella duke o place and greatness millions of false eyes are stuck upon thee volumes of report run with these false and most contrarious quest upon thy doings thousand escapes of wit make thee the father of their idle dream and rack thee in their fancies re enter mariana and isabella welcome how agreed isabella shell take the enterprise upon her father if you advise it duke it is not my consent but my entreaty too isabella little have you to say when you depart from him but soft and low remember now my brother mariana fear me not duke 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 corns to reap for yet our tithes to sow exeunt scene ii the prison enter provost and pompey provost come hither sirrah can you cut off a mans head pompey if the man be a bachelor sir i can but if he be a married man hes his wifes head and i can never cut of a womans head provost 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 pompey 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 instructions from my fellow partner provost what ho abhorson wheres abhorson there enter abhorson abhorson do you call sir provost sirrah heres 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 abhorson a bawd sir fie upon him he will discredit our mystery provost go to sir you weigh equally a feather will turn the scale exit pompey 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 abhorson ay sir a mystery pompey 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 hangd i cannot imagine abhorson sir it is a mystery pompey proof abhorson every true mans 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 mans apparel fits your thief re enter provost provost are you agreed pompey sir i will serve him for i do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd he doth oftener ask forgiveness provost you sirrah provide your block and your axe to morrow four oclock abhorson come on bawd i will instruct thee in my trade follow pompey 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 provost call hither barnardine and claudio exeunt abhorson and pompey th one has my pity not a jot the other being a murderer though he were my brother enter claudio look heres the warrant claudio for thy death tis now dead midnight and by eight to morrow thou must be made immortal wheres barnardine claudio as fast lockd up in sleep as guiltless labour when it lies starkly in the travellers bones he will not wake provost who can do good on him well go prepare yourself knocking within but hark what noise heaven give your spirits comfort exit claudio knocking continues by and by i hope it is some pardon or reprieve for the most gentle claudio enter duke disguised as before welcome father duke the best and wholesomst spirits of the night envelop you good provost who calld here of late provost none since the curfew rung duke not isabel provost no duke they will then eret be long provost what comfort is for claudio duke theres some in hope provost it is a bitter deputy duke not so not so his life is paralleld even with the stroke and line of his great justice he doth with holy abstinence subdue that in himself which he spurs on his powr to qualify in others were he meald with that which he corrects then were he tyrannous but this being so hes just knocking within now are they come exit provost this is a gentle provost seldom when the steeled gaoler is the friend of men knocking within how now what noise that spirits possessd with haste that wounds th unsisting postern with these strokes re enter provost provost there he must stay until the officer arise to let him in he is calld up duke have you no countermand for claudio yet but he must die to morrow provost none sir none duke as near the dawning provost as it is you shall hear more ere morning provost 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 professd the contrary enter a messenger this is his lordships man duke and here comes claudios pardon messenger 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 provost i shall obey him exit messenger duke aside this is his pardon purchasd 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 mercys so extended that for the faults love is th offender friended now sir what news provost 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 usd it before duke pray you lets hear provost reads 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 claudios 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 duke what is that barnardine who is to be executed in th afternoon provost a bohemian born but here nursd up and bred one that is a prisoner nine years old duke how came it that the absent duke had not either deliverd him to his liberty or executed him i have heard it was ever his manner to do so provost his friends still wrought reprieves for him and indeed his fact till now in the government of lord angelo came not to an undoubted proof duke it is now apparent provost most manifest and not denied by himself duke hath he borne himself penitently in prison how seems he to be touchd provost a man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but as a drunken sleep careless reckless and fearless of whats past present or to come insensible of mortality and desperately mortal duke he wants advice provost 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 awakd him as if to carry him to execution and showd him a seeming warrant for it it hath not moved him at all duke 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 angelo who hath sentencd 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 provost pray sir in what duke in the delaying death provost 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 claudios to cross this in the smallest duke 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 provost angelo hath seen them both and will discover the favour duke o deaths 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 bard 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 provost pardon me good father it is against my oath duke were you sworn to the duke or to the deputy provost to him and to his substitutes duke you will think you have made no offence if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing provost but what likelihood is in that duke 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 provost i know them both duke the contents of this is the return of the duke you shall anon over read it 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 dukes death perchance entering into some monastery but by chance nothing of what is writ look th 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 barnardines head i will give him a present shrift and advise him for a better place yet you are amazd but this shall absolutely resolve you come away it is almost clear dawn exeunt scene iii the prison enter pompey pompey i am as well acquainted here as i was in our house of profession one would think it were mistress overdones own house for here be many of her old customers first heres young master rash hes 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 threepile the mercer for some four suits of peach colourd satin which now peaches him a beggar then have we here young dizy and young master deepvow and master copperspur and master starvelackey the rapier and dagger man and young dropheir that killd lusty pudding and master forthlight the tilter and brave master shootie the great traveller and wild halfcan that stabbd pots and i think forty more all great doers in our trade and are now for the lords sake enter abhorson abhorson sirrah bring barnardine hither pompey master barnardine you must rise and be hangd master barnardine abhorson what ho barnardine barnardine within a pox o your throats who makes that noise there what are you pompey your friends sir the hangman you must be so good sir to rise and be put to death barnardine within away you rogue away i am sleepy abhorson tell him he must awake and that quickly too pompey pray master barnardine awake till you are executed and sleep afterwards abhorson go in to him and fetch him out pompey he is coming sir he is coming i hear his straw rustle enter barnardine abhorson is the axe upon the block sirrah pompey very ready sir barnardine how now abhorson whats the news with you abhorson truly sir i would desire you to clap into your prayers for look you the warrants come barnardine you rogue i have been drinking all night i am not fitted fort pompey o the better sir for he that drinks all night and is hanged betimes in the morning may sleep the sounder all the next day enter duke disguised as before abhorson look you sir here comes your ghostly father do we jest now think you duke 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 barnardine 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 thats certain duke o sir you must and therefore i beseech you look forward on the journey you shall go barnardine i swear i will not die to day for any mans persuasion duke but hear you barnardine not a word if you have anything to say to me come to my ward for thence will not i to day exit duke unfit to live or die o gravel heart after him fellows bring him to the block exeunt abhorson and pompey enter provost provost now sir how do you find the prisoner duke a creature unprepard unmeet for death and to transport him in the mind he is were damnable provost here in the prison father there died this morning of a cruel fever one ragozine a most notorious pirate a man of claudios years his beard and head just of his colour what if we do omit this reprobate till he were well inclind and satisfy the deputy with the visage of ragozine more like to claudio duke o tis an accident that heaven provides dispatch it presently the hour draws on prefixd by angelo see this be done and sent according to command whiles i persuade this rude wretch willingly to die provost 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 duke 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 provost i am your free dependant duke quick dispatch and send the head to angelo exit provost 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 ill desire to meet me at the consecrated fount a league below the city and from thence by cold gradation and well balancd form we shall proceed with angelo re enter provost provost here is the head ill carry it myself duke convenient is it make a swift return for i would commune with you of such things that want no ear but yours provost ill make all speed exit isabella within peace ho be here duke the tongue of isabel shes come to know if yet her brothers 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 enter isabella isabella ho by your leave duke good morning to you fair and gracious daughter isabella the better given me by so holy a man hath yet the deputy sent my brothers pardon duke he hath releasd him isabel from the world his head is off and sent to angelo isabella nay but it is not so duke it is no other show your wisdom daughter in your close patience isabella o i will to him and pluck out his eyes duke you shall not be admitted to his sight isabella unhappy claudio wretched isabel injurious world most damned angelo duke 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 powr 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 isabella i am directed by you duke this letter then to friar peter give tis that he sent me of the dukes return say by this token i desire his company at marianas house to night her cause and yours ill 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 whos here enter lucio lucio good even friar wheres the provost duke not within sir lucio 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 tot but they say the duke will be here to morrow by my troth isabel i lovd thy brother if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home he had lived exit isabella duke sir the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports but the best is he lives not in them lucio friar thou knowest not the duke so well as i do hes a better woodman than thou takst him for duke well youll answer this one day fare ye well lucio nay tarry ill go along with thee i can tell thee pretty tales of the duke duke you have told me too many of him already sir if they be true if not true none were enough lucio i was once before him for getting a wench with child duke did you such a thing lucio yes marry did i but i was fain to forswear it they would else have married me to the rotten medlar duke sir your company is fairer than honest rest you well lucio by my troth ill go with thee to the lanes end if bawdy talk offend you well have very little of it nay friar i am a kind of burr i shall stick exeunt scene iv angelos house enter angelo and escalus escalus every letter he hath writ hath disvouchd other angelo 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 escalus i guess not angelo and why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entring that if any crave redress of injustice they should exhibit their petitions in the street escalus 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 angelo well i beseech you let it be proclaimd betimes i th morn ill call you at your house give notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet him escalus i shall sir fare you well angelo good night exit escalus this deed unshapes me quite makes me unpregnant and dull to all proceedings a deflowred maid and by an eminent body that enforcd 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 a so credent bulk that no particular scandal once can touch but it confounds the breather he should have livd save that his riotous youth with dangerous sense might in the times to come have taen revenge by so receiving a dishonourd life with ransom of such shame would yet he had livd alack when once our grace we have forgot nothing goes right we would and we would not exit scene v fields without the town enter duke in his own habit and friar peter duke these letters at fit time deliver me giving letters 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 peter it shall be speeded well exit friar enter varrius duke i thank thee varrius thou hast made good haste come we will walk theres other of our friends will greet us here anon my gentle varrius exeunt scene vi a street near the city gate enter isabella and mariana isabella to speak so indirectly i am loath i would say the truth but to accuse him so that is your part yet i am advisd to do it he says to veil full purpose mariana be ruld by him isabella 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 thats bitter to sweet end mariana i would friar peter enter friar peter isabella o peace the friar is come peter 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 entring therefore hence away exeunt act v scene i the city gate enter at several doors duke varrius lords angelo escalus lucio provost officers and citizens duke my very worthy cousin fairly met our old and faithful friend we are glad to see you angelo escalus happy return be to your royal grace duke 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 angelo you make my bonds still greater duke 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 enter friar peter and isabella peter now is your time speak loud and kneel before him isabella justice o royal duke vail your regard upon a wrongd i would 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 duke relate your wrongs in what by whom be brief here is lord angelo shall give you justice reveal yourself to him isabella 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 believd or wring redress from you hear me o hear me here angelo 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 isabella by course of justice angelo and she will speak most bitterly and strange isabella most strange but yet most truly will i speak that angelos forsworn is it not strange that angelos a murderer ist not strange that angelo is an adulterous thief an hypocrite a virgin violator is it not strange and strange duke nay it is ten times strange isabella 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 th end of reckning duke away with her poor soul she speaks this in th infirmity of sense isabella o prince i conjure thee as thou believst there is another comfort than this world that thou neglect me not with that opinion that i am touchd with madness make not impossible that which but seems unlike tis not impossible but one the wickedst 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 hes nothing but hes more had i more name for badness duke 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 eer i heard in madness isabella 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 duke many that are not mad have sure more lack of reason what would you say isabella i am the sister of one claudio condemnd upon the act of fornication to lose his head condemnd by angelo i in probation of a sisterhood was sent to by my brother one lucio as then the messenger lucio thats i ant like your grace i came to her from claudio and desird her to try her gracious fortune with lord angelo for her poor brothers pardon isabella thats he indeed duke you were not bid to speak lucio no my good lord nor wishd to hold my peace duke 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 lucio i warrant your honour duke the warrants for yourself take heed tot isabella this gentleman told somewhat of my tale lucio right duke it may be right but you are i the wrong to speak before your time proceed isabella i went to this pernicious caitiff deputy duke thats somewhat madly spoken isabella pardon it the phrase is to the matter duke mended again the matter proceed isabella in brief to set the needless process by how i persuaded how i prayd and kneeld how he refelld 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 brothers head duke this is most likely isabella o that it were as like as it is true duke by heaven fond wretch thou knowst not what thou speakst or else thou art subornd 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 weighd 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 camst here to complain isabella and is this all then o you blessed ministers above keep me in patience and with ripened time unfold the evil which is here wrapt up in countenance heaven shield your grace from woe as i thus wrongd hence unbelieved go duke i know youd 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 isabella one that i would were here friar lodowick duke a ghostly father belike who knows that lodowick lucio 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 swingd him soundly duke words against me thiss a good friar belike and to set on this wretched woman here against our substitute let this friar be found lucio but yesternight my lord she and that friar i saw them at the prison a saucy friar a very scurvy fellow peter blessed be your royal grace i have stood by my lord and i have heard your royal ear abusd first hath this woman most wrongfully accusd your substitute who is as free from touch or soil with her as she from one ungot duke we did believe no less know you that friar lodowick that she speaks of peter i know him for a man divine and holy not scurvy nor a temporary meddler as hes reported by this gentleman and on my trust a man that never yet did as he vouches misreport your grace lucio my lord most villainously believe it peter 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 hes convented first for this woman to justify this worthy nobleman so vulgarly and personally accusd her shall you hear disproved to her eyes till she herself confess it duke good friar lets hear it exit isabella guarded do you not smile at this lord angelo o heaven the vanity of wretched fools give us some seats come cousin angelo in this ill be impartial be you judge of your own cause enter mariana veiled is this the witness friar first let her show her face and after speak mariana pardon my lord i will not show my face until my husband bid me duke what are you married mariana no my lord duke are you a maid mariana no my lord duke a widow then mariana neither my lord duke why you are nothing then neither maid widow nor wife lucio my lord she may be a punk for many of them are neither maid widow nor wife duke silence that fellow i would he had some cause to prattle for himself lucio well my lord mariana my lord i do confess i neer 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 lucio he was drunk then my lord it can be no better duke for the benefit of silence would thou wert so too lucio well my lord duke this is no witness for lord angelo mariana now i come tot 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 ill depose i had him in mine arms with all th effect of love angelo charges she moe than me mariana not that i know duke no you say your husband mariana why just my lord and that is angelo who thinks he knows that he neer knew my body but knows he thinks that he knows isabels angelo this is a strange abuse lets see thy face mariana my husband bids me now i will unmask unveiling this is that face thou cruel angelo which once thou sworst was worth the looking on this is the hand which with a vowd contract was fast belockd in thine this is the body that took away the match from isabel and did supply thee at thy garden house in her imagind person duke know you this woman lucio carnally she says duke sirrah no more lucio enough my lord angelo 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 disvalued in levity since which time of five years i never spake with her saw her nor heard from her upon my faith and honour mariana noble prince as there comes light from heaven and words from breath as there is sense in truth and truth in virtue i am affiancd this mans wife as strongly as words could make up vows and my good lord but tuesday night last gone ins 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 angelo i did but smile till now now good my lord give me the scope of justice my patience here is touchd 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 duke ay with my heart and punish them to your height of pleasure thou foolish friar and thou pernicious woman compact with her thats gone thinkst thou thy oaths though they would swear down each particular saint were testimonies against his worth and credit thats seald in approbation you lord escalus sit with my cousin lend him your kind pains to find out this abuse whence tis derivd there is another friar that set them on let him be sent for peter would lie 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 duke go do it instantly exit provost 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 a while will leave you but stir not you till you have well determind upon these slanderers escalus my lord well do it throughly exit duke signior lucio did not you say you knew that friar lodowick to be a dishonest person lucio cucullus non facit monachum honest in nothing but in his clothes and one that hath spoke most villainous speeches of the duke escalus we shall entreat you to abide here till he come and enforce them against him we shall find this friar a notable fellow lucio as any in vienna on my word escalus call that same isabel here once again i would speak with her exit an attendant pray you my lord give me leave to question you shall see how ill handle her lucio not better than he by her own report escalus say you lucio marry sir i think if you handled her privately she would sooner confess perchance publicly shell be ashamd re enter officers with isabella and provost with the duke in his friars habit escalus i will go darkly to work with her lucio thats the way for women are light at midnight escalus come on mistress heres a gentlewoman denies all that you have said lucio my lord here comes the rascal i spoke of here with the provost escalus in very good time speak not you to him till we call upon you lucio mum escalus come sir did you set these women on to slander lord angelo they have confessd you did duke tis false escalus how know you where you are duke respect to your great place and let the devil be sometime honourd for his burning throne where is the duke tis he should hear me speak escalus the dukes in us and we will hear you speak look you speak justly duke 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 dukes unjust thus to retort your manifest appeal and put your trial in the villains mouth which here you come to accuse lucio this is the rascal this is he i spoke of escalus why thou unreverend and unhallowed friar ist not enough thou hast subornd 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 th duke himself to tax him with injustice take him hence to th rack with him well touze you joint by joint but we will know his purpose what unjust duke 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 oerrun the stew laws for all faults but faults so countenancd that the strong statutes stand like the forfeits in a barbers shop as much in mock as mark escalus slander to th state away with him to prison angelo what can you vouch against him signior lucio is this the man that you did tell us of lucio tis he my lord come hither good man bald pate do you know me duke i remember you sir by the sound of your voice i met you at the prison in the absence of the duke lucio o did you so and do you remember what you said of the duke duke most notedly sir lucio do you so sir and was the duke a fleshmonger a fool and a coward as you then reported him to be duke you must sir change persons with me ere you make that my report you indeed spoke so of him and much more much worse lucio o thou damnable fellow did not i pluck thee by the nose for thy speeches duke i protest i love the duke as i love myself angelo hark how the villain would close now after his treasonable abuses escalus such a fellow is not to be talkd withal away with him to prison where is the provost away with him to prison lay bolts enough upon him let him speak no more away with those giglets too and with the other confederate companion the provost lays bands on the duke duke stay sir stay awhile angelo what resists he help him lucio lucio come sir come sir come sir foh sir why you bald pated lying rascal you must be hooded must you show your knaves visage with a pox to you show your sheep biting face and be hangd an hour willt not off pulls off the friars bood and discovers the duke duke thou art the first knave that eer madst a duke first provost let me bail these gentle three to lucio sneak not away sir for the friar and you must have a word anon lay hold on him lucio this may prove worse than hanging duke to escalus what you have spoke i pardon sit you down well borrow place of him to angelo 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 angelo o my dread lord i should be guiltier than my guiltiness to think i can be undiscernible when i perceive your grace like powr divine hath lookd 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 duke come hither mariana say wast thou eer contracted to this woman angelo i was my lord duke go take her hence and marry her instantly do you the office friar which consummate return him here again go with him provost exeunt angelo mariana friar peter and provost escalus my lord i am more amazd at his dishonour than at the strangeness of it duke 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 attorneyd at your service isabella o give me pardon that i your vassal have employd and paind your unknown sovereignty duke you are pardond isabel and now dear maid be you as free to us your brothers death i know sits at your heart and you may marvel why i obscurd myself labouring to save his life and would not rather make rash remonstrance of my hidden powr 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 braind 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 isabella i do my lord re enter angelo mariana friar peter and provost duke for this new married man approaching here whose salt imagination yet hath wrongd your well defended honour you must pardon for marianas sake but as he adjudgd your brother being criminal in double violation of sacred chastity and of promise breach thereon dependent for your brothers 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 faults thus manifested which though thou wouldst deny denies thee vantage we do condemn thee to the very block where claudio stoopd to death and with like haste away with him mariana o my most gracious lord i hope you will not mock me with a husband duke it is your husband mockd 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 mariana o my dear lord i crave no other nor no better man duke never crave him we are definitive mariana gentle my liege kneeling duke you do but lose your labour away with him to death to lucio now sir to you mariana o my good lord sweet isabel take my part lend me your knees and all my life to come ill lend you all my life to do you service duke against all sense you do importune her should she kneel down in mercy of this fact her brothers ghost his paved bed would break and take her hence in horror mariana isabel sweet isabel do yet but kneel by me hold up your hands say nothing ill speak all they say best men 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 duke he dies for claudios death isabella kneeling most bounteous sir look if it please you on this man condemnd as if my brother livd i partly think a due sincerity governd 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 oertake his bad intent and must be buried but as an intent that perishd by the way thoughts are no subjects intents but merely thoughts mariana merely my lord duke your suits unprofitable stand up i say i have bethought me of another fault provost how came it claudio was beheaded at an unusual hour provost it was commanded so duke had you a special warrant for the deed provost no my good lord it was by private message duke for which i do discharge you of your office give up your keys provost 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 reservd alive duke whats he provost his name is barnardine duke i would thou hadst done so by claudio go fetch him hither let me look upon him exit provost escalus i am sorry one so learned and so wise as you lord angelo have still appeard should slip so grossly both in the heat of blood and lack of temperd judgment afterward angelo 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 re enter provost with barnardine claudio muffled and juliet duke which is that barnardine provost this my lord duke 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 squarst thy life according thourt condemnd 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 muffld fellows that provost this is another prisoner that i savd who should have died when claudio lost his head as like almost to claudio as himself unmuffles claudio duke to isabella if he be like your brother for his sake is he pardond 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 hes safe methinks i see a quickning 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 heres one in place i cannot pardon to lucio you sirrah that knew me for a fool a coward one all of luxury an ass a madman wherein have i so deservd of you that you extol me thus lucio 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 whipt duke whipt first sir and hangd after proclaim it provost round about the city if any woman wrongd by this lewd fellow as i have heard him swear himself theres one whom he begot with child let her appear and he shall marry her the nuptial finishd let him be whipt and hangd lucio 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 duke 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 lucio marrying a punk my lord is pressing to death whipping and hanging duke slandering a prince deserves it exeunt officers with lucio she claudio that you wrongd look you restore joy to you mariana love her angelo i have confessd her and i know her virtue thanks good friend escalus for thy much goodness theres 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 claudios th offence pardons itself dear isabel i have a motion much imports your good whereto if youll a willing ear incline whats mine is yours and what is yours is mine so bring us to our palace where well show whats yet behind thats meet you all should know exeunt the end the merchant of venice dramatis personae the duke of venice the prince of morocco suitor to portia the prince of arragon antonio a merchant of venice bassanio his friend suitor to portia solanio friend to antonio and bassanio salerio gratiano lorenzo in love with jessica shylock a rich jew tubal a jew his friend launcelot gobbo a clown servant to shylock old gobbo father to launcelot leonardo servant to bassanio balthasar servant to portia stephano portia a rich heiress nerissa her waiting maid jessica daughter to shylock magnificoes of venice officers of the court of justice gaoler servants and other attendants scene venice and portias house at belmont act i scene i venice a street enter antonio salerio and solanio antonio 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 salerio 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 solanio 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 salerio 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 dockd 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 vessels 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 bechancd would make me sad but tell not me i know antonio is sad to think upon his merchandise antonio 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 solanio why then you are in love antonio fie fie solanio not in love neither then let us 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 framd 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 theyll not show their teeth in way of smile though nestor swear the jest be laughable enter bassanio lorenzo and gratiano here comes bassanio your most noble kinsman gratiano and lorenzo fare ye well we leave you now with better company salerio i would have stayd till i had made you merry if worthier friends had not prevented me antonio your worth is very dear in my regard i take it your own business calls on you and you embrace th occasion to depart salerio good morrow my good lords bassanio good signiors both when shall we laugh say when you grow exceeding strange must it be so salerio well make our leisures to attend on yours exeunt salerio and solanio lorenzo my lord bassanio since you have found antonio we two will leave you but at dinner time i pray you have in mind where we must meet bassanio i will not fail you gratiano 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 changd antonio i hold the world but as the world gratiano a stage where every man must play a part and mine a sad one gratiano 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 tis 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 dressd 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 ill 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 ill end my exhortation after dinner lorenzo 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 gratiano well keep me company but two years moe thou shalt not know the sound of thine own tongue antonio fare you well ill grow a talker for this gear gratiano thanks i faith for silence is only commendable in a neats tongue dried and a maid not vendible exeunt gratiano and lorenzo antonio is that anything now bassanio 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 antonio well tell me now what lady is the same to whom you swore a secret pilgrimage that you to day promisd to tell me of bassanio 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 abridgd 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 gagd to you antonio i owe the most in money and in love and from your love i have a warranty to unburden all my plots and purposes how to get clear of all the debts i owe antonio i pray you good bassanio let me know it and if it stand as you yourself still do within the eye of honour be assurd my purse my person my extremest means lie all unlockd to your occasions bassanio 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 antonio 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 bassanio 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 undervalud to catos 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 antonio thou knowst 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 rackd 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 exeunt scene ii belmont portias house enter portia with her waiting woman nerissa portia by my troth nerissa my little body is aweary of this great world nerissa 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 come sooner by white hairs but competency lives longer portia good sentences and well pronouncd nerissa they would be better if well followed portia if to do were as easy as to know what were good to do chapels had been churches and poor mens 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 to be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching the brain may devise laws for the blood but a hot temper leaps oer a cold decree such a hare is madness the youth to skip oer 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 who i would nor refuse who i dislike so is the will of a living daughter curbd by the will of a dead father is it not hard nerissa that i cannot choose one nor refuse none nerissa your father was ever virtuous and holy men at their death have good inspirations therefore the lottry 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 portia i pray thee over name them and as thou namest them i will describe them and according to my description level at my affection nerissa first there is the neapolitan prince portia ay thats 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 playd false with a smith nerissa then is there the county palatine portia 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 deaths head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these god defend me from these two nerissa how say you by the french lord monsieur le bon portia 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 neapolitans 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 capring 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 nerissa what say you then to falconbridge the young baron of england portia 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 mans 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 everywhere nerissa what think you of the scottish lord his neighbour portia 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 seald under for another nerissa how like you the young german the duke of saxonys nephew portia 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 nerissa if he should offer to choose and choose the right casket you should refuse to perform your fathers will if you should refuse to accept him portia 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 nerissa 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 fathers imposition depending on the caskets portia 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 fathers 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 nerissa do you not remember lady in your fathers time a venetian a scholar and a soldier that came hither in company of the marquis of montferrat portia yes yes it was bassanio as i think so was he calld nerissa true madam he of all the men that ever my foolish eyes lookd upon was the best deserving a fair lady portia i remember him well and i remember him worthy of thy praise enter a servingman how now what news servingman 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 portia 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 exeunt scene iii venice a public place enter bassanio with shylock the jew shylock three thousand ducats well bassanio ay sir for three months shylock for three months well bassanio for the which as i told you antonio shall be bound shylock antonio shall become bound well bassanio may you stead me will you pleasure me shall i know your answer shylock three thousand ducats for three months and antonio bound bassanio your answer to that shylock antonio is a good man bassanio have you heard any imputation to the contrary shylock 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 squandred abroad but ships are but boards sailors but men there be land rats and water rats water thieves and land 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 bassanio be assurd you may shylock i will be assurd i may and that i may be assured i will bethink me may i speak with antonio bassanio if it please you to dine with us shylock 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 enter antonio bassanio this is signior antonio shylock aside 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 bassanio shylock do you hear shylock 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 to antonio rest you fair good signior your worship was the last man in our mouths antonio shylock albeit i neither lend nor borrow by taking nor by giving of excess yet to supply the ripe wants of my friend ill break a custom to bassanio is he yet possessd how much ye would shylock ay ay three thousand ducats antonio and for three months shylock i had forgot three months you told me so well then your bond and let me see but hear you methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow upon advantage antonio i do never use it shylock when jacob grazd his uncle labans sheep this jacob from our holy abram was as his wise mother wrought in his behalf the third possessor ay he was the third antonio and what of him did he take interest shylock no not take interest not as you would say directly intrest mark what jacob did when laban and himself were compromisd that all the eanlings which were streakd and pied should fall as jacobs 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 pilld 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 colourd lambs and those were jacobs this was a way to thrive and he was blest and thrift is blessing if men steal it not antonio this was a venture sir that jacob servd for a thing not in his power to bring to pass but swayd and fashiond by the hand of heaven was this inserted to make interest good or is your gold and silver ewes and rams shylock i cannot tell i make it breed as fast but note me signior antonio aside 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 shylock three thousand ducats tis a good round sum three months from twelve then let me see the rate antonio well shylock shall we be beholding to you shylock 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 suffrance is the badge of all our tribe you call me misbeliever cut throat dog and spit 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 bondmans key with bated breath and whispring humbleness say this fair sir you spit on me on wednesday last you spurnd me such a day another time you calld me dog and for these courtesies ill lend you thus much moneys antonio i am as like to call thee so again to spit 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 shylock why look you how you storm i would be friends with you and have your love forget the shames that you have staind me with supply your present wants and take no doit of usance for my moneys and youll not hear me this is kind i offer bassanio this were kindness shylock 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 expressd 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 antonio content in faith ill seal to such a bond and say there is much kindness in the jew bassanio you shall not seal to such a bond for me ill rather dwell in my necessity antonio why fear not man i will not forfeit it within these two months thats a month before this bond expires i do expect return of thrice three times the value of this bond shylock o father abram what these christians are whose own hard dealings 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 mans 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 antonio yes shylock i will seal unto this bond shylock then meet me forthwith at the notarys 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 ill be with you antonio hie thee gentle jew exit shylock the hebrew will turn christian he grows kind bassanio i like not fair terms and a villains mind antonio come on in this there can be no dismay my ships come home a month before the day exeunt act ii scene i belmont portias house flourish of cornets enter the prince of morocco a tawny moor all in white and three or four followers accordingly with portia nerissa and train prince of morocco mislike me not for my complexion the shadowed livery of the burnishd sun to whom i am a neighbour and near bred bring me the fairest creature northward born where phoebus 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 feard the valiant by my love i swear the best regarded virgins of our clime have lovd it too i would not change this hue except to steal your thoughts my gentle queen portia in terms of choice i am not solely led by nice direction of a maidens eyes besides the lottry of my destiny bars me the right of voluntary choosing but if my father had not scanted me and hedgd 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 lookd on yet for my affection prince of morocco 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 oerstare 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 a 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 band 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 portia 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 advisd prince of morocco nor will not come bring me unto my chance portia first forward to the temple after dinner your hazard shall be made prince of morocco good fortune then to make me blest or cursedst among men cornets and exeunt scene ii venice a street enter launcelot gobbo launcelot 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 mans son or rather an honest womans 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 ruld 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 incarnation 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 enter old gobbo with a basket gobbo master young man you i pray you which is the way to master jews launcelot aside o heavens this is my true begotten father who being more than sand blind high gravel blind knows me not i will try confusions with him gobbo master young gentleman i pray you which is the way to master jews launcelot 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 jews house gobbo be gods sonties twill be a hard way to hit can you tell me whether one launcelot that dwells with him dwell with him or no launcelot talk you of young master launcelot aside mark me now now will i raise the waters talk you of young master launcelot gobbo no master sir but a poor mans son his father though i sayt is an honest exceeding poor man and god be thanked well to live launcelot well let his father be what a will we talk of young master launcelot gobbo your worships friend and launcelot sir launcelot but i pray you ergo old man ergo i beseech you talk you of young master launcelot gobbo of launcelot ant please your mastership launcelot 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 gobbo marry god forbid the boy was the very staff of my age my very prop launcelot do i look like a cudgel or a hovel post a staff or a prop do you know me father gobbo 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 launcelot do you not know me father gobbo alack sir i am sand blind i know you not launcelot 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 mans son may but in the end truth will out gobbo pray you sir stand up i am sure you are not launcelot my boy launcelot pray you lets 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 gobbo i cannot think you are my son launcelot i know not what i shall think of that but i am launcelot the jews man and i am sure margery your wife is my mother gobbo her name is margery indeed ill be sworn if thou be launcelot thou art mine own flesh and blood lord worshippd might he be what a beard hast thou got thou hast got more hair on thy chin than dobbin my fill horse has on his tail launcelot it should seem then that dobbins tail grows backward i am sure he had more hair of his tail than i have of my face when i last saw him gobbo lord how art thou changd how dost thou and thy master agree i have brought him a present how gree you now launcelot 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 masters a very jew give him a present give him a halter i am famishd 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 enter bassanio with leonardo with a follower or two bassanio you may do so but let it be so hasted that supper be ready at the farthest by five of the clock see these letters delivered put the liveries to making and desire gratiano to come anon to my lodging exit a servant launcelot to him father gobbo god bless your worship bassanio gramercy wouldst thou aught with me gobbo heres my son sir a poor boy launcelot not a poor boy sir but the rich jews man that would sir as my father shall specify gobbo he hath a great infection sir as one would say to serve launcelot indeed the short and the long is i serve the jew and have a desire as my father shall specify gobbo his master and he saving your worships reverence are scarce cater cousins launcelot 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 gobbo i have here a dish of doves that i would bestow upon your worship and my suit is launcelot 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 bassanio one speak for both what would you launcelot serve you sir gobbo that is the very defect of the matter sir bassanio i know thee well thou hast obtaind thy suit shylock thy master spoke with me this day and hath preferrd thee if it be preferment to leave a rich jews service to become the follower of so poor a gentleman launcelot 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 bassanio thou speakst it well go father with thy son take leave of thy old master and inquire my lodging out to a servant give him a livery more guarded than his fellows see it done launcelot father in i cannot get a service no i have neer a tongue in my head looking on his palm 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 heres a simple line of life heres a small trifle of wives alas fifteen wives is nothing aleven 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 shes a good wench for this gear father come ill take my leave of the jew in the twinkling exeunt launcelot and old gobbo bassanio i pray thee good leonardo think on this these things being bought and orderly bestowed return in haste for i do feast to night my best esteemd acquaintance hie thee go leonardo my best endeavours shall be done herein enter gratiano gratiano wheres your master leonardo yonder sir he walks exit gratiano signior bassanio bassanio gratiano gratiano i have suit to you bassanio you have obtaind it gratiano you must not deny me i must go with you to belmont bassanio 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 misconstred in the place i go to and lose my hopes gratiano 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 bassanio well we shall see your bearing gratiano nay but i bar to night you shall not gauge me by what we do to night bassanio 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 gratiano and i must to lorenzo and the rest but we will visit you at supper time exeunt scene iii venice shylocks house enter jessica and launcelot jessica 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 masters guest give him this letter do it secretly and so farewell i would not have my father see me in talk with thee launcelot adieu tears exhibit my tongue most beautiful pagan most sweet jew if a christian do not play the knave and get thee i am much deceived but adieu these foolish drops do something drown my manly spirit adieu jessica farewell good launcelot exit launcelot alack what heinous sin is it in me to be ashamd to be my fathers 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 exit scene iv venice a street enter gratiano lorenzo salerio and solanio lorenzo nay we will slink away in suppertime disguise us at my lodging and return all in an hour gratiano we have not made good preparation salerio we have not spoke us yet of torch bearers solanio tis vile unless it may be quaintly ordered and better in my mind not undertook lorenzo tis now but four oclock we have two hours to furnish us enter launcelot with a letter friend launcelot whats the news launcelot an it shall please you to break up this it shall seem to signify lorenzo i know the hand in faith tis a fair hand and whiter than the paper it writ on is the fair hand that writ gratiano love news in faith launcelot by your leave sir lorenzo whither goest thou launcelot marry sir to bid my old master the jew to sup to night with my new master the christian lorenzo hold here take this tell gentle jessica i will not fail her speak it privately go gentlemen exit launcelot will you prepare you for this masque to night i am provided of a torch bearer salerio ay marry ill be gone about it straight solanio and so will i lorenzo meet me and gratiano at gratianos lodging some hour hence salerio tis good we do so exeunt salerio and solanio gratiano was not that letter from fair jessica lorenzo i must needs tell thee all she hath directed how i shall take her from her fathers house what gold and jewels she is furnishd with what pages suit she hath in readiness if eer the jew her father come to heaven it will be for his gentle daughters 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 exeunt scene v venice before shylocks house enter shylock and launcelot shylock well thou shalt see thy eyes shall be thy judge the difference of old shylock and bassanio what jessica thou shalt not gormandize as thou hast done with me what jessica and sleep and snore and rend apparel out why jessica i say launcelot why jessica shylock who bids thee call i do not bid thee call launcelot your worship was wont to tell me i could do nothing without bidding enter jessica jessica call you what is your will shylock 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 ill 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 launcelot i beseech you sir go my young master doth expect your reproach shylock so do i his launcelot 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 oclock i th morning falling out that year on ash wednesday was four year in th afternoon shylock 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 neckd fife clamber not you up to the casements then nor thrust your head into the public street to gaze on christian fools with varnishd faces but stop my houses ears i mean my casements let not the sound of shallow foppry enter my sober house by jacobs 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 launcelot i will go before sir mistress look out at window for all this there will come a christian by will be worth a jewess eye exit shylock what says that fool of hagars offspring ha jessica his words were farewell mistress nothing else shylock 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 borrowed 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 exit jessica farewell and if my fortune be not crost i have a father you a daughter lost exit scene vi venice before shylocks house enter the maskers gratiano and salerio gratiano this is the pent house under which lorenzo desired us to make stand salerio his hour is almost past gratiano and it is marvel he out dwells his hour for lovers ever run before the clock salerio o ten times faster venus pigeons fly to seal loves bonds new made than they are wont to keep obliged faith unforfeited gratiano 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 enjoyed how like a younker or a prodigal the scarfed bark puts from her native bay huggd and embraced by the strumpet wind how like the prodigal doth she return with over weatherd ribs and ragged sails lean rent and beggard by the strumpet wind enter lorenzo salerio here comes lorenzo more of this hereafter lorenzo 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 ill watch as long for you then approach here dwells my father jew ho whos within enter jessica above in boys clothes jessica who are you tell me for more certainty albeit ill swear that i do know your tongue lorenzo lorenzo and thy love jessica lorenzo certain and my love indeed for who love i so much and now who knows but you lorenzo whether i am yours lorenzo heaven and thy thoughts are witness that thou art jessica here catch this casket it is worth the pains i am glad tis night you do not look on me for i am much ashamd 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 lorenzo descend for you must be my torch bearer jessica 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 obscurd lorenzo 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 stayd for at bassanios feast jessica i will make fast the doors and gild myself with some moe ducats and be with you straight exit above gratiano now by my hood a gentle and no jew lorenzo 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 provd herself and therefore like herself wise fair and true shall she be placed in my constant soul enter jessica below what art thou come on gentlemen away our masquing mates by this time for us stay exit with jessica and salerio enter antonio antonio whos there gratiano signior antonio antonio fie fie gratiano where are all the rest tis nine oclock 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 gratiano i am glad ont i desire no more delight than to be under sail and gone to night exeunt scene vii belmont portias house flourish of cornets enter portia with the prince of morocco and their trains portia go draw aside the curtains and discover the several caskets to this noble prince now make your choice prince of morocco the first of gold who 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 portia the one of them contains my picture prince if you choose that then i am yours withal prince of morocco some god direct my judgment let me see i will survey th 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 ill 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 beest 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 thats 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 strayd no farther but chose here lets see once more this saying gravd in gold who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire why thats 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 oer a brook to see fair portia one of these three contains her heavenly picture ist 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 shes immurd being ten times undervalued 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 stampd in gold but thats insculpd 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 portia there take it prince and if my form lie there then i am yours he opens the golden casket prince of morocco o hell what have we here a carrion death within whose empty eye there is a written scroll ill 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 inscrolld fare you well your suit is cold cold indeed and labour lost then farewell heat and welcome frost portia adieu i have too grievd a heart to take a tedious leave thus losers part exit with his train flourish of cornets portia a gentle riddance draw the curtains go let all of his complexion choose me so exeunt scene viii venice a street enter salerio and solanio salerio why man i saw bassanio under sail with him is gratiano gone along and in their ship i am sure lorenzo is not solanio the villain jew with outcries raisd the duke who went with him to search bassanios ship salerio 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 solanio i never heard a passion so confusd 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 stoln from me by my daughter and jewels two stones two rich and precious stones stoln by my daughter justice find the girl she hath the stones upon her and the ducats salerio why all the boys in venice follow him crying his stones his daughter and his ducats solanio let good antonio look he keep his day or he shall pay for this salerio marry well remembred i reasond 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 wishd in silence that it were not his solanio you were best to tell antonio what you hear yet do not suddenly for it may grieve him salerio 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 answered do not so slubber not business for my sake bassanio but stay the very riping of the time and for the jews 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 bassanios hand and so they parted solanio 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 salerio do we so exeunt scene ix belmont portias house enter nerissa and a servitor nerissa quick quick i pray thee draw the curtain straight the prince of arragon hath taen his oath and comes to his election presently flourish of cornets enter the prince of arragon portia and their trains portia behold there stand the caskets noble prince if you choose that wherein i am containd straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnizd but if you fail without more speech my lord you must be gone from hence immediately arragon i am enjoind 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 portia to these injunctions every one doth swear that comes to hazard for my worthless self arragon and so have i addressd me fortune now to my hearts 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 th 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 multitudes 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 derivd corruptly and that clear honour were purchasd 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 gleaned from the true seed of honour and how much honour pickd from the chaff and ruin of the times to be new varnishd 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 he opens the silver casket portia aside too long a pause for that which you find there arragon whats 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 fools head is that my prize are my deserts no better portia to offend and judge are distinct offices and of opposed natures arragon what is here reads 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 shadows bliss there be fools alive iwis silverd oer and so was this take what wife you will to bed i will ever be your head so be gone you are sped still more fool i shall appear by the time i linger here with one fools head i came to woo but i go away with two sweet adieu ill keep my oath patiently to bear my wroth exit with his train portia thus hath the candle singd the moth o these deliberate fools when they do choose they have the wisdom by their wit to lose nerissa the ancient saying is no heresy hanging and wiving goes by destiny portia come draw the curtain nerissa enter a servant servant where is my lady portia here what would my lord servant madam there is alighted at your gate a young venetian one that comes before to signify th 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 ambassador 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 portia no more i pray thee i am half afeard thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee thou spendst such high day wit in praising him come come nerissa for i long to see quick cupids post that comes so mannerly nerissa bassanio lord love if thy will it be exeunt act iii scene i venice a street enter solanio and salerio solanio now what news on the rialto salerio why yet it lives there uncheckd that antonio hath a ship of rich lading wreckd on the narrow seas the goodwins i think they call the place a very dangerous flat and fatal where the carcases of many a tall ship lie buried as they say if my gossip report be an honest woman of her word solanio i would she were as lying a gossip in that as ever knappd 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 salerio come the full stop solanio ha what sayest thou why the end is he hath lost a ship salerio i would it might prove the end of his losses solanio let me say amen betimes lest the devil cross my prayer for here he comes in the likeness of a jew enter shylock how now shylock what news among the merchants shylock you knew none so well none so well as you of my daughters flight salerio thats certain i for my part knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal solanio and shylock for his own part knew the bird was flidge and then it is the complexion of them all to leave the dam shylock she is damnd for it salerio thats certain if the devil may be her judge shylock my own flesh and blood to rebel solanio out upon it old carrion rebels it at these years shylock i say my daughter is my flesh and my blood salerio 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 shylock there i have another bad match a bankrupt a prodigal who dare scarce show his head on the rialto a beggar that was usd 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 salerio why i am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh whats that good for shylock to bait fish withal if it will feed nothing else it will feed my revenge he hath disgracd me and hindred me half a million laughd at my losses mockd at my gains scorned my nation thwarted my bargains cooled my friends heated mine enemies and whats 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 villainy you teach me i will execute and itshall go hard but i will better the instruction enter a man from antonio man gentlemen my master antonio is at his house and desires to speak with you both salerio we have been up and down to seek him enter tubal solanio here comes another of the tribe a third cannot be matchd unless the devil himself turn jew exeunt solanio salerio and man shylock how now tubal what news from genoa hast thou found my daughter tubal i often came where i did hear of her but cannot find her shylock why there 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 hearsd at my foot and the ducats in her coffin no news of them why so and i know not whats 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 o my shoulders no sighs but o my breathing no tears but o my shedding tubal yes other men have ill luck too antonio as i heard in genoa shylock what what what ill luck ill luck tubal hath an argosy cast away coming from tripolis shylock i thank god i thank god is it true is it true tubal i spoke with some of the sailors that escaped the wreck shylock i thank thee good tubal good news good news ha ha heard in genoa tubal your daughter spent in genoa as i heard one night fourscore ducats shylock thou stickst a dagger in me i shall never see my gold again fourscore ducats at a sitting fourscore ducats tubal there came divers of antonios creditors in my company to venice that swear he cannot choose but break shylock i am very glad of it ill plague him ill torture him i am glad of it tubal one of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey shylock 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 tubal but antonio is certainly undone shylock nay thats true thats 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 tubal and meet me at our synagogue go good tubal at our synagogue tubal exeunt scene ii belmont portias house enter bassanio portia gratiano nerissa and all their trains portia i pray you tarry pause a day or two before you hazard for in choosing wrong i lose your company therefore forbear a while theres 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 youll make me wish a sin that i had been forsworn beshrew your eyes they have oerlookd 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 puts 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 peize the time to eke it and to draw it out in length to stay you from election bassanio let me choose for as i am i live upon the rack portia upon the rack bassanio then confess what treason there is mingled with your love bassanio 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 portia ay but i fear you speak upon the rack where men enforced do speak anything bassanio promise me life and ill confess the truth portia well then confess and live bassanio 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 portia away then i am lockd 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 watry 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 bridegrooms 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 th exploit go hercules live thou i live with much much more dismay i view the fight than thou that makst the fray a song the whilst bassanio comments on the caskets to himself tell me where is fancy bred or in the heart or in the head how begot how nourished reply reply it is engendred in the eyes with gazing fed and fancy dies in the cradle where it lies let us all ring fancys knell ill begin it ding dong bell all ding dong bell bassanio so may the outward shows be least themselves the world is still deceivd with ornament in law what plea so tainted and corrupt but being seasond 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 searchd have livers white as milk and these assume but valours excrement to render them redoubted look on beauty and you shall see tis purchasd 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 threatenst than dost promise aught thy plainness moves me more than eloquence and here choose i joy be the consequence portia aside how all the other passions fleet to air as doubtful thoughts and rash embracd despair and shuddring fear and green eyd 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 bassanio opening the leaden casket what find i here fair portias 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 severd 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 t 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 unfurnishd 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 heres 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 pleasd with this and hold your fortune for your bliss turn to 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 peoples 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 confirmd signd ratified by you portia 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 something which to term in gross is an unlessond girl unschoold unpractisd 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 oer myself and even now but now this house these servants and this same myself are yours my lords 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 bassanio 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 expressd and not expressd but when this ring parts from this finger then parts life from hence o then be bold to say bassanios dead nerissa 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 gratiano 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 bassanio with all my heart so thou canst get a wife gratiano 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 lovd i lovd 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 achievd her mistress portia is this true nerissa nerissa madam it is so you stand pleasd withal bassanio and do you gratiano mean good faith gratiano yes faith my lord bassanio our feast shall be much honoured in your marriage gratiano well play with them the first boy for a thousand ducats nerissa what and stake down gratiano no we shall neer win at that sport and stake down but who comes here lorenzo and his infidel what and my old venetian friend salerio enter lorenzo jessica and salerio a messenger from venice bassanio lorenzo and salerio welcome hither if that the youth of my new intrest here have power to bid you welcome by your leave i bid my very friends and countrymen sweet portia welcome portia so do i my lord they are entirely welcome lorenzo i thank your honour for my part my lord my purpose was not to have seen you here but meeting with salerio by the way he did entreat me past all saying nay to come with him along salerio i did my lord and i have reason for it signior antonio commends him to you gives bassanio a letter bassanio ere i ope his letter i pray you tell me how my good friend doth salerio not sick my lord unless it be in mind nor well unless in mind his letter there will show you his estate bassanio opens the letter gratiano nerissa cheer yond stranger bid her welcome your hand salerio whats 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 salerio i would you had won the fleece that he hath lost portia there are some shrewd contents in yond same paper that steals the colour from bassanios 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 bassanio o sweet portia here are a few of the unpleasantst 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 engagd myself to a dear friend engagd 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 salerio hath all his ventures faild 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 salerio 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 jessica when i was with him i have heard him swear to tubal and to chus his countrymen that he would rather have antonios 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 portia is it your dear friend that is thus in trouble bassanio the dearest friend to me the kindest man the best conditiond and unwearied spirit in doing courtesies and one in whom the ancient roman honour more appears than any that draws breath in italy portia what sum owes he the jew bassanio for me three thousand ducats portia 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 through bassanios 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 portias 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 bassanio reads 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 cleard 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 portia o love dispatch all business and be gone bassanio since i have your good leave to go away i will make haste but till i come again no bed shall eer be guilty of my stay nor rest be interposer twixt us twain exeunt scene iii venice a street enter shylock solanio antonio and gaoler shylock gaoler look to him tell not me of mercy this is the fool that lent out money gratis gaoler look to him antonio hear me yet good shylock shylock ill have my bond speak not against my bond i have sworn an oath that i will have my bond thou calldst 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 antonio i pray thee hear me speak shylock ill have my bond i will not hear thee speak ill have my bond and therefore speak no more ill not be made a soft and dull eyd fool to shake the head relent and sigh and yield to christian intercessors follow not ill have no speaking i will have my bond exit solanio it is the most impenetrable cur that ever kept with men antonio let him alone ill follow him no more with bootless prayers he seeks my life his reason well i know i oft deliverd from his forfeitures many that have at times made moan to me therefore he hates me solanio i am sure the duke will never grant this forfeiture to hold antonio the duke cannot deny the course of law for the commodity that strangers have with us in venice if it be denied will 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 exeunt scene iv belmont portias house enter portia nerissa lorenzo jessica and balthasar lorenzo madam although i speak it in your presence you have a noble and a true conceit of godlike 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 portia 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 bestowed 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 lords return for mine own part i have toward heaven breathd a secret vow to live in prayer and contemplation only attended by nerissa here until her husband and my lords return there is a monastery two miles off and there we will abide i do desire you not to deny this imposition the which my love and some necessity now lays upon you lorenzo madam with all my heart i shall obey you in an fair commands portia 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 lorenzo fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you jessica i wish your ladyship all hearts content portia i thank you for your wish and am well pleasd to wish it back on you fare you well jessica exeunt jessica and lorenzo now balthasar as i have ever found thee honest true so let me find thee still take this same letter and use thou all th endeavour of a man in speed to padua see thou render this into my cousins hands doctor bellario and look what notes and garments he doth give thee bring them i pray thee with imagind 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 balthasar madam i go with all convenient speed exit portia come on nerissa i have work in hand that you yet know not of well see our husbands before they think of us nerissa shall they see us portia they shall nerissa but in such a habit that they shall think we are accomplished with that we lack ill hold thee any wager when we are both accoutred like young men ill 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 ill repent and wish for all that that i had not killd them and twenty of these puny lies ill tell that men shall swear i have discontinued school about a twelvemonth i have within my mind a thousand raw tricks of these bragging jacks which i will practise nerissa why shall we turn to men portia fie what a questions that if thou wert near a lewd interpreter but come ill 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 exeunt scene v belmont the garden enter launcelot and jessica launcelot 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 o good cheer for truly i think you are damnd there is but one hope in it that can do you any good and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither jessica and what hope is that i pray thee launcelot marry you may partly hope that your father got you not that you are not the jews daughter jessica that were a kind of bastard hope indeed so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me launcelot truly then i fear you are damnd both by father and mother thus when i shun scylla your father i fall into charybdis your mother well you are gone both ways jessica i shall be savd by my husband he hath made me a christian launcelot truly the more to blame he we were christians enow before een 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 enter lorenzo jessica ill tell my husband launcelot what you say here he comes lorenzo i shall grow jealous of you shortly launcelot if you thus get my wife into corners jessica nay you need nor fear us lorenzo launcelot and i are out he tells me flatly theres no mercy for me in heaven because i am a jews daughter and he says you are no good member of the commonwealth for in converting jews to christians you raise the price of pork lorenzo i shall answer that better to the commonwealth than you can the getting up of the negros belly the moor is with child by you launcelot 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 lorenzo 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 launcelot that is done sir they have all stomachs lorenzo goodly lord what a wit snapper are you then bid them prepare dinner launcelot that is done too sir only cover is the word lorenzo will you cover then sir launcelot not so sir neither i know my duty lorenzo 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 launcelot for the table sir it shall be servd in for the meat sir it shall be coverd for your coming in to dinner sir why let it be as humours and conceits shall govern exit lorenzo 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 garnishd like him that for a tricksy word defy the matter how cheerst thou jessica and now good sweet say thy opinion how dost thou like the lord bassanios wife jessica 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 merit it 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 pawnd with the other for the poor rude world hath not her fellow lorenzo even such a husband hast thou of me as she is for a wife jessica nay but ask my opinion too of that lorenzo i will anon first let us go to dinner jessica nay let me praise you while i have a stomach lorenzo no pray thee let it serve for table talk then howsomeer thou speakst mong other things i shall digest it jessica well ill set you forth exeunt act iv scene i venice the court of justice enter the duke the magnificoes antonio bassanio gratiano salerio and others duke of venice what is antonio here antonio ready so please your grace duke of venice 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 antonio i have heard your grace hath taen great pains to qualify his rigorous course but since he stands obdurate and that no lawful means can carry me out of his envys reach i do oppose my patience to his fury and am armd to suffer with a quietness of spirit the very tyranny and rage of his duke of venice go one and call the jew into the court salerio he is ready at the door he comes my lord enter shylock duke of venice make room and let him stand before our face shylock the world thinks and i think so too that thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice to the last hour of act and then tis thought thoult show thy mercy and remorse more strange than is thy strange apparent cruelty and where thou now exacts the penalty which is a pound of this poor merchants flesh thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture but touchd 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 traind to offices of tender courtesy we all expect a gentle answer jew shylock i have possessd 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 citys freedom youll ask me why i rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats ill not answer that but say it is my humour is it answerd what if my house be troubled with a rat and i be pleasd to give ten thousand ducats to have it band what are you answerd 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 th 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 rendred why he cannot abide a gaping pig why he a harmless necessary cat why he a woollen 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 lodgd hate and a certain loathing i bear antonio that i follow thus a losing suit against him are you answered bassanio this is no answer thou unfeeling man to excuse the current of thy cruelty shylock i am not bound to please thee with my answers bassanio do all men kill the things they do not love shylock hates any man the thing he would not kill bassanio every offence is not a hate at first shylock what wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice antonio 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 fretten with the gusts of heaven you may as well do anything most hard as seek to soften that than which whats harder his jewish heart therefore i do beseech you make no moe offers use no farther means but with all brief and plain conveniency let me have judgment and the jew his will bassanio for thy three thousand ducats here is six shylock 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 duke of venice how shalt thou hope for mercy rendring none shylock what judgment shall i dread doing no wrong you have among you many a purchasd slave which fike 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 seasond 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 duke of venice 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 salerio my lord here stays without a messenger with letters from the doctor new come from padua duke of venice bring us the letters call the messenger bassanio 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 antonio 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 employd bassanio than to live still and write mine epitaph enter nerissa dressed like a lawyers clerk duke of venice came you from padua from bellario nerissa from both my lord bellario greets your grace presents a letter bassanio why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly shylock to cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there gratiano not on thy sole but on thy soul harsh jew thou makst thy knife keen but no metal can no not the hangmans axe bear half the keenness of thy sharp envy can no prayers pierce thee shylock no none that thou hast wit enough to make gratiano o be thou damnd inexecrable dog and for thy life let justice be accusd thou almost makst me waver in my faith to hold opinion with pythagoras that souls of animals infuse themselves into the trunks of men thy currish spirit governd a wolf who hangd for human slaughter even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet and whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam infusd itself in thee for thy desires are wolfish bloody starvd and ravenous shylock till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond thou but offendst thy lungs to speak so loud repair thy wit good youth or it will fall to cureless ruin i stand here for law duke of venice this letter from bellario doth commend a young and learned doctor to our court where is he nerissa he attendeth here hard by to know your answer whether youll admit him duke of venice with all my heart some three or four of you go give him courteous conduct to this place meantime the court shall hear bellarios letter clerk reads 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 turnd oer 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 graces 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 enter portia for balthazar dressed like a doctor of laws duke of venice you hear the learnd bellario what he writes and here i take it is the doctor come give me your hand come you from old bellario portia i did my lord duke of venice you are welcome take your place are you acquainted with the difference that holds this present question in the court portia i am informed throughly of the cause which is the merchant here and which the jew duke of venice antonio and old shylock both stand forth portia is your name shylock shylock shylock is my name portia 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 antonio ay so he says portia do you confess the bond antonio i do portia then must the jew be merciful shylock on what compulsion must i tell me that portia the quality of mercy is not straind it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath it is twice blest 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 gods 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 shylock my deeds upon my head i crave the law the penalty and forfeit of my bond bassanio 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 oer 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 portia 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 shylock a daniel come to judgment yea a daniel o wise young judge how i do honour thee portia i pray you let me look upon the bond shylock here tis most reverend doctor here it is portia shylock theres thrice thy money offred thee shylock an oath an oath i have an oath in heaven shall i lay perjury upon my soul no not for venice portia 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 merchants heart be merciful take thrice thy money bid me tear the bond shylock 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 antonio most heartily i do beseech the court to give the judgment portia why then thus it is you must prepare your bosom for his knife shylock o noble judge o excellent young man portia for the intent and purpose of the law hath full relation to the penalty which here appeareth due upon the bond shylock tis very true o wise and upright judge how much more elder art thou than thy looks portia therefore lay bare your bosom shylock ay his breast so says the bond doth it not noble judge nearest his heart those are the very words portia it is so are there balance here to weigh the flesh shylock i have them ready portia have by some surgeon shylock on your charge to stop his wounds lest he do bleed to death shylock is it so nominated in the bond portia it is not so expressd but what of that twere good you do so much for charity shylock i cannot find it tis not in the bond portia you merchant have you anything to say antonio but little i am armd and well prepard give me your hand bassanio fare you well grieve not that i am falln 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 lingring penance of such misery doth she cut me off commend me to your honourable wife tell her the process of antonios end say how i lovd you speak me fair in death and when the tale is told bid her be judge whether bassanio had not once a love repent but 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 ill pay it instantly with all my heart bassanio 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 esteemd above thy life i would lose all ay sacrifice them all here to this devil to deliver you portia your wife would give you little thanks for that if she were by to hear you make the offer gratiano i have a wife who i protest i love i would she were in heaven so she could entreat some power to change this currish jew nerissa tis well you offer it behind her back the wish would make else an unquiet house shylock aside these be the christian husbands i have a daughter would any of the stock of barrabas had been her husband rather than a christian we trifle time i pray thee pursue sentence portia a pound of that same merchants flesh is thine the court awards it and the law doth give it shylock most rightful judge portia and you must cut this flesh from off his breast the law allows it and the court awards it shylock most learned judge a sentence come prepare portia 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 take then 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 gratiano o upright judge mark jew o learned judge shylock is that the law portia thyself shalt see the act for as thou urgest justice be assurd thou shalt have justice more than thou desirst gratiano o learned judge mark jew a learned judge shylock i take this offer then pay the bond thrice and let the christian go bassanio here is the money portia soft the jew shall have all justice soft no haste he shall have nothing but the penalty gratiano o jew an upright judge a learned judge portia 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 takst 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 gratiano a second daniel a daniel jew now infidel i have you on the hip portia why doth the jew pause take thy forfeiture shylock give me my principal and let me go bassanio i have it ready for thee here it is portia he hath refusd it in the open court he shall have merely justice and his bond gratiano a daniel still say i a second daniel i thank thee jew for teaching me that word shylock shall i not have barely my principal portia thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture to be so taken at thy peril jew shylock why then the devil give him good of it ill stay no longer question portia tarry jew the law hath yet another hold on you it is enacted in the laws of venice if it be proved 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 offenders life lies in the mercy of the duke only gainst all other voice in which predicament i say thou standst for it appears by manifest proceeding that indirectly and directly too thou hast contrived against the very life of the defendant and thou hast incurrd the danger formerly by me rehearsd down therefore and beg mercy of the duke gratiano 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 hangd at the states charge duke of venice that thou shalt see the difference of our spirit i pardon thee thy life before thou ask it for half thy wealth it is antonios the other half comes to the general state which humbleness may drive unto a fine portia ay for the state not for antonio shylock 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 portia what mercy can you render him antonio gratiano a halter gratis nothing else for gods sake antonio 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 possessd unto his son lorenzo and his daughter duke of venice he shall do this or else i do recant the pardon that i late pronounced here portia art thou contented jew what dost thou say shylock i am content portia clerk draw a deed of gift shylock i pray you give me leave to go from hence i am not well send the deed after me and i will sign it duke of venice get thee gone but do it gratiano in christning shalt thou have two god fathers had i been judge thou shouldst have had ten more to bring thee to the gallows not to the font exit shylock duke of venice sir i entreat you home with me to dinner portia i humbly do desire your grace of pardon i must away this night toward padua and it is meet i presently set forth duke of venice i am sorry that your leisure serves you not antonio gratify this gentleman for in my mind you are much bound to him exeunt duke magnificoes and train bassanio 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 antonio and stand indebted over and above in love and service to you evermore portia 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 bassanio dear sir of force i must attempt you further take some remembrance of us as a tribute not as fee grant me two things i pray you not to deny me and to pardon me portia you press me far and therefore i will yield to antonio give me your gloves ill wear them for your sake to bassanio and for your love ill take this ring from you do not draw back your hand ill take no more and you in love shall not deny me this bassanio this ring good sir alas it is a trifle i will not shame myself to give you this portia i will have nothing else but only this and now methinks i have a mind to it bassanio theres 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 portia 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 answerd bassanio good sir this ring was given me by my wife and when she put it on she made me vow that i should neither sell nor give nor lose it portia that scuse serves many men to save their gifts and if your wife be not a mad woman and know how well i have deservd this ring she would not hold out enemy for ever for giving it to me well peace be with you exeunt portia and nerissa antonio my lord bassanio let him have the ring let his deservings and my love withal be valued gainst your wifes commandment bassanio go gratiano run and overtake him give him the ring and bring him if thou canst unto antonios house away make haste exit gratiano come you and i will thither presently and in the morning early will we both fly toward belmont come antonio exeunt scene ii venice a street enter portia and nerissa portia inquire the jews house out give him this deed and let him sign it well away tonight and be a day before our husbands home this deed will be well welcome to lorenzo enter gratiano gratiano fair sir you are well oertaen my lord bassanio upon more advice hath sent you here this ring and doth entreat your company at dinner portia 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 shylocks house gratiano that will i do nerissa sir i would speak with you aside to portia ill see if i can get my husbands ring which i did make him swear to keep for ever portia to nerissa thou mayst i warrant we shall have old swearing that they did give the rings away to men but well outface them and outswear them too aloud away make haste thou knowst where i will tarry nerissa come good sir will you show me to this house exeunt act v scene i belmont the garden before portias house enter lorenzo and jessica lorenzo 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 sighd his soul toward the grecian tents where cressid lay that night jessica in such a night did thisby fearfully oertrip the dew and saw the lions shadow ere himself and ran dismayed away lorenzo 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 jessica in such a night medea gathered the enchanted herbs that did renew old aeson lorenzo in such a night did jessica steal from the wealthy jew and with an unthrift love did run from venice as far as belmont jessica in such a night did young lorenzo swear he lovd her well stealing her soul with many vows of faith and neer a true one lorenzo in such a night did pretty jessica like a little shrew slander her love and he forgave it her jessica i would out night you did no body come but hark i hear the footing of a man enter stephano lorenzo who comes so fast in silence of the night stephano a friend lorenzo a friend what friend your name i pray you friend stephano 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 lorenzo who comes with her stephano none but a holy hermit and her maid i pray you is my master yet returnd lorenzo 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 enter launcelot launcelot sola sola wo ha ho sola sola lorenzo who calls launcelot sola did you see master lorenzo master lorenzo sola sola lorenzo leave holloaing man here launcelot sola where where lorenzo here launcelot tell him theres a post come from my master with his horn full of good news my master will be here ere morning exit lorenzo sweet soul lets 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 exit stephano 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 theres not the smallest orb which thou beholdst but in his motion like an angel sings still quiring to the young eyd cherubins such harmony is in immortal souls but whilst this muddy vesture of decay doth grossly close it in we cannot hear it enter musicians come ho and wake diana with a hymn with sweetest touches pierce your mistress ear and draw her home with music music jessica i am never merry when i hear sweet music lorenzo 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 turnd 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 movd 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 enter portia and nerissa portia 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 nerissa when the moon shone we did not see the candle portia 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 nerissa it is your music madam of the house portia nothing is good i see without respect methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day nerissa silence bestows that virtue on it madam portia the crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark when neither is attended and i think ne 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 seasond are to their right praise and true perfection peace ho the moon sleeps with endymion and would not be awakd music ceases lorenzo that is the voice or i am much deceivd of portia portia he knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo by the bad voice lorenzo dear lady welcome home portia we have been praying for our husbands welfare which speed we hope the better for our words are they returnd lorenzo madam they are not yet but there is come a messenger before to signify their coming portia 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 a tucket sounds lorenzo your husband is at hand i hear his trumpet we are no tell tales madam fear you not portia 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 enter bassanio antonio gratiano and their followers bassanio we should hold day with the antipodes if you would walk in absence of the sun portia 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 bassanio i thank you madam give welcome to my friend this is the man this is antonio to whom i am so infinitely bound portia you should in all sense be much bound to him for as i hear he was much bound for you antonio no more than i am well acquitted of portia sir you are very welcome to our house it must appear in other ways than words therefore i scant this breathing courtesy gratiano to nerissa by yonder moon i swear you do me wrong in faith i gave it to the judges clerk would he were gelt that had it for my part since you do take it love so much at heart portia a quarrel ho already whats the matter gratiano about a hoop of gold a paltry ring that she did give me whose posy was for all the world like cutlers poetry upon a knife love me and leave me not nerissa 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 judges clerk no gods my judge the clerk will neer wear hair ons face that had it gratiano he will an if he live to be a man nerissa ay if a woman live to be a man gratiano now by this hand i gave it to a youth a kind of boy a little scrubbed boy no higher than thyself the judges clerk a prating boy that beggd it as a fee i could not for my heart deny it him portia you were to blame i must be plain with you to part so slightly with your wifes first gift a thing stuck on with oaths upon your finger and so riveted 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 bassanio aside why i were best to cut my left hand off and swear i lost the ring defending it gratiano my lord bassanio gave his ring away unto the judge that beggd it and indeed deservd it too and then the boy his clerk that took some pains in writing he beggd mine and neither man nor master would take aught but the two rings portia what ring gave you my lord not that i hope which you receivd of me bassanio 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 portia even so void is your false heart of truth by heaven i will neer come in your bed until i see the ring nerissa nor i in yours till i again see mine bassanio 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 nought would be accepted but the ring you would abate the strength of your displeasure portia 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 pleasd 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 ill die fort but some woman had the ring bassanio 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 beggd the ring the which i did deny him and sufferd him to go displeasd away even he that had held up the very life of my dear friend what should i say sweet lady i was enforcd 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 beggd the ring of me to give the worthy doctor portia let not that doctor eer come near my house since he hath got the jewel that i loved and that which you did swear to keep for me i will become as liberal as you ill not deny him anything i have no not my body nor my husbands 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 ill have that doctor for mine bedfellow nerissa and i his clerk therefore be well advisd how you do leave me to mine own protection gratiano well do you so let not me take him then for if i do ill mar the young clerks pen antonio i am th unhappy subject of these quarrels portia sir grieve not you you are welcome not withstanding bassanio 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 portia mark you but that in both my eyes he doubly sees himself in each eye one swear by your double self and theres an oath of credit bassanio nay but hear me pardon this fault and by my soul i swear i never more will break an oath with thee antonio i once did lend my body for his wealth which but for him that had your husbands ring had quite miscarried i dare be bound again my soul upon the forfeit that your lord will never more break faith advisedly portia then you shall be his surety give him this and bid him keep it better than the other antonio here lord bassanio swear to keep this ring bassanio by heaven it is the same i gave the doctor portia i had it of him pardon me bassanio for by this ring the doctor lay with me nerissa and pardon me my gentle gratiano for that same scrubbed boy the doctors clerk in lieu of this last night did lie with me gratiano why this is like the mending of highways in summer where the ways are fair enough what are we cuckolds ere we have deservd it portia speak not so grossly you are all amazd here is a letter read it at your leisure it comes from padua 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 returnd i have not yet enterd 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 antonio i am dumb bassanio were you the doctor and i knew you not gratiano were you the clerk that is to make me cuckold nerissa ay but the clerk that never means to do it unless he live until he be a man bassanio sweet doctor you shall be my bedfellow when i am absent then lie with my wife antonio sweet lady you have given me life and living for here i read for certain that my ships are safely come to road portia how now lorenzo my clerk hath some good comforts too for you nerissa ay and ill 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 possessd of lorenzo fair ladies you drop manna in the way of starved people portia 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 intergatories and we will answer all things faithfully gratiano let it be so the first intergatory that my nerissa shall be sworn on is whether 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 till i were couching with the doctors clerk well while i live ill fear no other thing so sore as keeping safe nerissas ring exeunt the end the merry wives of windsor dramatis personae sir john falstaff fenton a young gentleman shallow a country justice slender cousin to shallow gentlemen of windsor ford page william page a boy son to page sir hugh evans a welsh parson doctor caius a french physician host of the garter inn followers of falstaff bardolph pistol nym robin page to falstaff simple servant to slender rugby servant to doctor caius mistress ford mistress page mistress anne page her daughter mistress quickly servant to doctor caius servants to page ford etc scene windsor and the neighbourhood act i scene windsor before pages house enter justice shallow slender and sir hugh evans shallow 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 slender in the county of gloucester justice of peace and coram shallow ay cousin slender and custalorum slender ay and ratolorum too and a gentleman born master parson who writes himself armigero in any bill warrant quittance or obligation armigero shallow ay that i do and have done any time these three hundred years slender all his successors gone before him hath donet and all his ancestors that come after him may they may give the dozen white luces in their coat shallow it is an old coat evans the dozen white louses do become an old coat well it agrees well passant it is a familiar beast to man and signifies love shallow the luce is the fresh fish the salt fish is an old coat slender i may quarter coz shallow you may by marrying evans it is marring indeed if he quarter it shallow not a whit evans yes pyr 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 shallow the council shall hear it it is a riot evans 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 shallow ha o my life if i were young again the sword should end it evans 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 george page which is pretty virginity slender mistress anne page she has brown hair and speaks small like a woman evans 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 deaths 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 shallow did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound evans ay and her father is make her a petter penny shallow i know the young gentlewoman she has good gifts evans seven hundred pounds and possibilities is goot gifts shallow well let us see honest master page is falstaff there evans shall i tell you a lie i do despise a liar 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 knocks what hoa got pless your house here page within whos there enter page evans here is gots 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 page i am glad to see your worships well i thank you for my venison master shallow shallow master page i am glad to see you much good do it your good heart i wishd your venison better it was ill killd how doth good mistress page and i thank you always with my heart la with my heart page sir i thank you shallow sir i thank you by yea and no i do page i am glad to see you good master slender slender how does your fallow greyhound sir i heard say he was outrun on cotsall page it could not be judgd sir slender youll not confess youll not confess shallow that he will not tis your fault tis your fault tis a good dog page a cur sir shallow sir hes a good dog and a fair dog can there be more said he is good and fair is sir john falstaff here page sir he is within and i would i could do a good office between you evans it is spoke as a christians ought to speak shallow he hath wrongd me master page page sir he doth in some sort confess it shallow if it be confessed it is not redressed is not that so master page he hath wrongd me indeed he hath at a word he hath believe me robert shallow esquire saith he is wronged page here comes sir john enter sir john falstaff bardolph nym and pistol falstaff now master shallow youll complain of me to the king shallow knight you have beaten my men killd my deer and broke open my lodge falstaff but not kissd your keepers daughter shallow tut a pin this shall be answerd falstaff i will answer it straight i have done all this that is now answerd shallow the council shall know this falstaff twere better for you if it were known in counsel youll be laughd at evans pauca verba sir john goot worts falstaff good worts good cabbage slender i broke your head what matter have you against me slender 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 pickd my pocket bardolph you banbury cheese slender ay it is no matter pistol how now mephostophilus slender ay it is no matter nym slice i say pauca pauca slice thats my humour slender wheres simple my man can you tell cousin evans 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 page we three to hear it and end it between them evans 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 falstaff pistol pistol he hears with ears evans the tevil and his tam what phrase is this he hears with ear why it is affectations falstaff pistol did you pick master slenders purse slender 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 apiece of yead miller by these gloves falstaff is this true pistol evans no it is false if it is a pick purse pistol 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 slender by these gloves then twas he nym be avisd sir and pass good humours i will say marry trap with you if you run the nuthooks humour on me that is the very note of it slender 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 falstaff what say you scarlet and john bardolph why sir for my part i say the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five sentences evans it is his five senses fie what the ignorance is bardolph and being fap sir was as they say cashierd and so conclusions passd the careers slender ay you spake in latin then too but tis no matter ill neer be drunk whilst i live again but in honest civil godly company for this trick if i be drunk ill be drunk with those that have the fear of god and not with drunken knaves evans so got udge me that is a virtuous mind falstaff you hear all these matters denid gentlemen you hear it enter mistress anne page with wine mistress ford and mistress page following page nay daughter carry the wine in well drink within exit anne page slender o heaven this is mistress anne page page how now mistress ford falstaff mistress ford by my troth you are very well met by your leave good mistress kisses her page wife bid these gentlemen welcome come we have a hot venison pasty to dinner come gentlemen i hope we shall drink down all unkindness exeunt all but shallow slender and evans slender i had rather than forty shillings i had my book of songs and sonnets here enter simple how simple where have you been i must wait on myself must i you have not the book of riddles about you have you simple book of riddles why did you not lend it to alice shortcake upon allhallowmas last a fortnight afore michaelmas shallow 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 slender ay sir you shall find me reasonable if it be so i shall do that that is reason shallow nay but understand me slender so i do sir evans give ear to his motions master slender i will description the matter to you if you be capacity of it slender nay i will do as my cousin shallow says i pray you pardon me hes a justice of peace in his country simple though i stand here evans but that is not the question the question is concerning your marriage shallow ay theres the point sir evans marry is it the very point of it to mistress anne page slender why if it be so i will marry her upon any reasonable demands evans 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 shallow cousin abraham slender can you love her slender i hope sir i will do as it shall become one that would do reason evans nay gots lords and his ladies you must speak possitable if you can carry her your desires towards her shallow that you must will you upon good dowry marry her slender i will do a greater thing than that upon your request cousin in any reason shallow nay conceive me conceive me sweet coz what i do is to pleasure you coz can you love the maid slender 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 evans it is a fery discretion answer save the fall is in the ord dissolutely the ort is according to our meaning resolutely his meaning is good shallow ay i think my cousin meant well slender ay or else i would i might be hangd la re enter anne page shallow here comes fair mistress anne would i were young for your sake mistress anne anne the dinner is on the table my father desires your worships company shallow i will wait on him fair mistress anne evans ods plessed will i will not be absence at the grace exeunt shallow and evans anne willt please your worship to come in sir slender no i thank you forsooth heartily i am very well anne the dinner attends you sir slender i am not a hungry i thank you forsooth go sirrah for all you are my man go wait upon my cousin shallow exit simple 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 anne i may not go in without your worship they will not sit till you come slender i faith ill eat nothing i thank you as much as though i did anne i pray you sir walk in slender i had rather walk here i thank you i bruisd my shin th other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence three veneys for a dish of stewd prunes and i with my ward defending my head he hot my shin and by my troth i cannot abide the smell of hot meat since why do your dogs bark so be there bears i th town anne i think there are sir i heard them talkd of slender 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 anne ay indeed sir slender thats 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 shriekd at it that it passd but women indeed cannot abide em they are very ill favourd rough things re enter page page come gentle master slender come we stay for you slender ill eat nothing i thank you sir page by cock and pie you shall not choose sir come come slender nay pray you lead the way page come on sir slender mistress anne yourself shall go first anne not i sir pray you keep on slender truly i will not go first truly la i will not do you that wrong anne i pray you sir slender ill rather be unmannerly than troublesome you do yourself wrong indeed la exeunt scene before pages house enter sir hugh evans and simple evans 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 dry nurse or his cook or his laundry his washer and his wringer simple well sir evans nay it is petter yet give her this letter for it is a oman that altogethers acquaintance with mistress anne page and the letter is to desire and require her to solicit your masters desires to mistress anne page i pray you be gone i will make an end of my dinner theres pippins and cheese to come exeunt scene the garter inn enter falstaff host bardolph nym pistol and robin falstaff mine host of the garter host what says my bully rook speak scholarly and wisely falstaff truly mine host i must turn away some of my followers host discard bully hercules cashier let them wag trot trot falstaff i sit at ten pounds a week host thourt an emperor caesar keiser and pheazar i will entertain bardolph he shall draw he shall tap said i well bully hector falstaff do so good mine host host i have spoke let him follow to bardolph let me see thee froth and lime i am at a word follow exit host falstaff bardolph follow him a tapster is a good trade an old cloak makes a new jerkin a witherd serving man a fresh tapster go adieu bardolph it is a life that i have desird i will thrive pistol o base hungarian wight wilt thou the spigot wield exit bardolph nym he was gotten in drink is not the humour conceited falstaff i am glad i am so acquit of this tinder box his thefts were too open his filching was like an unskilful singer he kept not time nym the good humour is to steal at a minutes rest pistol convey the wise it call steal foh a fico for the phrase falstaff well sirs i am almost out at heels pistol why then let kibes ensue falstaff there is no remedy i must cony catch i must shift pistol young ravens must have food falstaff which of you know ford of this town pistol i ken the wight he is of substance good falstaff my honest lads i will tell you what i am about pistol two yards and more falstaff 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 fords 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 englishd rightly is i am sir john falstaffs pistol he hath studied her well and translated her will out of honesty into english nym the anchor is deep will that humour pass falstaff now the report goes she has all the rule of her husbands purse he hath a legion of angels pistol as many devils entertain and to her boy say i nym the humour rises it is good humour me the angels falstaff i have writ me here a letter to her and here another to pages wife who even now gave me good eyes too examind my parts with most judicious oeillades sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot sometimes my portly belly pistol then did the sun on dunghill shine nym i thank thee for that humour falstaff o she did so course oer my exteriors with such a greedy intention that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass heres another letter to her she bears the purse too she is a region in guiana all gold and bounty i will be cheaters 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 pistol shall i sir pandarus of troy become and by my side wear steel then lucifer take all nym i will run no base humour here take the humour letter i will keep the haviour of reputation falstaff to robin 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 i th hoof seek shelter pack falstaff will learn the humour of the age french thrift you rogues myself and skirted page exeunt falstaff and robin pistol let vultures gripe thy guts for gourd and fullam holds and high and low beguiles the rich and poor tester ill have in pouch when thou shalt lack base phrygian turk nym i have operations in my head which be humours of revenge pistol wilt thou revenge nym by welkin and her star pistol with wit or steel nym with both the humours i i will discuss the humour of this love to page pistol and i to ford shall eke unfold how falstaff varlet vile his dove will prove his gold will hold and his soft couch defile nym 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 pistol thou art the mars of malcontents i second thee troop on exeunt scene doctor caiuss house enter mistress quickly simple and rugby quickly 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 gods patience and the kings english rugby ill go watch quickly go and well have a posset fort soon at night in faith at the latter end of a sea coal fire exit rugby 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 simple ay for fault of a better quickly and master slenders your master simple ay forsooth quickly does he not wear a great round beard like a glovers paring knife simple no forsooth he hath but a little whey face with a little yellow beard a cain colourd beard quickly a softly sprighted man is he not simple 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 quickly how say you o i should remember him does he not hold up his head as it were and strut in his gait simple yes indeed does he quickly 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 re enter rugby rugby out alas here comes my master quickly we shall all be shent run in here good young man go into this closet shuts simple in the closet he will not stay long what john rugby john what john i say go john go inquire for my master i doubt he be not well that he comes not home singing and down down adown a etc enter doctor caius caius vat is you sing i do not like des toys pray you go and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert a box a green a box do intend vat i speak a green a box quickly ay forsooth ill fetch it you aside i am glad he went not in himself if he had found the young man he would have been horn mad caius fe fe fe fe ma foi il fait fort chaud je men vais a la cour la grande affaire quickly is it this sir caius oui mette le au mon pocket depeche quickly vere is dat knave rugby quickly what john rugby john rugby here sir caius you are john rugby and you are jack rugby come take a your rapier and come after my heel to the court rugby tis ready sir here in the porch caius by my trot i tarry too long ods me quai joublie dere is some simples in my closet dat i vill not for the varld i shall leave behind quickly ay me hell find the young man there and be mad caius o diable diable vat is in my closet villainy larron pulling simple out rugby my rapier quickly good master be content caius wherefore shall i be content a quickly the young man is an honest man caius what shall de honest man do in my closet dere is no honest man dat shall come in my closet quickly i beseech you be not so phlegmatic hear the truth of it he came of an errand to me from parson hugh caius vell simple ay forsooth to desire her to quickly peace i pray you caius peace a your tongue speak a your tale simple to desire this honest gentlewoman your maid to speak a good word to mistress anne page for my master in the way of marriage quickly this is all indeed la but ill neer put my finger in the fire and need not caius sir hugh send a you rugby baillez me some paper tarry you a little a while writes quickly aside to simple 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 ill do you 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 simple aside to quickly tis a great charge to come under one bodys hand quickly aside to simple are you avisd 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 annes mind thats neither here nor there caius you jacknape give a this letter to sir hugh by gar it is a shallenge i will cut his troat in de park and i will 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 will cut all his two stones by gar he shall not have a stone to throw at his dog exit simple quickly alas he speaks but for his friend caius it is no matter a ver 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 jarteer to measure our weapon by gar i will myself have anne page quickly sir the maid loves you and all shall be well we must give folks leave to prate what the good year caius rugby come to the court with me by gar if i have not anne page i shall turn your head out of my door follow my heels rugby exeunt caius and rugby quickly you shall have an fools head of your own no i know annes mind for that never a woman in windsor knows more of annes mind than i do nor can do more than i do with her i thank heaven fenton within whos within there ho quickly whos there i trow come near the house i pray you enter fenton fenton how now good woman how dost thou quickly the better that it pleases your good worship to ask fenton what news how does pretty mistress anne quickly 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 fenton shall i do any good thinkst thou shall i not lose my suit quickly troth sir all is in his hands above but notwithstanding master fenton ill be sworn on a book she loves you have not your worship a wart above your eye fenton yes marry have i what of that quickly 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 hours talk of that wart i shall never laugh but in that maids company but indeed she is given too much to allicholy and musing but for you well go to fenton well i shall see her to day hold theres money for thee let me have thy voice in my behalf if thou seest her before me commend me quickly 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 fenton well farewell i am in great haste now quickly farewell to your worship exit fenton truly an honest gentleman but anne loves him not for i know annes mind as well as another does out upon t what have i forgot exit act ii scene before pages house enter mistress page with a letter mrs page what have i scapd love letters in the holiday time of my beauty and am i now a subject for them let me see reads ask me no reason why i love you for though love use reason for his precisian he admits him not for his counsellor you are not young no more am i go to then theres sympathy you are merry so am i ha ha then theres 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 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 john falstaff 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 pickd with the devils 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 ill exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men how shall i be revengd on him for revengd i will be as sure as his guts are made of puddings enter mistress ford mrs ford mistress page trust me i was going to your house mrs page and trust me i was coming to you you look very ill mrs ford nay ill neer believe that i have to show to the contrary mrs page faith but you do in my mind mrs ford well i do then yet i say i could show you to the contrary o mistress page give me some counsel mrs page whats the matter woman mrs ford o woman if it were not for one trifling respect i could come to such honour mrs page hang the trifle woman take the honour what is it dispense with trifles what is it mrs ford if i would but go to hell for an eternal moment or so i could be knighted mrs page what thou liest sir alice ford these knights will hack and so thou shouldst not alter the article of thy gentry mrs ford 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 mens liking and yet he would not swear praisd womens 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 greensleeves 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 mrs page letter for letter but that the name of page and ford differs to thy great comfort in this mystery of ill opinions heres 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 giantess and lie under mount pelion well i will find you twenty lascivious turtles ere one chaste man mrs ford why this is the very same the very hand the very words what doth he think of us mrs page nay i know not it makes me almost ready to wrangle with mine own honesty ill 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 mrs ford boarding call you it ill be sure to keep him above deck mrs page so will i if he come under my hatches ill never to sea again lets be revengd on him lets 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 pawnd his horses to mine host of the garter mrs ford nay i will consent to act any villainy 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 mrs page why look where he comes and my good man too hes as far from jealousy as i am from giving him cause and that i hope is an unmeasurable distance mrs ford you are the happier woman mrs page lets consult together against this greasy knight come hither they retire enter ford with pistol and page with nym ford well i hope it be not so pistol hope is a curtal dog in some affairs sir john affects thy wife ford why sir my wife is not young pistol he woos both high and low both rich and poor both young and old one with another ford he loves the gallimaufry ford perpend ford love my wife pistol with liver burning hot prevent or go thou like sir actaeon he with ringwood at thy heels o odious is the name ford what name sir pistol 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 exit pistol ford aside i will be patient i will find out this nym to page and this is true i like not the humour of lying he hath wronged me in some humours i should have borne the humourd letter to her but i have a sword and it shall bite upon my necessity he loves your wife theres 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 theres the humour of it adieu exit nym page the humour of it quoth a heres a fellow frights english out of his wits ford i will seek out falstaff page i never heard such a drawling affecting rogue ford if i do find it well page i will not believe such a cataian though the priest o th town commended him for a true man ford twas a good sensible fellow well mistress page and mistress ford come forward page how now meg mrs page whither go you george hark you mrs ford how now sweet frank why art thou melancholy ford i melancholy i am not melancholy get you home go mrs ford faith thou hast some crotchets in thy head now will you go mistress page enter mistress quickly mrs page have with you youll come to dinner george aside to mrs ford look who comes yonder she shall be our messenger to this paltry knight mrs ford aside to mrs page trust me i thought on her shell fit it mrs page you are come to see my daughter anne quickly ay forsooth and i pray how does good mistress anne mrs page go in with us and see we have an hours talk with you exeunt mistress page mistress ford and mistress quickly page how now master ford ford you heard what this knave told me did you not page yes and you heard what the other told me ford do you think there is truth in them page 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 ford were they his men page marry were they ford i like it never the better for that does he lie at the garter page ay marry does he if he should intend this voyage toward 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 ford i do not misdoubt my wife but i would be loath to turn them together a man may be too confident i would have nothing lie on my head i cannot be thus satisfied enter host page 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 host how now bully rook thourt a gentleman to shallow following cavaleiro justice i say enter shallow shallow 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 host tell him cavaleiro justice tell him bully rook shallow sir there is a fray to be fought between sir hugh the welsh priest and caius the french doctor ford good mine host o th garter a word with you host what sayst thou my bully rook they go aside shallow to page 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 they converse apart host hast thou no suit against my knight my guest cavaleiro ford none i protest but ill give you a pottle of burnt sack to give me recourse to him and tell him my name is brook only for a jest host 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 shallow have with you mine host page i have heard the frenchman hath good skill in his rapier shallow 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 host here boys here here shall we wag page have with you i had rather hear them scold than fight exeunt all but ford ford though page be a secure fool and stands so firmly on his wifes frailty yet i cannot put off my opinion so easily she was in his company at pages 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 exit scene a room in the garter inn enter falstaff and pistol falstaff i will not lend thee a penny pistol i will retort the sum in equipage falstaff not a penny pistol why then the worlds mine oyster which i with sword will open falstaff 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 lookd through the grate like a geminy of baboons i am damnd 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 pistol didst not thou share hadst thou not fifteen pence falstaff reason you rogue reason thinkst thou ill 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 pickt hatch go youll 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 my 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 pistol i do relent what would thou more of man enter robin robin sir heres a woman would speak with you falstaff let her approach enter mistress quickly quickly give your worship good morrow falstaff good morrow good wife quickly not so ant please your worship falstaff good maid then quickly ill be sworn as my mother was the first hour i was born falstaff i do believe the swearer what with me quickly shall i vouchsafe your worship a word or two falstaff two thousand fair woman and ill vouchsafe thee the hearing quickly there is one mistress ford sir i pray come a little nearer this ways i myself dwell with master doctor caius falstaff well on mistress ford you say quickly your worship says very true i pray your worship come a little nearer this ways falstaff i warrant thee nobody hears mine own people mine own people quickly are they so god bless them and make them his servants falstaff well mistress ford what of her quickly why sir shes a good creature lord lord your worships a wanton well heaven forgive you and all of us i pray falstaff mistress ford come mistress ford quickly 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 womans 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 falstaff but what says she to me be brief my good she mercury quickly marry she hath receivd 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 falstaff ten and eleven quickly 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 hes a very jealousy man she leads a very frampold life with him good heart falstaff ten and eleven woman commend me to her i will not fail her quickly 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 shes 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 whoeer 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 falstaff not i i assure thee setting the attraction of my good parts aside i have no other charms quickly blessing on your heart for t falstaff but i pray thee tell me this has fords wife and pages wife acquainted each other how they love me quickly 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 falstaff why i will quickly 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 anothers 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 falstaff fare thee well commend me to them both theres my purse i am yet thy debtor boy go along with this woman exeunt quickly and robin this news distracts me pistol aside this punk is one of cupids carriers clap on more sails pursue up with your fights give fire she is my prize or ocean whelm them all exit falstaff sayst thou so old jack go thy ways ill 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 enter bardolph bardolph sir john theres one master brook below would fain speak with you and be acquainted with you and hath sent your worship a momings draught of sack falstaff brook is his name bardolph ay sir falstaff call him in exit bardolph such brooks are welcome to me that oerflows such liquor ah ha mistress ford and mistress page have i encompassd you go to via re enter bardolph with ford disguised ford bless you sir falstaff and you sir would you speak with me ford i make bold to press with so little preparation upon you falstaff youre welcome whats your will give us leave drawer exit bardolph ford sir i am a gentleman that have spent much my name is brook falstaff good master brook i desire more acquaintance of you ford 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 emboldned me to this unseasond intrusion for they say if money go before all ways do lie open falstaff money is a good soldier sir and will on ford 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 falstaff sir i know not how i may deserve to be your porter ford i will tell you sir if you will give me the hearing falstaff speak good master brook i shall be glad to be your servant ford 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 is it to be such an offender falstaff very well sir proceed ford there is a gentlewoman in this town her husbands name is ford falstaff well sir ford i have long lovd her and i protest to you bestowed much on her followed her with a doting observance engrossd opportunities to meet her feed 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 pursud 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 falstaff have you receivd no promise of satisfaction at her hands ford never falstaff have you importund her to such a purpose ford never falstaff of what quality was your love then ford like a fair house built on another mans ground so that i have lost my edifice by mistaking the place where erected it falstaff to what purpose have you unfolded this to me ford 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 allowd for your many war like courtlike and learned preparations falstaff o sir ford 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 fords wife use your art of wooing win her to consent to you if any man may you may as soon as any falstaff 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 ford 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 lookd 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 embattld against me what say you tot sir john falstaff 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 fords wife ford o good sir falstaff i say you shall ford want no money sir john you shall want none falstaff 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 ford i am blest in your acquaintance do you know ford sir falstaff 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 favourd i will use her as the key of the cuckoldly rogues coffer and theres my harvest home ford i would you knew ford sir that you might avoid him if you saw him falstaff 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 oer the cuckolds horns master brook thou shalt know i will predominate over the peasant and thou shalt lie with his wife come to me soon at night fords a knave and i will aggravate his style thou master brook shalt know him for knave and cuckold come to me soon at night exit ford what a damnd 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 fixd the match is made would any man have thought this see the hell of having a false woman my bed shall be abusd my coffers ransackd my reputation gnawn at and i shall not only receive this villainous 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 vitae 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 praisd for my jealousy eleven oclock the hour i will prevent this detect my wife be revengd 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 exit scene a field near windsor enter caius and rugby caius jack rugby rugby sir caius vat is de clock jack rugby tis past the hour sir that sir hugh promisd to meet caius by gar he has save his soul dat he is no come he has pray his pible well dat he is no come by gar jack rugby he is dead already if he be come rugby he is wise sir he knew your worship would kill him if he came caius 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 rugby alas sir i cannot fence caius villainy take your rapier rugby forbear heres company enter host shallow slender and page host bless thee bully doctor shallow save you master doctor caius page now good master doctor slender give you good morrow sir caius vat be all you one two tree four come for host 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 aesculapius my galen my heart of elder ha is he dead bully stale is he dead caius by gar he is de coward jack priest of de world he is not show his face host thou art a castalion king urinal hector of greece my boy caius i pray you bear witness that me have stay six or seven two tree hours for him and he is no come shallow 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 page master shallow you have yourself been a great fighter though now a man of peace shallow 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 page tis true master shallow shallow it will be found so master page master doctor caius i come to fetch you home i am sworn of the peace you have showd yourself a wise physician and sir hugh hath shown himself a wise and patient churchman you must go with me master doctor host pardon guest justice a word mounseur mockwater caius mock vater vat is dat host mockwater in our english tongue is valour bully caius by gar then i have as much mockvater as de englishman scurvy jack dog priest by gar me vill cut his ears host he will clapper claw thee tightly bully caius clapper de claw vat is dat host that is he will make thee amends caius by gar me do look he shall clapper de claw me for by gar me vill have it host and i will provoke him tot or let him wag caius me tank you for dat host and moreover bully but first aside to the others master guest and master page and eke cavaleiro slender go you through the town to frogmore page aside sir hugh is there is he host aside he is there see what humour he is in and i will bring the doctor about by the fields will it do well shallow aside we will do it page shallow and slender adieu good master doctor exeunt page shallow and slender caius by gar me vill kill de priest for he speak for a jack an ape to anne page host 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 a farm house a feasting and thou shalt woo her cried game said i well caius by gar me dank you vor 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 host for the which i will be thy adversary toward anne page said i well caius by gar tis good vell said host let us wag then caius come at my heels jack rugby exeunt act iii scene a field near frogmore enter sir hugh evans and simple evans i pray you now good master slenders serving man and friend simple by your name which way have you lookd for master caius that calls himself doctor of physic simple marry sir the pittie ward the park ward every way old windsor way and every way but the town way evans i most fehemently desire you you will also look that way simple i will sir exit evans 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 knaves costard when i have goot opportunities for the ork pless my soul sings to shallow rivers to whose falls melodious birds sings madrigals there will we make our peds of roses and a thousand fragrant posies to shallow mercy on me i have a great dispositions to cry sings melodious birds sing madrigals whenas i sat in pabylon and a thousand vagram posies to shallow etc re enter simple simple yonder he is coming this way sir hugh evans hes welcome sings to shallow rivers to whose falls heaven prosper the right what weapons is he simple no weapons sir there comes my master master shallow and another gentleman from frogmore over the stile this way evans pray you give me my gown or else keep it in your arms takes out a book enter page shallow and slender shallow 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 slender aside ah sweet anne page page save you good sir hugh evans pless you from his mercy sake all of you shallow what the sword and the word do you study them both master parson page and youthful still in your doublet and hose this raw rheumatic day evans there is reasons and causes for it page we are come to you to do a good office master parson evans fery well what is it page 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 shallow i have lived fourscore years and upward i never heard a man of his place gravity and learning so wide of his own respect evans what is he page i think you know him master doctor caius the renowned french physician evans gots will and his passion of my heart i had as lief you would tell me of a mess of porridge page why evans he has no more knowledge in hibocrates and galen and he is a knave besides a cowardly knave as you would desires to be acquainted withal page i warrant you hes the man should fight with him slender aside o sweet anne page shallow it appears so by his weapons keep them asunder here comes doctor caius enter host caius and rugby page nay good master parson keep in your weapon shallow so do you good master doctor host disarm them and let them question let them keep their limbs whole and hack our english caius i pray you let a me speak a word with your ear verefore will you not meet a me evans aside to caius pray you use your patience in good time caius by gar you are de coward de jack dog john ape evans aside to caius pray you let us not be laughing stocks to other mens humours i desire you in friendship and i will one way or other make you amends aloud i will knog your urinals about your knaves cogscomb for missing your meetings and appointments caius diable jack rugby mine host de jarteer have i not stay for him to kill him have i not at de place i did appoint evans as i am a christians soul now look you this is the place appointed ill be judgment by mine host of the garter host peace i say gallia and gaul french and welsh soul curer and body curer caius ay dat is very good excellent host 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 noverbs give me thy hand terrestrial so give me thy hand celestial so boys of art i have deceivd 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 shallow trust me a mad host follow gentlemen follow slender aside o sweet anne page exeunt all but caius and evans caius ha do i perceive dat have you make a de sot of us ha ha evans 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 caius by gar with all my heart he promise to bring me where is anne page by gar he deceive me too evans well i will smite his noddles pray you follow exeunt scene the street in windsor enter mistress page and robin mrs page 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 masters heels robin i had rather forsooth go before you like a man than follow him like a dwarf mrs page o you are a flattering boy now i see youll be a courtier enter ford ford well met mistress page whither go you mrs page truly sir to see your wife is she at home ford ay and as idle as she may hang together for want of company i think if your husbands were dead you two would marry mrs page be sure of that two other husbands ford where had you this pretty weathercock mrs page i cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of what do you call your knights name sirrah robin sir john falstaff ford sir john falstaff mrs page he he i can never hit ons name there is such a league between my good man and he is your wife at home indeed ford indeed she is mrs page by your leave sir i am sick till i see her exeunt mrs page and robin ford 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 pointblank twelve score he pieces out his wifes inclination he gives her folly motion and advantage and now shes going to my wife and falstaffs boy with her a man may hear this showr sing in the wind and falstaffs 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 actaeon and to these violent proceedings all my neighbours shall cry aim clock strikes the clock gives me my cue and my assurance bids me search there i shall find falstaff i shall be rather praisd for this than mockd for it is as positive as the earth is firm that falstaff is there i will go enter page shallow slender host sir hugh evans caius and rugby shallow page etc well met master ford ford trust me a good knot i have good cheer at home and i pray you all go with me shallow i must excuse myself master ford slender and so must i sir we have appointed to dine with mistress anne and i would not break with her for more money than ill speak of shallow we have lingerd about a match between anne page and my cousin slender and this day we shall have our answer slender i hope i have your good will father page page you have master slender i stand wholly for you but my wife master doctor is for you altogether caius ay be gar and de maid is love a me my nursh a quickly tell me so mush host 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 page not by my consent i promise you the gentleman is of no having he kept company with the wild prince and poins 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 ford 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 shallow well fare you well we shall have the freer wooing at master pages exeunt shallow and slender caius go home john rugby i come anon exit rugby host farewell my hearts i will to my honest knight falstaff and drink canary with him exit host ford aside i think i shall drink in pipe wine first with him ill make him dance will you go gentles all have with you to see this monster exeunt scene fords house enter mistress ford and mistress page mrs ford what john what robert mrs page quickly quickly is the buck basket mrs ford i warrant what robin i say enter servants with a basket mrs page come come come mrs ford here set it down mrs page give your men the charge we must be brief mrs ford marry as i told you before john and robert be ready here hard by in the brew house 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 mrs page you will do it mrs ford i ha told them over and over they lack no direction be gone and come when you are calld exeunt servants mrs page here comes little robin enter robin mrs ford how now my eyas musket what news with you robin my master sir john is come in at your back door mistress ford and requests your company mrs page you little jack a lent have you been true to us robin ay ill be sworn my master knows not of your being here and hath threatned to put me into everlasting liberty if i tell you of it for he swears hell turn me away mrs page thou rt a good boy this secrecy of thine shall be a tailor to thee and shall make thee a new doublet and hose ill go hide me mrs ford do so go tell thy master i am alone exit robin mistress page remember you your cue mrs page i warrant thee if i do not act it hiss me exit mrs page mrs ford go to then well use this unwholesome humidity this gross watry pumpion well teach him to know turtles from jays enter falstaff falstaff have i caught thee my heavenly jewel why now let me die for i have livd long enough this is the period of my ambition o this blessed hour mrs ford o sweet sir john falstaff mistress ford i cannot cog i cannot prate mistress ford now shall i sin in my wish i would thy husband were dead ill speak it before the best lord i would make thee my lady mrs ford i your lady sir john alas i should be a pitiful lady falstaff 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 mrs ford a plain kerchief sir john my brows become nothing else nor that well neither falstaff by the lord thou art a tyrant 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 mrs ford believe me theres no such thing in me falstaff what made me love thee let that persuade thee theres something extra ordinary in thee come i cannot cog and say thou art this and that like a many of these lisping hawthorn buds that come like women in mens apparel and smell like bucklersbury in simple time i cannot but i love thee none but thee and thou deservst it mrs ford do not betray me sir i fear you love mistress page falstaff 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 mrs ford well heaven knows how i love you and you shall one day find it falstaff keep in that mind ill deserve it mrs ford nay i must tell you so you do or else i could not be in that mind robin within mistress ford mistress ford heres mistress page at the door sweating and blowing and looking wildly and would needs speak with you presently falstaff she shall not see me i will ensconce me behind the arras mrs ford pray you do so shes a very tattling woman falstaff hides himself re enter mistress page and robin whats the matter how now mrs page o mistress ford what have you done youre shamd yare overthrown yare undone for ever mrs ford whats the matter good mistress page mrs page o well a day mistress ford having an honest man to your husband to give him such cause of suspicion mrs ford what cause of suspicion mrs page what cause of suspicion out upon you how am i mistook in you mrs ford why alas whats the matter mrs page your husbands coming hither woman with all the officers in 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 mrs ford tis not so i hope mrs page pray heaven it be not so that you have such a man here but tis most certain your husbands 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 amazd call all your senses to you defend your reputation or bid farewell to your good life for ever mrs ford what shall i do there is a gentleman my dear friend and i fear not mine own shame as much as his peril i had rather than a thousand pound he were out of the house mrs page for shame never stand you had rather and you had rather your husbands here at hand bethink you of some conveyance in the house you cannot hide him o how have you deceivd 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 mrs ford hes too big to go in there what shall i do falstaff coming forward let me see t let me see t o let me see t ill in ill in follow your friends counsel ill in mrs page what sir john falstaff aside to falstaff are these your letters knight falstaff aside to mrs page i love thee and none but thee help me away let me creep in here ill never gets into the basket they cover him with foul linen mrs page help to cover your master boy call your men mistress ford you dissembling knight mrs ford what john robert john exit robin re enter servants go take up these clothes here quickly wheres the cowl staff look how you drumble carry them to the laundress in datchet mead quickly come enter ford page caius and sir hugh evans ford 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 whither bear you this servant to the laundress forsooth mrs ford why what have you to do whither they bear it you were best meddle with buck washing ford 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 exeunt servants with basket gentlemen i have dreamd to night ill tell you my dream here here here be my keys ascend my chambers search seek find out ill warrant well unkennel the fox let me stop this way first locking the door so now uncape page good master ford be contented you wrong yourself too much ford true master page up gentlemen you shall see sport anon follow me gentlemen exit evans this is fery fantastical humours and jealousies caius by gar tis no the fashion of france it is not jealous in france page nay follow him gentlemen see the issue of his search exeunt evans page and caius mrs page is there not a double excellency in this mrs ford i know not which pleases me better that my husband is deceived or sir john mrs page what a taking was he in when your husband askd who was in the basket mrs ford i am half afraid he will have need of washing so throwing him into the water will do him a benefit mrs page hang him dishonest rascal i would all of the same strain were in the same distress mrs ford i think my husband hath some special suspicion of falstaffs being here for i never saw him so gross in his jealousy till now mrs page 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 mrs ford 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 mrs page we will do it let him be sent for to morrow eight oclock to have amends re enter ford page caius and sir hugh evans ford i cannot find him may be the knave braggd of that he could not compass mrs page aside to mrs ford heard you that mrs ford you use me well master ford do you ford ay i do so mrs ford heaven make you better than your thoughts ford amen mrs page you do yourself mighty wrong master ford ford ay ay i must bear it evans if there be 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 caius be gar nor i too there is no bodies page fie fie master ford are you not ashamd what spirit what devil suggests this imagination i would not ha your distemper in this kind for the wealth of windsor castle ford tis my fault master page i suffer for it evans you suffer for a pad conscience your wife is as honest a omans as i will desires among five thousand and five hundred too caius by gar i see tis an honest woman ford well i promisd 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 heartly pardon me page lets go in gentlemen but trust me well mock him i do invite you to morrow morning to my house to breakfast after well a birding together i have a fine hawk for the bush shall it be so ford any thing evans if there is one i shall make two in the company caius if there be one or two i shall make a the turd ford pray you go master page evans i pray you now remembrance to morrow on the lousy knave mine host caius dat is good by gar with all my heart evans a lousy knave to have his gibes and his mockeries exeunt scene before pages house enter fenton and anne page fenton i see i cannot get thy fathers love therefore no more turn me to him sweet nan anne alas how then fenton why thou must be thyself he doth object i am too great of birth and that my state being galld 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 anne may be he tells you true fenton no heaven so speed me in my time to come albeit i will confess thy fathers wealth was the first motive that i wood 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 anne gentle master fenton yet seek my fathers love still seek it sir if opportunity and humblest suit cannot attain it why then hark you hither they converse apart enter shallow slender and mistress quickly shallow break their talk mistress quickly my kinsman shall speak for himself slender ill make a shaft or a bolt on t slid tis but venturing shallow be not dismayd slender no she shall not dismay me i care not for that but that i am afeard quickly hark ye master slender would speak a word with you anne i come to him aside this is my fathers choice o what a world of vile ill favourd faults looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year quickly and how does good master fenton pray you a word with you shallow shes coming to her coz o boy thou hadst a father slender 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 shallow mistress anne my cousin loves you slender ay that i do as well as i love any woman in gloucestershire shallow he will maintain you like a gentlewoman slender ay that i will come cut and longtail under the degree of a squire shallow he will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure anne good master shallow let him woo for himself shallow marry i thank you for it i thank you for that good comfort she calls you coz ill leave you anne now master slender slender now good mistress anne anne what is your will slender my will ods heartlings thats a pretty jest indeed i neer made my will yet i thank heaven i am not such a sickly creature i give heaven praise anne i mean master slender what would you with me slender truly for mine own part i would little or nothing with you your father and my uncle hath 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 enter page and mistress page page 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 disposd of fenton nay master page be not impatient mrs page good master fenton come not to my child page she is no match for you fenton sir will you hear me page no good master fenton come master shallow come son slender in knowing my mind you wrong me master fenton exeunt page shallow and slender quickly speak to mistress page fenton 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 anne good mother do not marry me to yond fool mrs page i mean it not i seek you a better husband quickly thats my master master doctor anne alas i had rather be set quick i th earth and bowld to death with turnips mrs page 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 fenton farewell gentle mistress farewell nan exeunt mrs page and anne quickly 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 fenton i thank thee and i pray thee once to night give my sweet nan this ring theres for thy pains quickly now heaven send thee good fortune exit fenton 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 promisd and ill 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 exit scene the garter inn enter falstaff and bardolph falstaff bardolph i say bardolph here sir falstaff go fetch me a quart of sack put a toast in t exit bardolph have i livd to be carried in a basket like a barrow of butchers offal and to be thrown in the thames well if i be servd such another trick ill have my brains taen out and butterd and give them to a dog for a new years gift the rogues slighted me into the river with as little remorse as they would have drownd a blind bitchs puppies fifteen i th 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 drownd 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 had been swelld i should have been a mountain of mummy re enter bardolph with sack bardolph heres mistress quickly sir to speak with you falstaff come let me pour in some sack to the thames water for my bellys as cold as if i had swallowd snowballs for pills to cool the reins call her in bardolph come in woman enter mistress quickly quickly by your leave i cry you mercy give your worship good morrow falstaff take away these chalices go brew me a pottle of sack finely bardolph with eggs sir falstaff simple of itself ill no pullet sperm in my brewage exit bardolph how now quickly marry sir i come to your worship from mistress ford falstaff mistress ford i have had ford enough i was thrown into the ford i have my belly full of ford quickly alas the day good heart that was not her fault she does so take on with her men they mistook their erection falstaff so did i mine to build upon a foolish womans promise quickly 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 shell make you amends i warrant you falstaff 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 quickly i will tell her falstaff do so between nine and ten sayst thou quickly eight and nine sir falstaff well be gone i will not miss her quickly peace be with you sir exit falstaff i marvel i hear not of master brook he sent me word to stay within i like his money well o here he comes enter ford disguised ford bless you sir falstaff now master brook you come to know what hath passd between me and fords wife ford that indeed sir john is my business falstaff master brook i will not lie to you i was at her house the hour she appointed me ford and sped you sir falstaff very ill favouredly master brook ford how so sir did she change her determination falstaff 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 embracd kissd 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 wifes love ford what while you were there falstaff while i was there ford and did he search for you and could not find you falstaff you shall hear as good luck would have it comes in one mistress page gives intelligence of fords approach and in her invention and fords wifes distraction they conveyd me into a buck basket ford a buck basket falstaff by the lord a buck basket rammd me in with foul shirts and smocks socks foul stockings greasy napkins that master brook there was the rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended nostril ford and how long lay you there falstaff nay you shall hear master brook what i have sufferd to bring this woman to evil for your good being thus crammd in the basket a couple of fords knaves his hinds were calld 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 askd them once or twice what they had in their basket i quakd for fear lest the lunatic knave would have searchd 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 compassd like a good bilbo in the circumference of a peck hilt to point heel to head and then to be stoppd 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 stewd in grease like a dutch dish to be thrown into the thames and coold glowing hot in that surge like a horse shoe think of that hissing hot think of that master brook ford in good sadness sir i am sorry that for my sake you have sufferd all this my suit then is desperate youll undertake her no more falstaff 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 ford tis past eight already sir falstaff 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 exit ford hum ha is this a vision is this a dream do i sleep master ford awake awake master ford theres 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 halfpenny 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 one mad let the proverb go with me ill be horn mad exit act iv scene i windsor a street enter mistress page mistress quickly and william mrs page is he at master fords already thinkst thou quickly 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 mrs page ill be with her by and by ill but bring my young man here to school look where his master comes tis a playing day i see enter sir hugh evans how now sir hugh no school to day evans no master slender is let the boys leave to play quickly blessing of his heart mrs page 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 evans come hither william hold up your head come mrs page come on sirrah hold up your head answer your master be not afraid evans william how many numbers is in nouns william two quickly truly i thought there had been one number more because they say ods nouns evans peace your tattlings what is fair william william pulcher quickly polecats there are fairer things than polecats sure evans you are a very simplicity oman i pray you peace what is lapis william william a stone evans and what is a stone william william a pebble evans no it is lapis i pray you remember in your prain william lapis evans that is a good william what is he william that does lend articles william articles are borrowed of the pronoun and be thus declined singulariter nominativo hic haec hoc evans nominativo hig hag hog pray you mark genitivo hujus well what is your accusative case william accusativo hinc evans i pray you have your remembrance child accusativo hung hang hog quickly hang hog is latin for bacon i warrant you evans leave your prabbles oman what is the focative case william william o vocativo o evans remember william focative is caret quickly and thats a good root evans oman forbear mrs page peace evans what is your genitive case plural william william genitive case evans ay william genitive horum harum horum quickly vengeance of jennys case fie on her never name her child if she be a whore evans for shame oman quickly you do ill to teach the child such words he teaches him to hick and to hack which theyll do fast enough of themselves and to call horum fie upon you evans oman art thou lunatics hast thou no understandings for thy cases and the numbers of the genders thou art as foolish christian creatures as i would desires mrs page prithee hold thy peace evans show me now william some declensions of your pronouns william forsooth i have forgot evans it is qui quae quod if you forget your quis your quaes and your quods you must be preeches go your ways and play go mrs page he is a better scholar than i thought he was evans he is a good sprag memory farewell mistress page mrs page adieu good sir hugh exit sir hugh get you home boy come we stay too long exeunt scene fords house enter falstaff and mistress ford falstaff mistress ford your sorrow hath eaten up my sufferance i see you are obsequious in your love and i profess requital to a hairs 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 mrs ford hes a birding sweet sir john mrs page within what hoa gossip ford what hoa mrs ford step into th chamber sir john exit falstaff enter mistress page mrs page how now sweetheart whos at home besides yourself mrs ford why none but mine own people mrs page indeed mrs ford no certainly aside to her speak louder mrs page truly i am so glad you have nobody here mrs ford why mrs page 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 an eves daughters of what complexion soever and so buffets himself on the forehead crying peer out peer out that any madness i ever yet beheld seemd but tameness civility and patience to this his distemper he is in now i am glad the fat knight is not here mrs ford why does he talk of him mrs page of none but him and swears he was carried out the last time he searchd 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 mrs ford how near is he mistress page mrs page hard by at street end he will be here anon mrs ford i am undone the knight is here mrs page why then you are utterly shamd and hes but a dead man what a woman are you away with him away with him better shame than murder mrs ford which way should he go how should i bestow him shall i put him into the basket again re enter falstaff falstaff no ill come no more i th basket may i not go out ere he come mrs page alas three of master fords brothers watch the door with pistols that none shall issue out otherwise you might slip away ere he came but what make you here falstaff what shall i do ill creep up into the chimney mrs ford there they always use to discharge their birding pieces mrs page creep into the kiln hole falstaff where is it mrs ford 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 falstaff ill go out then mrs page if you go out in your own semblance you die sir john unless you go out disguisd mrs ford how might we disguise him mrs page alas the day i know not there is no womans gown big enough for him otherwise he might put on a hat a muffler and a kerchief and so escape falstaff good hearts devise something any extremity rather than a mischief mrs ford my maids aunt the fat woman of brainford has a gown above mrs page on my word it will serve him shes as big as he is and theres her thrummd hat and her muffler too run up sir john mrs ford go go sweet sir john mistress page and i will look some linen for your head mrs page quick quick well come dress you straight put on the gown the while exit falstaff mrs ford i would my husband would meet him in this shape he cannot abide the old woman of brainford he swears shes a witch forbade her my house and hath threatned to beat her mrs page heaven guide him to thy husbands cudgel and the devil guide his cudgel afterwards mrs ford but is my husband coming mrs page ay in good sadness is he and talks of the basket too howsoever he hath had intelligence mrs ford well try that for ill appoint my men to carry the basket again to meet him at the door with it as they did last time mrs page nay but hell be here presently lets go dress him like the witch of brainford mrs ford ill first direct my men what they shall do with the basket go up ill bring linen for him straight exit mrs page hang him dishonest varlet we cannot misuse him enough well 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 exit re enter mistress ford with two servants mrs ford 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 exit first servant come come take it up second servant pray heaven it be not full of knight again first servant i hope not i had lief as bear so much lead enter ford page shallow caius and sir hugh evans ford ay but if it prove true master page have you any way then to unfool me again set down the basket villain somebody call my wife youth in a basket o you panderly rascals theres a knot a ging a pack a conspiracy against me now shall the devil be shamd what wife i say come come forth behold what honest clothes you send forth to bleaching page why this passes master ford you are not to go loose any longer you must be piniond evans why this is lunatics this is mad as a mad dog shallow indeed master ford this is not well indeed ford so say i too sir re enter mistress ford come hither mistress ford 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 mrs ford heaven be my witness you do if you suspect me in any dishonesty ford well said brazen face hold it out come forth sirrah pulling clothes out of the basket page this passes mrs ford are you not ashamd let the clothes alone ford i shall find you anon evans tis unreasonable will you take up your wifes clothes come away ford empty the basket i say mrs ford why man why ford master page as i am a man there was one conveyd 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 mrs ford if you find a man there he shall die a fleas death page heres no man shallow by my fidelity this is not well master ford this wrongs you evans master ford you must pray and not follow the imaginations of your own heart this is jealousies ford well hes not here i seek for page no nor nowhere else but in your brain ford 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 searchd a hollow walnut for his wifes leman satisfy me once more once more search with me mrs ford what hoa mistress page come you and the old woman down my husband will come into the chamber ford old woman what old womans that mrs ford why it is my maids aunt of brainford ford 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 whats brought to pass under the profession of fortune telling she works by charms by spells by th figure and such daubry as this is beyond our element we know nothing come down you witch you hag you come down i say mrs ford nay good sweet husband good gentlemen let him not strike the old woman re enter falstaff in womans clothes and mistress page mrs page come mother prat come give me your hand ford ill prat her beating him out of my door you witch you hag you baggage you polecat you ronyon out out ill conjure you ill fortune tell you exit falstaff mrs page are you not ashamd i think you have killd the poor woman mrs ford nay he will do it tis a goodly credit for you ford hang her witch evans 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 his muffler ford 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 page lets obey his humour a little further come gentlemen exeunt all but mrs ford and mrs page mrs page trust me he beat him most pitifully mrs ford nay by th mass that he did not he beat him most unpitifully methought mrs page ill have the cudgel hallowd and hung oer the altar it hath done meritorious service mrs ford what think you may we with the warrant of womanhood and the witness of a good conscience pursue him with any further revenge mrs page the spirit of wantonness is sure scard 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 mrs ford shall we tell our husbands how we have servd him mrs page yes by all means if it be but to scrape the figures out of your husbands 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 mrs ford ill warrant theyll have him publicly shamd and methinks there would be no period to the jest should he not be publicly shamd mrs page come to the forge with it then shape it i would not have things cool exeunt scene the garter inn enter host and bardolph bardolph 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 host 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 bardolph ay sir ill call them to you host they shall have my horses but ill make them pay ill sauce them they have had my house a week at command i have turnd away my other guests they must come off ill sauce them come exeunt scene fords house enter page ford mistress page mistress ford and sir hugh evans evans tis one of the best discretions of a oman as ever did look upon page and did he send you both these letters at an instant mrs page within a quarter of an hour ford 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 page tis well tis well no more be not as extreme in submission as in offence 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 ford there is no better way than that they spoke of page how to send him word theyll meet him in the park at midnight fie fie hell never come evans you say he has been thrown in 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 punishd he shall have no desires page so think i too mrs ford devise but how youll use him when he comes and let us two devise to bring him thither mrs page there is an old tale goes that heme the hunter sometime a keeper here in windsor forest doth all the winter time at still midnight walk round about an oak with great raggd 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 receivd and did deliver to our age this tale of heme the hunter for a truth page why yet there want not many that do fear in deep of night to walk by this hernes oak but what of this mrs ford marry this is our device that falstaff at that oak shall meet with us disguisd like heme with huge horns on his head page well let it not be doubted but hell come and in this shape when you have brought him thither what shall be done with him what is your plot mrs page that likewise have we thought upon and thus nan page my daughter and my little son and three or four more of their growth well dress like urchins ouphes 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 mrs ford and till he tell the truth let the supposed fairies pinch him sound and burn him with their tapers mrs page the truth being known well all present ourselves dis horn the spirit and mock him home to windsor ford the children must be practisd well to this or theyll nevr do t evans i will teach the children their behaviours and i will be like a jack an apes also to burn the knight with my taber ford that will be excellent ill go buy them vizards mrs page my nan shall be the queen of all the fairies finely attired in a robe of white page that silk will i go buy aside and in that time shall master slender steal my nan away and marry her at eton go send to falstaff straight ford nay ill to him again in name of brook hell tell me all his purpose sure hell come mrs page fear not you that go get us properties and tricking for our fairies evans let us about it it is admirable pleasures and fery honest knaveries exeunt page ford and evans mrs page go mistress ford send quickly to sir john to know his mind exit mrs ford ill 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 he my husband best of all affects the doctor is well moneyd and his friends potent at court he none but he shall have her though twenty thousand worthier come to crave her exit scene the garter inn enter host and simple host what wouldst thou have boor what thick skin speak breathe discuss brief short quick snap simple marry sir i come to speak with sir john falstaff from master slender host theres 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 can hell speak like an anthropophaginian unto thee knock i say simple theres an old woman a fat woman gone up into his chamber ill be so bold as stay sir till she come down i come to speak with her indeed host ha a fat woman the knight may be robbd ill call bully knight bully sir john speak from thy lungs military art thou there it is thine host thine ephesian calls falstaff above how now mine host host heres a bohemian tartar tarries the coming down of thy fat woman let her descend bully let her descend my chambers are honourible fie privacy fie enter falstaff falstaff there was mine host an old fat woman even now with me but shes gone simple pray you sir wast not the wise woman of brainford falstaff ay marry was it mussel shell what would you with her simple my master sir my master slender sent to her seeing her go thorough the streets to know sir whether one nym sir that beguild him of a chain had the chain or no falstaff i spake with the old woman about it simple and what says she i pray sir falstaff marry she says that the very same man that beguild master slender of his chain cozend him of it simple i would i could have spoken with the woman herself i had other things to have spoken with her too from him falstaff what are they let us know host ay come quick simple i may not conceal them sir falstaff conceal them or thou diest simple why sir they were nothing but about mistress anne page to know if it were my masters fortune to have her or no falstaff tis tis his fortune simple what sir falstaff to have her or no go say the woman told me so simple may i be bold to say so sir falstaff ay sir like who more bold simple i thank your worship i shall make my master glad with these tidings exit simple host thou art clerkly thou art clerkly sir john was there a wise woman with thee falstaff ay that there was mine host one that hath taught me more wit than ever i learnd before in my life and i paid nothing for it neither but was paid for my learning enter bardolph bardolph out alas sir cozenage mere cozenage host where be my horses speak well of them varletto bardolph 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 host they are gone but to meet the duke villain do not say they be fled germans are honest men enter sir hugh evans evans where is mine host host what is the matter sir evans have a care of your entertainments there is a friend of mine come to town tells me there is three cozen germans that has cozend 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 exit enter doctor caius caius vere is mine host de jarteer host here master doctor in perplexity and doubtful dilemma caius 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 that the court is know to come i tell you for good will adieu exit host hue and cry villain go assist me knight i am undone fly run hue and cry villain i am undone exeunt host and bardolph falstaff i would all the world might be cozend for i have been cozend and beaten too if it should come to the car of the court how i have been transformed and how my transformation hath been washd and cudgelld they would melt me out of my fat drop by drop and liquor fishermens boots with me i warrant they would whip me with their fine wits till i were as crestfalln as a dried pear i never prosperd since i forswore myself at primero well if my wind were but long enough to say my prayers would repent enter mistress quickly now whence come you quickly from the two parties forsooth falstaff the devil take one party and his dam the other and so they shall be both bestowed i have sufferd more for their sakes more than the villainous inconstancy of mans disposition is able to bear quickly and have not they sufferd 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 falstaff what tellst thou me of black and blue i was beaten myself into all the colours of the rainbow and 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 deliverd me the knave constable had set me i th stocks i th common stocks for a witch quickly 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 crossd falstaff come up into my chamber exeunt scene the garter inn enter fenton and host host master fenton talk not to me my mind is heavy i will give over all fenton yet hear me speak assist me in my purpose and as i am a gentleman ill give the a hundred pound in gold more than your loss host i will hear you master fenton and i will at the least keep your counsel fenton from time to time i have acquainted you with the dear love i bear to fair anne page who mutually hath answerd 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 fat falstaff hath a great scene the image of the jest ill show you here at large hark good mine host to night at hemes 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 deanry where a priest attends straight marry her to this her mothers 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 maskd and vizarded that quaint in green she shall be loose enrobd 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 host which means she to deceive father or mother fenton both my good host to go along with me and here it rests that youll 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 host well husband your device ill to the vicar bring you the maid you shall not lack a priest fenton so shall i evermore be bound to thee besides ill make a present recompense exeunt act v scene the garter inn enter falstaff and mistress quickly falstaff prithee no more prattling go ill 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 quickly ill provide you a chain and ill do what i can to get you a pair of horns falstaff away i say time wears hold up your head and mince exit mrs quickly enter ford disguised how now master brook master brook the matter will be known tonight or never be you in the park about midnight at hernes oak and you shall see wonders ford went you not to her yesterday sir as you told me you had appointed falstaff 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 governd frenzy i will tell you he beat me grievously in the shape of a woman for in the shape of man master brook i fear not goliath with a weavers beam because i know also life is a shuttle i am in haste go along with me ill tell you all master brook since i pluckd geese playd truant and whippd top i knew not what twas to be beaten till lately follow me ill 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 exeunt scene windsor park enter page shallow and slender page come come well couch i th castle ditch till we see the light of our fairies remember son slender my daughter slender ay forsooth i have spoke with her and we have a nay word how to know one another i come to her in white and cry mum she cries budget and by that we know one another shallow thats good too but what needs either your mum or her budget the white will decipher her well enough it hath struck ten oclock page 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 lets away follow me exeunt scene a street leading to the park enter mistress page mistress ford and doctor caius mrs page 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 caius i know vat i have to do adieu mrs page fare you well sir exit caius my husband will not rejoice so much at the abuse of falstaff as he will chafe at the doctors marrying my daughter but tis no matter better a little chiding than a great deal of heartbreak mrs ford where is nan now and her troop of fairies and the welsh devil hugh mrs page they are all couchd in a pit hard by hemes oak with obscurd lights which at the very instant of falstaffs and our meeting they will at once display to the night mrs ford that cannot choose but amaze him mrs page if he be not amazd he will be mockd if he be amazd he will every way be mockd mrs ford well betray him finely mrs page against such lewdsters and their lechery those that betray them do no treachery mrs ford the hour draws on to the oak to the oak exeunt scene windsor park enter sir hugh evans like a satyr with others as fairies evans 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 exeunt scene another part of the park enter falstaff disguised as herne falstaff 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 ont 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 th forest send me a cool rut time jove or who can blame me to piss my tallow who comes here my doe enter mistress ford and mistress page mrs ford sir john art thou there my deer my male deer falstaff my doe with the black scut let the sky rain potatoes let it thunder to the tune of greensleeves hail kissing comfits and snow eringoes let there come a tempest of provocation i will shelter me here embracing her mrs ford mistress page is come with me sweetheart falstaff divide me like a bribd 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 heme the hunter why now is cupid a child of conscience he makes restitution as i am a true spirit welcome a noise of horns mrs page alas what noise mrs ford heaven forgive our sins falstaff what should this be mrs ford away away mrs page away away they run off falstaff i think the devil will not have me damnd lest the oil thats in me should set hell on fire he would never else cross me thus enter sir hugh evans like a satyr anne page as a fairy and others as the fairy queen fairies and hobgoblin all with tapers fairy queen 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 puck elves list your names silence you airy toys cricket to windsor chimneys shalt thou leap where fires thou findst unrakd and hearths unswept there pinch the maids as blue as bilberry our radiant queen hates sluts and sluttery falstaff they are fairies he that speaks to them shall die ill wink and couch no man their works must eye lies down upon his face evans wheres pede go you and where you find a maid that ere she sleep has thrice her prayers said raise up the organs of her fantasy sleep she as sound as careless infancy but those as sleep and think not on their sins pinch them arms legs backs shoulders sides and shins fairy queen about about search windsor castle elves within and out strew good luck ouphes 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 sevral crest with loyal blazon evermore be blest and nightly meadow fairies look you sing like to the garters compass in a ring th 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 emrald tufts flowrs purple blue and white like sapphire pearl and rich embroidery buckled below fair knighthoods bending knee fairies use flowrs for their charactery away disperse but till tis one oclock our dance of custom round about the oak of herne the hunter let us not forget evans pray you lock hand in hand yourselves in order set and twenty glow worms shall our lanterns be to guide our measure round about the tree but stay i smell a man of middle earth falstaff heavens defend me from that welsh fairy lest he transform me to a piece of cheese puck vile worm thou wast oerlookd even in thy birth fairy queen 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 puck a trial come evans come will this wood take fire they put the tapers to his fingers and he starts falstaff oh oh oh fairy queen corrupt corrupt and tainted in desire about him fairies sing a scornful rhyme and as you trip still pinch him to your time the song 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 villainy pinch him and burn him and turn him about till candles and star light and moonshine be out during this song they pinch falstaff doctor caius comes one way and steals away a fairy in green slender another way and takes off a fairy in white and fenton steals away anne page a noise of hunting is heard within all the fairies run away falstaff pulls off his bucks head and rises enter page ford mistress page mistress ford and sir hugh evans page nay do not fly i think we have watchd you now will none but heme the hunter serve your turn mrs page 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 ford now sir whos a cuckold now master brook falstaffs a knave a cuckoldly knave here are his horns master brook and master brook he hath enjoyed nothing of fords but his buck basket his cudgel and twenty pounds of money which must be paid to master brook his horses are arrested for it master brook mrs ford 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 falstaff i do begin to perceive that i am made an ass ford ay and an ox too both the proofs are extant falstaff 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 receivd belief in despite of the teeth of all rhyme and reason that they were fairies see now how wit may be made a jack a lent when tis upon ill employment evans sir john falstaff serve got and leave your desires and fairies will not pinse you ford well said fairy hugh evans and leave you your jealousies too i pray you ford i will never mistrust my wife again till thou art able to woo her in good english falstaff have i laid my brain in the sun and dried it that it wants matter to prevent so gross oer reaching as this am i ridden with a welsh goat too shall i have a cox comb of frieze tis time i were chokd with a piece of toasted cheese evans seese is not good to give putter your belly is all putter falstaff seese and putter have i livd 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 mrs page 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 ford what a hodge pudding a bag of flax mrs page a puffd man page old cold witherd and of intolerable entrails ford and one that is as slanderous as satan page and as poor as job ford and as wicked as his wife evans and given to fornications and to taverns and sack and wine and metheglins and to drinkings and swearings and starings pribbles and prabbles falstaff 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 oer me use me as you will ford marry sir well bring you to windsor to one master brook that you have cozend of money to whom you should have been a pander over and above that you have sufferd i think to repay that money will be a biting affliction page yet be cheerful knight thou shalt eat a posset tonight 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 mrs page aside doctors doubt that if anne page be my daughter she is by this doctor caius wife enter slender slender whoa ho ho father page page son how now how now son have you dispatchd slender dispatchd ill make the best in gloucestershire know ont would i were hangd la else page of what son slender i came yonder at eton to marry mistress anne page and shes a great lubberly boy if it had not been i th church i would have swingd him or he should have swingd me if i did not think it had been anne page would i might never stir and tis a postmasters boy page upon my life then you took the wrong slender 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 womans apparel i would not have had him page why this is your own folly did not i tell you how you should know my daughter by her garments slender 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 postmasters boy mrs page good george be not angry i knew of your purpose turnd my daughter into green and indeed she is now with the doctor at the deanry and there married enter caius caius vere is mistress page by gar i am cozened i ha married un garcon a boy un paysan by gar a boy it is not anne page by gar i am cozened mrs page why did you take her in green caius ay be gar and tis a boy be gar ill raise all windsor exit caius ford this is strange who hath got the right anne page my heart misgives me here comes master fenton enter fenton and anne page how now master fenton anne pardon good father good my mother pardon page now mistress how chance you went not with master slender mrs page why went you not with master doctor maid fenton 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 th 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 ford stand not amazd here is no remedy in love the heavens themselves do guide the state money buys lands and wives are sold by fate falstaff i am glad though you have taen a special stand to strike at me that your arrow hath glancd page well what remedy fenton heaven give thee joy what cannot be eschewd must be embracd falstaff when night dogs run all sorts of deer are chasd mrs page 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 oer by a country fire sir john and all ford let it be so sir john to master brook you yet shall hold your word for he to night shall lie with mistress ford exeunt the end a midsummer nights dream dramatis personae theseus duke of athens egeus father to hermia lysander in love with hermia demetrius in love with hermia philostrate master of the revels to theseus quince a carpenter snug a joiner bottom a weaver flute a bellows mender snout a tinker starveling a tailor hippolyta queen of the amazons bethrothed to theseus hermia daughter to egeus in love with lysander helena in love with demetrius oberon king of the fairies titania queen of the fairies puck or robin goodfellow peaseblossom fairy cobweb fairy moth fairy mustardseed fairy prologue pyramus thisby wall moonshine lion are presented by quince bottom flute snout starveling and snug other fairies attending their king and queen attendants on theseus and hippolyta scene athens and a wood near it act i scene i athens the palace of theseus enter theseus hippolyta philostrate and attendants theseus 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 mans revenue hippolyta 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 theseus 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 exit philostrate hippolyta i wood 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 enter egeus and his daughter hermia lysander and demetrius egeus happy be theseus our renowned duke theseus thanks good egeus whats the news with thee egeus 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 bewitchd the bosom of my child thou thou lysander thou hast given her rhymes and interchangd love tokens with my child thou hast by moonlight at her window sung with feigning voice verses of feigning love and stoln the impression of her fantasy with bracelets of thy hair rings gawds conceits knacks trifles nosegays sweetmeats messengers of strong prevailment in unhardened youth with cunning hast thou filchd my daughters heart turnd 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 theseus what say you hermia be advisd fair maid to you your father should be as a god one that composd 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 hermia so is lysander theseus in himself he is but in this kind wanting your fathers voice the other must be held the worthier hermia i would my father lookd but with my eyes theseus rather your eyes must with his judgment look hermia 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 theseus 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 whether if you yield not to your fathers choice you can endure the livery of a nun for aye to be shady cloister mewd 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 distilld than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows lives and dies in single blessedness hermia 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 theseus 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 fathers will or else to wed demetrius as he would or on dianas altar to protest for aye austerity and single life demetrius relent sweet hermia and lysander yield thy crazed title to my certain right lysander you have her fathers love demetrius let me have hermias do you marry him egeus 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 lysander i am my lord as well derivd as he as well possessd my love is more than his my fortunes every way as fairly rankd if not with vantage as demetrius and which is more than all these boasts can be i am belovd of beauteous hermia why should not i then prosecute my right demetrius ill avouch it to his head made love to nedars daughter helena and won her soul and she sweet lady dotes devoutly dotes dotes in idolatry upon this spotted and inconstant man theseus 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 fathers 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 egeus with duty and desire we follow you exeunt all but lysander and hermia lysander how now my love why is your cheek so pale how chance the roses there do fade so fast hermia belike for want of rain which i could well beteem them from the tempest of my eyes lysander ay me for aught that i could ever read could ever hear by tale or history the course of true love never did run smooth but either it was different in blood hermia o cross too high to be enthralld to low lysander or else misgraffed in respect of years hermia o spite too old to be engagd to young lysander or else it stood upon the choice of friends hermia o hell to choose love by anothers eyes lysander or if there were a sympathy in choice war death or sickness did lay siege to it making it momentary 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 hermia if then true lovers have ever crossd 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 fancys followers lysander 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 lovest me then steal forth thy fathers 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 hermia my good lysander i swear to thee by cupids 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 burnd 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 lysander keep promise love look here comes helena enter helena hermia god speed fair helena whither away helena call you me fair that fair again unsay demetrius loves your fair o happy fair your eyes are lode stars and your tongues sweet air more tuneable than lark to shepherds 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 tongues sweet melody were the world mine demetrius being bated the rest id give to be to you translated o teach me how you look and with what art you sway the motion of demetrius heart hermia i frown upon him yet he loves me still helena o that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill hermia i give him curses yet he gives me love helena o that my prayers could such affection move hermia the more i hate the more he follows me helena the more i love the more he hateth me hermia his folly helena is no fault of mine helena none but your beauty would that fault were mine hermia take comfort he no more shall see my face lysander and myself will fly this place before the time i did lysander see seemd athens as a paradise to me o then what graces in my love do dwell that he hath turnd a heaven unto a hell lysander helen to you our minds we will unfold to morrow night when phoebe doth behold her silver visage in the watry glass decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass a time that lovers flights doth still conceal through athens gates have we devisd to steal hermia 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 lysander i will my hermia exit hermia helena adieu as you on him demetrius dote on you exit helena how happy some oer 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 hermias 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 wingd cupid painted blind nor hath loves 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 beguild as waggish boys in game themselves forswear so the boy love is perjurd everywhere for ere demetrius lookd on hermias eyne he haild down oaths that he was only mine and when this hail some heat from hermia felt so he dissolvd and showrs of oaths did melt i will go tell him of fair hermias 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 exit scene ii athens quinces house enter quince snug bottom flute snout and starveling quince is all our company here bottom you were best to call them generally man by man according to the scrip quince here is the scroll of every mans 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 bottom first good peter quince say what the play treats on then read the names of the actors and so grow to a point quince marry our play is the most lamentable comedy and most cruel death of pyramus and thisby bottom 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 quince answer as i call you nick bottom the weaver bottom ready name what part i am for and proceed quince you nick bottom are set down for pyramus bottom what is pyramus a lover or a tyrant quince a lover that kills himself most gallant for love bottom 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 tyrants vein a lover is more condoling quince francis flute the bellows mender flute here peter quince quince flute you must take thisby on you flute what is thisby a wandring knight quince it is the lady that pyramus must love flute nay faith let not me play a woman i have a beard coming quince thats all one you shall play it in a mask and you may speak as small as you will bottom an i may hide my face let me play thisby too ill speak in a monstrous little voice thisne thisne then speaking small ah pyramus my lover dear thy thisby dear and lady dear quince no no you must play pyramus and flute you thisby bottom well proceed quince robin starveling the tailor starveling here peter quince quince robin starveling you must play thisbys mother tom snout the tinker snout here peter quince quince you pyramus father myself thisbys father snug the joiner you the lions part and i hope here is a play fitted snug have you the lions part written pray you if it be give it me for i am slow of study quince you may do it extempore for it is nothing but roaring bottom let me play the lion too i will roar that i will do any mans heart good to hear me i will roar that i will make the duke say let him roar again let him roar again quince 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 all that would hang us every mothers son bottom i grant you friends if 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 an twere any nightingale quince you can play no part but pyramus for pyramus is a sweet facd man a proper man as one shall see in a summers day a most lovely gentleman like man therefore you must needs play pyramus bottom well i will undertake it what beard were i best to play it in quince why what you will bottom 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 quince some of your french crowns have no hair at all and then you will play bare facd 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 doggd 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 bottom we will meet and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously take pains be perfect adieu quince at the dukes oak we meet bottom enough hold or cut bow strings exeunt act ii scene i a wood near athens enter a fairy at one door and puck at another puck how now spirit whither wander you fairy over hill over dale thorough bush thorough brier over park over pale thorough flood thorough fire i do wander every where swifter than the moons 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 those freckles live their savours i must go seek some dewdrops here and hang a pearl in every cowslips ear farewell thou lob of spirits ill be gone our queen and all her elves come here anon puck 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 stolen 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 fairy either i mistake your shape and making quite or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite calld robin goodfellow are not you 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 not you he puck thou speakest 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 gossips bowl in very likeness of a roasted crab and when she drinks against her lips i bob and on her withered 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 laugh and waxen in their mirth and neeze and swear a merrier hour was never wasted there but room fairy here comes oberon fairy and here my mistress would that he were gone enter oberon at one door with his train and titania at another with hers oberon ill met by moonlight proud titania titania what jealous oberon fairies skip hence i have forsworn his bed and company oberon tarry rash wanton am not i thy lord titania then i must be thy lady but i know when thou hast stolen 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 farthest steep of india but that forsooth the bouncing amazon your buskind mistress and your warrior love to theseus must be wedded and you come to give their bed joy and prosperity oberon how canst thou thus for shame titania glance at my credit with hippolyta knowing i know thy love to theseus didst not thou lead him through the glimmering night from perigouna whom he ravished and make him with fair aegles break his faith with ariadne and antiopa titania these are the forgeries of jealousy and never since the middle summers 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 disturbd our sport therefore the winds piping to us in vain as in revenge have suckd up from the sea contagious fogs which falling in the land hath every pelting river made so proud that they have overborne their continents the ox hath therefore stretchd his yoke in vain the ploughman lost his sweat and the green corn hath rotted ere his youth attaind a beard the fold stands empty in the drowned field and crows are fatted with the murrion flock the nine mens morris is filld 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 evils comes from our debate from our dissension we are their parents and original oberon 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 titania set your heart at rest the fairy land buys not the child of me his mother was a votress of my order and in the spiced indian air by night full often hath she gossipd by my side and sat with me on neptunes yellow sands marking th embarked traders on the flood when we have laughd 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 do i rear up her boy and for her sake i will not part with him oberon how long within this wood intend you stay titania perchance till after theseus wedding day 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 oberon give me that boy and i will go with thee titania not for thy fairy kingdom fairies away we shall chide downright if i longer stay exit titania with her train oberon well go thy way thou shalt not from this grove till i torment thee for this injury my gentle puck come hither thou remembrest since once i sat upon a promontory and heard a mermaid on a dolphins 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 maids music puck i remember oberon that very time i saw but thou couldst not flying between the cold moon and the earth cupid all armd a certain aim he took at a fair vestal throned by the west and loosd his love shaft smartly from his bow as it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts but i might see young cupids fiery shaft quenchd in the chaste beams of the watry moon and the imperial votress passed on in maiden meditation fancy free yet markd i where the bolt of cupid fell it fell upon a little western flower before milk white now purple with loves wound and maidens call it love in idleness fetch me that flowr the herb i showed 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 puck ill put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes exit puck oberon having once this juice ill 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 from off her sight as i can take it with another herb ill make her render up her page to me but who comes here i am invisible and i will overhear their conference enter demetrius helena following him demetrius i love thee not therefore pursue me not where is lysander and fair hermia the one ill slay the other slayeth me thou toldst me they were stoln unto 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 helena 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 demetrius 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 helena 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 demetrius tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit for i am sick when i do look on thee helena and i am sick when i look not on you demetrius 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 helena 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 demetrius ill run from thee and hide me in the brakes and leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts helena the wildest hath not such a heart as you run when you will the story shall be changd 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 demetrius 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 helena 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 wood and were not made to woo exit demetrius ill follow thee and make a heaven of hell to die upon the hand i love so well exit helena oberon fare thee well nymph ere he do leave this grove thou shalt fly him and he shall seek thy love re enter puck hast thou the flower there welcome wanderer puck ay there it is oberon i pray thee give it me i know a bank where 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 sometime of the night lulld in these flowers with dances and delight and there the snake throws her enamelld skin weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in and with the juice of this ill 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 puck fear not my lord your servant shall do so exeunt scene ii another part of the wood enter titania with her train titania come now a roundel and a fairy song then for the third part 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 first fairy you spotted snakes with double tongue thorny hedgehogs be not seen newts and blind worms do no wrong come not near our fairy queen chorus 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 second fairy weaving spiders come not here hence you long leggd spinners hence beetles black approach not near worm nor snail do no offence chorus philomel with melody etc titania sleeps first fairy hence away now all is well one aloof stand sentinel exeunt fairies enter oberon and squeezes the flower on titanias eyelids oberon 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 wakst it is thy dear wake when some vile thing is near exit enter lysander and hermia lysander fair love you faint with wandring in the wood and to speak troth i have forgot our way well rest us hermia if you think it good and tarry for the comfort of the day hermia be it so lysander find you out a bed for i upon this bank will rest my head lysander one turf shall serve as pillow for us both one heart one bed two bosoms and one troth hermia nay good lysander for my sake my dear lie further off yet do not lie so near lysander o take the sense sweet of my innocence love takes the meaning in loves 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 hermia 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 neer alter till thy sweet life end lysander 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 hermia with half that wish the wishers eyes be pressd they sleep enter puck puck through the forest have i gone but athenian found i none on whose eyes i might approve this flowers 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 wakst let love forbid sleep his seat on thy eyelid so awake when i am gone for i must now to oberon exit enter demetrius and helena running helena stay though thou kill me sweet demetrius demetrius i charge thee hence and do not haunt me thus helena o wilt thou darkling leave me do not so demetrius stay on thy peril i alone will go exit helena o i am out of breath in this fond chase the more my prayer the lesser is my grace happy is hermia wheresoeer she lies for she hath blessed and attractive eyes how came her eyes so bright not with salt tears if so my eyes are oftner washd 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 hermias 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 lysander waking 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 helena 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 lysander 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 swayd 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 oerlook loves stories written in loves richest book helena wherefore was i to this keen mockery born when at your hands did i deserve this scorn ist not enough ist 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 refusd should of another therefore be abusd exit lysander 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 exit hermia starting 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 removd 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 swoon almost with fear no then i well perceive you are not nigh either death or you ill find immediately exit act iii scene i the wood titania lying asleep enter quince snug bottom flute snout and starveling bottom are we all met quince pat pat and heres 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 bottom peter quince quince what sayest thou bully bottom 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 snout byr lakin a parlous fear starveling i believe we must leave the killing out when all is done bottom 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 killd 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 quince well we will have such a prologue and it shall be written in eight and six bottom no make it two more let it be written in eight and eight snout will not the ladies be afeard of the lion starveling i fear it i promise you bottom masters you ought to consider with yourself 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 tot snout therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion bottom nay you must name his name and half his face must be seen through the lions 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 quince 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 snout doth the moon shine that night we play our play bottom a calendar a calendar look in the almanack find out moonshine find out moonshine quince yes it doth shine that night bottom 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 quince ay or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and a lantern 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 snout you can never bring in a wall what say you bottom 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 quince if that may be then all is well come sit down every mothers 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 enter puck behind puck what hempen homespuns have we swaggring here so near the cradle of the fairy queen what a play toward ill be an auditor an actor too perhaps if i see cause quince speak pyramus thisby stand forth bottom thisby the flowers of odious savours sweet quince odious odorous bottom 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 exit puck a stranger pyramus than eer played here exit flute must i speak now quince ay marry must you for you must understand he goes but to see a noise that he heard and is to come again flute 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 would never tire ill meet thee pyramus at ninnys tomb quince 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 flute o as true as truest horse that y et would never tire re enter puck and bottom with an asss head bottom if i were fair thisby i were only thine quince o monstrous o strange we are haunted pray masters fly masters help exeunt all but bottom and puck puck ill follow you ill lead you about a round through bog through bush through brake through brier sometime a horse ill 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 exit bottom why do they run away this is a knavery of them to make me afeard re enter snout snout o bottom thou art changd what do i see on thee bottom what do you see you see an ass head of your own do you exit snout re enter quince quince bless thee bottom bless thee thou art translated exit bottom 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 will sing that they shall hear i am not afraid sings the ousel cock so black of hue with orange tawny bill the throstle with his note so true the wren with little quill titania what angel wakes me from my flowry bed bottom sings the finch the sparrow and the lark the plain song cuckoo grey 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 he though he cry cuckoo never so titania i pray thee gentle mortal sing again mine ear is much enamoured of thy note so is mine eye enthralled to thy shape and thy fair virtues force perforce doth move me on the first view to say to swear i love thee bottom 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 titania thou art as wise as thou art beautiful bottom not so neither but if i had wit enough to get out of this wood i have enough to serve mine own turn titania out of this wood do not desire to go thou shalt remain here whether 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 ill 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 peaseblossom cobweb moth and mustardseed enter peaseblossom cobweb moth and mustardseed peaseblossom ready cobweb and i moth and i mustardseed and i all where shall we go titania 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 worms 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 peaseblossom hail mortal cobweb hail moth hail mustardseed hail bottom i cry your worships mercy heartily i beseech your worships name cobweb cobweb bottom i shall desire you of more acquaintance good master cobweb if i cut my finger i shall make bold with you your name honest gentleman peaseblossom peaseblossom bottom i pray you commend me to mistress squash your mother and to master peascod your father good master peaseblossom i shall desire you of more acquaintance too your name i beseech you sir mustardseed mustardseed bottom good master mustardseed i know your patience well that same cowardly giant like ox beef hath devourd 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 mustardseed titania come wait upon him lead him to my bower the moon methinks looks with a watry eye and when she weeps weeps every little flower lamenting some enforced chastity tie up my loves tongue bring him silently exeunt scene ii another part of the wood enter oberon oberon i wonder if titania be awakd then what it was that next came in her eye which she must dote on in extremity enter puck here comes my messenger how now mad spirit what night rule now about this haunted grove puck 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 thickskin of that barren sort who pyramus presented in their sport forsook his scene and entred in a brake when i did him at this advantage take an asss nole i fixed on his head anon his thisby must be answered and forth my mimic 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 guns report sever themselves and madly sweep the sky so at his sight away his fellows fly and at our stamp here oer and oer 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 wakd and straightway lovd an ass oberon this falls out better than i could devise but hast thou yet latchd the athenians eyes with the love juice as i did bid thee do puck i took him sleeping that is finishd too and the athenian woman by his side that when he wakd of force she must be eyd enter demetrius and hermia oberon stand close this is the same athenian puck this is the woman but not this the man demetrius o why rebuke you him that loves you so lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe hermia 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 oer shoes in blood plunge in the deep and kill me too the sun was not so true unto the day as he to me would he have stolen away from sleeping hermia ill believe as soon this whole earth may be bord and that the moon may through the centre creep and so displease her brothers noontide with th antipodes it cannot be but thou hast murdred him so should a murderer look so dead so grim demetrius so should the murdered look and so should i piercd through the heart with your stern cruelty yet you the murderer look as bright as clear as yonder venus in her glimmering sphere hermia whats this to my lysander where is he ah good demetrius wilt thou give him me demetrius i had rather give his carcass to my hounds hermia out dog out cur thou drivst me past the bounds of maidens patience hast thou slain him then henceforth be never numbred among men o once tell true tell true even for my sake durst thou have lookd upon him being awake and hast thou killd 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 demetrius you spend your passion on a misprisd mood i am not guilty of lysanders blood nor is he dead for aught that i can tell hermia i pray thee tell me then that he is well demetrius an if i could what should i get therefore hermia a privilege never to see me more and from thy hated presence part i so see me no more whether he be dead or no exit demetrius there is no following her in this fierce vein here therefore for a while i will remain so sorrows 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 lies down oberon what hast thou done thou hast mistaken quite and laid the love juice on some true loves sight of thy misprision must perforce ensue some true love turnd and not a false turnd true puck then fate oer rules that one man holding troth a million fail confounding oath on oath oberon 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 costs the fresh blood dear by some illusion see thou bring her here ill charm his eyes against she do appear puck i go i go look how i go swifter than arrow from the tartars bow exit oberon flower of this purple dye hit with cupids 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 wakst if she be by beg of her for remedy re enter puck puck captain of our fairy band helena is here at hand and the youth mistook by me pleading for a lovers fee shall we their fond pageant see lord what fools these mortals be oberon stand aside the noise they make will cause demetrius to awake puck then will two at once woo one that must needs be sport alone and those things do best please me that befall prepostrously enter lysander and helena lysander 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 helena you do advance your cunning more and more when truth kills truth o devilish holy fray these vows are hermias will you give her oer 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 lysander i hod no judgment when to her i swore helena nor none in my mind now you give her oer lysander demetrius loves her and he loves not you demetrius awaking 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 that pure congealed white high taurus snow fannd with the eastern wind turns to a crow when thou holdst up thy hand o let me kiss this princess of pure white this seal of bliss helena 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 maids eyes with your derision none of noble sort would so offend a virgin and extort a poor souls patience all to make you sport lysander 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 hermias love i yield you up my part and yours of helena to me bequeath whom i do love and will do till my death helena never did mockers waste more idle breath demetrius lysander keep thy hermia i will none if eer i lovd her all that love is gone my heart to her but as guest wise sojournd and now to helen is it home returnd there to remain lysander helen it is not so demetrius 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 enter hermia hermia 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 lysander why should he stay whom love doth press to go hermia what love could press lysander from my side lysander lysanders love that would not let him bide fair helena who more engilds the night than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light why seekst thou me could not this make thee know the hate i bare thee made me leave thee so hermia you speak not as you think it cannot be helena lo she is one of this confederacy now i perceive they have conjoind all three to fashion this false sport in spite of me injurious hermia most ungrateful maid have you conspird have you with these contrivd to bait me with this foul derision is all the counsel that we two have shard the sisters vows the hours that we have spent when we have chid the hasty footed time for parting us o is all forgot all school days friendship childhood innocence we hermia like two artificial gods have with our needles 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 stern 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 hermia i am amazed at your passionate words i scorn you not it seems that you scorn me helena 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 unlovd this you should pity rather than despise hermia i understand not what you mean by this helena 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 my own fault which death or absence soon shall remedy lysander stay gentle helena hear my excuse my love my life my soul fair helena helena o excellent hermia sweet do not scorn her so demetrius if she cannot entreat i can compel lysander 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 demetrius i say i love thee more than he can do lysander if thou say so withdraw and prove it too demetrius quick come hermia lysander whereto tends all this lysander away you ethiope demetrius no no he will seem to break loose take on as you would follow but yet come not you are a tame man go lysander hang off thou cat thou burr vile thing let loose or i will shake thee from me like a serpent hermia why are you grown so rude what change is this sweet love lysander thy love out tawny tartar out out loathed medcine o hated potion hence hermia do you not jest helena yes sooth and so do you lysander demetrius i will keep my word with thee demetrius i would i had your bond for i perceive a weak bond holds you ill not trust your word lysander what should i hurt her strike her kill her dead although i hate her ill not harm her so hermia 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 lovd me yet since night you left me why then you left me o the gods forbid in earnest shall i say lysander ay by my life and never did desire to see thee more therefore be out of hope of question of doubt be certain nothing truer tis no jest that i do hate thee and love helena hermia o me you juggler you cankerblossom you thief of love what have you come by night and stoln my loves heart from him helena 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 hermia puppet why so ay that way goes the game now i perceive that she hath made compare between our statures she hath urgd her height and with her personage her tall personage her height forsooth she hath prevaild 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 helena 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 hermia lower hark again helena good hermia do not be so bitter with me i evermore did love you hermia did ever keep your counsels never wrongd you save that in love unto demetrius i told him of your stealth unto this wood he followed you for love i followed him but he hath chid me hence and threatned 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 hermia why get you gone who ist that hinders you helena a foolish heart that i leave here behind hermia what with lysander helena with demetrius lysander be not afraid she shall not harm thee helena demetrius no sir she shall not though you take her part helena o when she is angry she is keen and shrewd she was a vixen when she went to school and though she be but little she is fierce hermia little again nothing but low and little why will you suffer her to flout me thus let me come to her lysander get you gone you dwarf you minimus of hindring knot grass made you bead you acorn demetrius 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 lysander now she holds me not now follow if thou darst to try whose right of thine or mine is most in helena demetrius follow nay ill go with thee cheek by jowl exeunt lysander and demetrius hermia you mistress all this coil is long of you nay go not back helena 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 exit hermia i am amazd and know not what to say exit oberon this is thy negligence still thou mistakst or else committst thy knaveries wilfully puck 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 athenians eyes and so far am i glad it so did sort as this their jangling i esteem a sport oberon thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight hie therefore robin overcast the night the starry welkin cover thou anon with drooping fog as black as acheron and lead these testy rivals so astray as one come not within anothers 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 oer their brows death counterfeiting sleep with leaden legs and batty wings doth creep then crush this herb into lysanders 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 ill to my queen and beg her indian boy and then i will her charmed eye release from monsters view and all things shall be peace puck my fairy lord this must be done with haste for nights swift dragons cut the clouds full fast and yonder shines auroras harbinger at whose approach ghosts wandring 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 exild from light and must for aye consort with black browd night oberon but we are spirits of another sort i with the mornings 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 exit oberon puck up and down up and down i will lead them up and down i am feard in field and town goblin lead them up and down here comes one enter lysander lysander where art thou proud demetrius speak thou now puck here villain drawn and ready where art thou lysander i will be with thee straight puck follow me then to plainer ground exit lysander as following the voice enter demetrius demetrius lysander speak again thou runaway thou coward art thou fled speak in some bush where dost thou hide thy head puck thou coward art thou bragging to the stars telling the bushes that thou lookst for wars and wilt not come come recreant come thou child ill whip thee with a rod he is defild that draws a sword on thee demetrius yea art thou there puck follow my voice well try no manhood here exeunt re enter lysander lysander he goes before me and still dares me on when i come where he calls then he is gone the villain is much lighter heeld than i i followed fast but faster he did fly that fallen am i in dark uneven way and here will rest me lies down come thou gentle day for if but once thou show me thy grey light ill find demetrius and revenge this spite sleeps re enter puck and demetrius puck ho ho ho coward why comst thou not demetrius abide me if thou darst for well i wot thou runst before me shifting every place and darst not stand nor look me in the face where art thou now puck come hither i am here demetrius nay then thou mockst 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 days approach look to be visited lies down and sleeps enter helena helena 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 sorrows eye steal me awhile from mine own company sleeps puck yet but three come one more two of both kinds makes up four here she comes curst and sad cupid is a knavish lad thus to make poor females mad enter hermia hermia 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 lies down and sleeps puck on the ground sleep sound ill apply to your eye gentle lover remedy squeezing the juice on lysanders eyes when thou wakst thou takst true delight in the sight of thy former ladys 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 exit act iv scene i the wood lysander demetrius helena and hermia lying asleep enter titania and bottom peaseblossom cobweb moth mustardseed and other fairies attending oberon behind unseen titania come sit thee down upon this flowry 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 bottom wheres peaseblossom peaseblossom ready bottom scratch my head peaseblossom wheres mounsieur cobweb cobweb ready bottom mounsieur cobweb good mounsieur get you your weapons in your hand and kill me a red hippd 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 wheres mounsieur mustardseed mustardseed ready bottom give me your neaf mounsieur mustardseed pray you leave your curtsy good mounsieur mustardseed whats your will bottom nothing good mounsieur but to help cavalery cobweb to scratch i must to the barbers 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 titania what wilt thou hear some music my sweet love bottom i have a reasonable good ear in music lets have the tongs and the bones titania or say sweet love what thou desirest to eat bottom 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 titania i have a venturous fairy that shall seek the squirrels hoard and fetch thee new nuts bottom i had rather have a handful or two of dried peas but i pray you let none of your people stir me i have an exposition of sleep come upon me titania sleep thou and i will wind thee in my arms fairies be gone and be all ways away exeunt fairies 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 they sleep enter puck oberon advancing welcome good robin seest 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 beggd 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 nights accidents but as the fierce vexation of a dream but first i will release the fairy queen touching her eyes be as thou wast wont to be see as thou was wont to see dians bud oer cupids flower hath such force and blessed power now my titania wake you my sweet queen titania my oberon what visions have i seen methought i was enamourd of an ass oberon there lies your love titania how came these things to pass o how mine eyes do loathe his visage now oberon silence awhile robin take off this head titania music call and strike more dead than common sleep of all these five the sense titania music ho music such as charmeth sleep puck now when thou wakst with thine own fools eyes peep oberon sound music come my queen take hands with me music 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 an in jollity puck fairy king attend and mark i do hear the morning lark oberon then my queen in silence sad trip we after nights shade we the globe can compass soon swifter than the wandring moon titania 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 exeunt to the winding of horns enter theseus hippolyta egeus and train theseus go one of you find out the forester for now our observation is performd 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 exit an attendant we will fair queen up to the mountains top and mark the musical confusion of hounds and echo in conjunction hippolyta i was with hercules and cadmus once when in a wood of crete they bayd the bear with hounds of sparta never did i hear such gallant chiding for besides the groves the skies the fountains every region near seemd all one mutual cry i never heard so musical a discord such sweet thunder theseus my hounds are bred out of the spartan kind so flewd so sanded and their heads are hung with ears that sweep away the morning dew crook kneed and dew lappd like thessalian bulls slow in pursuit but matchd in mouth like bells each under each a cry more tuneable was never hollad to nor cheerd with horn in crete in sparta nor in thessaly judge when you hear but soft what nymphs are these egeus my lord this is my daughter here asleep and this lysander this demetrius is this helena old nedars helena i wonder of their being here together theseus 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 egeus it is my lord theseus go bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns horns and shout within the sleepers awake and kneel to theseus good morrow friends saint valentine is past begin these wood birds but to couple now lysander pardon my lord theseus 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 lysander 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 egeus enough enough my lord you have enough i beg the law the law upon his head they would have stoln 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 demetrius my lord fair helen told me of their stealth of this their purpose hither to this wood and i in fury hither followed 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 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 betrothd ere i saw hermia but like a sickness did i loathe this food but as in health come to my natural taste now i do wish it love it long for it and will for evermore be true to it theseus 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 purposd hunting shall be set aside away with us to athens three and three well hold a feast in great solemnity come hippolyta exeunt theseus hippolyta egeus and train demetrius these things seem small and undistinguishable like far off mountains turned into clouds hermia methinks i see these things with parted eye when every thing seems double helena so methinks and i have found demetrius like a jewel mine own and not mine own demetrius are you sure that we are awake it seems to me that yet we sleep we dream do not you think the duke was here and bid us follow him hermia yea and my father helena and hippolyta lysander and he did bid us follow to the temple demetrius why then we are awake lets follow him and by the way let us recount our dreams exeunt bottom awaking 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 gods my life stoln 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 patchd 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 mans 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 calld bottoms 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 exit scene ii athens quinces house enter quince flute snout and starveling quince have you sent to bottoms house is he come home yet starveling he cannot be heard of out of doubt he is transported flute if he come not then the play is marrd it goes not forward doth it quince it is not possible you have not a man in all athens able to discharge pyramus but he flute no he hath simply the best wit of any handicraft man in athens quince yea and the best person too and he is a very paramour for a sweet voice flute you must say paragon a paramour is god bless us a thing of naught enter snug snug 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 flute 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 ill be hanged he would have deserved it sixpence a day in pyramus or nothing enter bottom bottom where are these lads where are these hearts quince bottom o most courageous day o most happy hour bottom masters i am to discourse wonders but ask me not what for if i tell you i am not true athenian i will tell you everything right as it fell out quince let us hear sweet bottom 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 oer his part for the short and the long is our play is preferrd 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 lions 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 exeunt act v scene i athens the palace of theseus enter theseus hippolyta philostrate lords and attendants hippolyta tis strange my theseus that these lovers speak of theseus 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 helens beauty in a brow of egypt the poets 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 poets 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 supposd a bear hippolyta but all the story of the night told over and all their minds transfigurd so together more witnesseth than fancys images and grows to something of great constancy but howsoever strange and admirable enter lysander demetrius hermia and helena theseus here come the lovers full of joy and mirth joy gentle friends joy and fresh days of love accompany your hearts lysander more than to us wait in your royal walks your board your bed theseus 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 philostrate here mighty theseus 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 philostrate there is a brief how many sports are ripe make choice of which your highness will see first giving a paper theseus the battle with the centaurs to be sung by an athenian eunuch to the harp well 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 playd when i from thebes came last a conqueror the thrice three muses mourning for the death of learning late deceasd 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 thisby very tragical mirth merry and tragical tedious and brief that is hot ice and wondrous strange snow how shall we find the concord of this discord philostrate 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 rehearsd i must confess made mine eyes water but more merry tears the passion of loud laughter never shed theseus what are they that do play it philostrate hard handed men that work in athens here which never labourd in their minds till now and now have toild their unbreathed memories with this same play against your nuptial theseus and we will hear it philostrate 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 stretchd and connd with cruel pain to do you service theseus 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 exit philostrate hippolyta i love not to see wretchedness oer charged and duty in his service perishing theseus why gentle sweet you shall see no such thing hippolyta he says they can do nothing in this kind theseus 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 practisd 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 pickd 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 re enter philostrate philostrate so please your grace the prologue is addressd theseus let him approach flourish of trumpets enter quince as the prologue prologue 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 band and by their show you shall know all that you are like to know theseus this fellow doth not stand upon points lysander 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 hippolyta indeed he hath playd on this prologue like a child on a recorder a sound but not in government theseus his speech was like a tangled chain nothing im paired but all disordered who is next enter with a trumpet before them as in dumb show pyramus and thisby wall moonshine and lion prologue 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 walls 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 fled her mantle she did fall which lion vile with bloody mouth did stain anon comes pyramus sweet youth and tall and finds his trusty thisbys mantle slain whereat with blade with bloody blameful blade he bravely broachd 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 exeunt prologue pyramus thisby lion and moonshine theseus i wonder if the lion be to speak demetrius 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 theseus would you desire lime and hair to speak better demetrius it is the wittiest partition that ever i heard discourse my lord enter pyramus theseus pyramus draws near the wall silence pyramus o grim lookd 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 thisbys promise is forgot and thou o wall o sweet o lovely wall that standst between her fathers ground and mine thou wall o wall o sweet and lovely wall show me thy chink to blink through with mine eyne wall holds up his fingers thanks courteous wall jove shield thee well for this but what see what see i no thisby do i see o wicked wall through whom i see no bliss cursd he thy stones for thus deceiving me theseus the wall methinks being sensible should curse again pyramus no in truth sir he should not deceiving me is thisbys 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 enter thisby thisby o wall full often hast thou beard my moans for parting my fair pyramus and me my cherry lips have often kissd thy stones thy stones with lime and hair knit up in thee pyramus i see a voice now will i to the chink to spy an i can hear my thisbys face thisby thisby my love thou art my love i think pyramus think what thou wilt i am thy lovers grace and like limander am i trusty still thisby and i like helen till the fates me kill pyramus not shafalus to procrus was so true thisby as shafalus to procrus i to you pyramus o kiss me through the hole of this vile wall thisby i kiss the walls hole not your lips at all pyramus wilt thou at ninnys tomb meet me straightway thisby tide life tide death i come without delay exeunt pyramus and thisby wall thus have i wall my part discharged so and being done thus wall away doth go exit wall theseus now is the moon used between the two neighbours demetrius no remedy my lord when walls are so wilful to hear without warning hippolyta this is the silliest stuff that ever i heard theseus the best in this kind are but shadows and the worst are no worse if imagination amend them hippolyta it must be your imagination then and not theirs theseus 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 enter lion and moonshine 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 as snug the joiner am a lion fell nor else no lions dam for if i should as lion come in strife into this place twere pity on my life theseus a very gentle beast and of a good conscience demetrius the very best at a beast my lord that eer i saw lysander this lion is a very fox for his valour theseus true and a goose for his discretion demetrius not so my lord for his valour cannot carry his discretion and the fox carries the goose theseus 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 moonshine this lanthorn doth the horned moon present demetrius he should have worn the horns on his head theseus he is no crescent and his horns are invisible within the circumference moonshine this lanthorn doth the horned moon present myself the man i th moon do seem to be theseus this is the greatest error of all the rest the man should be put into the lantern how is it else the man i th moon demetrius he dares not come there for the candle for you see it is already in snuff hippolyta i am aweary of this moon would he would change theseus 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 lysander proceed moon moon all that i have to say is to tell you that the lanthorn is the moon i the man i th moon this thorn bush my thorn bush and this dog my dog demetrius why all these should be in the lantern for all these are in the moon but silence here comes thisby re enter thisby thisby this is old ninnys tomb where is my love lion roaring o thisby runs off demetrius well roard lion theseus well run thisby hippolyta well shone moon truly the moon shines with a good grace the lion tears thisbys mantle and exit theseus well mousd lion re enter pyramus demetrius and then came pyramus lysander and so the lion vanishd pyramus sweet moon i thank thee for thy sunny beams i thank thee moon for shining now so bright for by thy gracious golden glittering gleams i trust to take of truest thisby sight but stay o spite but mark poor knight what dreadful dole is here eyes do you see how can it he o dainty duck o dear thy mantle good what staind with blood approach ye furies fell o fates come come cut thread and thrum quail crush conclude and quell theseus this passion and the death of a dear friend would go near to make a man look sad hippolyta beshrew my heart but i pity the man pyramus o wherefore nature didst thou lions frame since lion vile hath here deflowerd my dear which is no no which was the fairest dame that livd that lovd that likd that lookd with cheer come tears confound out sword and wound the pap of pyramus ay that left pap where heart doth hop stabs himself 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 exit moonshine now die die die die die dies demetrius no die but an ace for him for he is but one lysander less than an ace man for he is dead he is nothing theseus with the help of a surgeon he might yet recover and yet prove an ass hippolyta how chance moonshine is gone before thisby comes back and finds her lover re enter thisby theseus she will find him by starlight here she comes and her passion ends the play hippolyta methinks she should not use a long one for such a pyramus i hope she will be brief demetrius a mote will turn the balance which pyramus which thisby is the better he for a man god warrant us she for a woman god bless us lysander she hath spied him already with those sweet eyes demetrius and thus she moans videlicet thisby 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 stabs herself and farewell friends thus thisby ends adieu adieu adieu dies theseus moonshine and lion are left to bury the dead demetrius ay and wall too bottom starting up 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 theseus 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 hangd himself in thisbys garter it would have been a fine tragedy and so it is truly and very notably dischargd but come your bergomask let your epilogue alone a dance 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 overwatchd this palpable gross play hath well beguild the heavy gait of night sweet friends to bed a fortnight hold we this solemnity in nightly revels and new jollity exeunt enter puck with a broom puck 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 hecates team from the presence of the sun following darkness like a dream now are frolic not a mouse shall disturb this hallowed house i am sent with broom before to sweep the dust behind the door enter oberon and titania with all their train oberon 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 titania 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 oberon leading the fairies sing and dance oberon 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 natures 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 and the owner of it blest ever shall in safety rest trip away make no stay meet me all by break of day exeunt all but puck puck if we shadows have offended think but this and all is mended that you have but slumbred 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 am an honest puck if we have unearned luck now to scape the serpents 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 exit the end much ado about nothing by william shakespeare contents act i scene i before leonatos house scene ii a room in leonatos house scene iii another room in leonatos house act ii scene i a hall in leonatos house scene ii another room in leonatos house scene iii leonatos garden act iii scene i leonatos garden scene ii a room in leonatos house scene iii a street scene iv a room in leonatos house scene v another room in leonatos house act iv scene i the inside of a church scene ii a prison act v scene i before leonatos house scene ii leonatos garden scene iii the inside of a church scene iv a room in leonatos house dramatis personae don pedro prince of arragon don john his bastard brother claudio a young lord of florence benedick a young lord of padua leonato governor of messina antonio his brother balthasar servant to don pedro borachio follower of don john conrade follower of don john dogberry a constable verges a headborough friar francis a sexton a boy hero daughter to leonato beatrice niece to leonato margaret waiting gentlewoman attending on hero ursula waiting gentlewoman attending on hero messengers watch attendants etc scene messina act i scene i before leonatos house enter leonato hero beatrice and others with a messenger leonato i learn in this letter that don pedro of arragon comes this night to messina messenger he is very near by this he was not three leagues off when i left him leonato how many gentlemen have you lost in this action messenger but few of any sort and none of name leonato 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 messenger 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 leonato he hath an uncle here in messina will be very much glad of it messenger 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 leonato did he break out into tears messenger in great measure leonato 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 beatrice i pray you is signior mountanto returned from the wars or no messenger i know none of that name lady there was none such in the army of any sort leonato what is he that you ask for niece hero my cousin means signior benedick of padua messenger o he is returned and as pleasant as ever he was beatrice he set up his bills here in messina and challenged cupid at the flight and my uncles 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 leonato faith niece you tax signior benedick too much but hell be meet with you i doubt it not messenger he hath done good service lady in these wars beatrice you had musty victual and he hath holp to eat it he is a very valiant trencher man he hath an excellent stomach messenger and a good soldier too lady beatrice and a good soldier to a lady but what is he to a lord messenger a lord to a lord a man to a man stuffed with all honourable virtues beatrice it is so indeed he is no less than a stuffed man but for the stuffing well we are all mortal leonato you must not sir mistake my niece there is a kind of merry war betwixt signior benedick and her they never meet but theres a skirmish of wit between them beatrice 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 messenger ist possible beatrice very easily possible he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat it ever changes with the next block messenger i see lady the gentleman is not in your books beatrice no and 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 messenger he is most in the company of the right noble claudio beatrice 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 he be cured messenger i will hold friends with you lady beatrice do good friend leonato you will never run mad niece beatrice no not till a hot january messenger don pedro is approached enter don pedro don john claudio benedick balthasar and others don pedro good signior leonato you are come to meet your trouble the fashion of the world is to avoid cost and you encounter it leonato 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 don pedro you embrace your charge too willingly i think this is your daughter leonato her mother hath many times told me so benedick were you in doubt sir that you asked her leonato signior benedick no for then were you a child don pedro 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 benedick if signior leonato be her father she would not have his head on her shoulders for all messina as like him as she is beatrice i wonder that you will still be talking signior benedick nobody marks you benedick what my dear lady disdain are you yet living beatrice 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 benedick 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 beatrice 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 benedick god keep your ladyship still in that mind so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face beatrice scratching could not make it worse and twere such a face as yours were benedick well you are a rare parrot teacher beatrice a bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours benedick i would my horse had the speed of your tongue and so good a continuer but keep your way i gods name i have done beatrice you always end with a jades trick i know you of old don pedro that 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 heartly prays some occasion may detain us longer i dare swear he is no hypocrite but prays from his heart leonato if you swear my lord you shall not be forsworn to don john let me bid you welcome my lord being reconciled to the prince your brother i owe you all duty don john i thank you i am not of many words but i thank you leonato please it your grace lead on don pedro your hand leonato we will go together exeunt all but benedick and claudio claudio benedick didst thou note the daughter of signior leonato benedick i noted her not but i looked on her claudio is she not a modest young lady benedick 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 claudio no i pray thee speak in sober judgment benedick why i faith methinks shes 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 claudio thou thinkest i am in sport i pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her benedick would you buy her that you enquire after her claudio can the world buy such a jewel benedick 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 claudio in mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever i looked on benedick i can see yet without spectacles and i see no such matter theres her cousin and 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 claudio i would scarce trust myself though i had sworn to the contrary if hero would be my wife benedick ist come to this in faith hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion shall i never see a bachelor of threescore again go to i faith and thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke wear the print of it and sigh away sundays re enter don pedro look don pedro is returned to seek you don pedro what secret hath held you here that you followed not to leonatos benedick i would your grace would constrain me to tell don pedro i charge thee on thy allegiance benedick 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 graces part mark how short his answer is with hero leonatos short daughter claudio if this were so so were it uttered benedick like the old tale my lord it is not so nor twas not so but indeed god forbid it should be so claudio if my passion change not shortly god forbid it should be otherwise don pedro amen if you love her for the lady is very well worthy claudio you speak this to fetch me in my lord don pedro by my troth i speak my thought claudio and in faith my lord i spoke mine benedick and by my two faiths and troths my lord i spoke mine claudio that i love her i feel don pedro that she is worthy i know benedick 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 don pedro thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty claudio and never could maintain his part but in the force of his will benedick 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 don pedro i shall see thee ere i die look pale with love benedick 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 makers pen and hang me up at the door of a brothel house for the sign of blind cupid don pedro well if ever thou dost fall from this faith thou wilt prove a notable argument benedick 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 don pedro well as time shall try in time the savage bull doth bear the yoke benedick the savage bull may but if ever the sensible benedick bear it pluck off the bulls 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 claudio if this should ever happen thou wouldst be horn mad don pedro nay if cupid have not spent all his quiver in venice thou wilt quake for this shortly benedick i look for an earthquake too then don pedro well you will temporize with the hours in the meantime good signior benedick repair to leonatos commend me to him and tell him i will not fail him at supper for indeed he hath made great preparation benedick i have almost matter enough in me for such an embassage and so i commit you claudio to the tuition of god from my house if i had it don pedro the sixth of july your loving friend benedick 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 exit claudio my liege your highness now may do me good don pedro 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 claudio hath leonato any son my lord don pedro no child but hero shes his only heir dost thou affect her claudio claudio o my lord when you went onward on this ended action i looked upon her with a soldiers eye that likd but had a rougher task in hand than to drive liking to the name of love but now i am returnd 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 likd her ere i went to wars don pedro 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 wast not to this end that thou beganst to twist so fine a story claudio how sweetly you do minister to love that know loves grief by his complexion but lest my liking might too sudden seem i would have salvd it with a longer treatise don pedro what need the bridge much broader than the flood the fairest grant is the necessity look what will serve is fit tis once thou lovst and i will fit thee with the remedy i know we shall have revelling tonight i will assume thy part in some disguise and tell fair hero i am claudio and in her bosom ill 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 exeunt scene ii a room in leonatos house enter leonato and antonio meeting leonato how now brother where is my cousin your son hath he provided this music antonio he is very busy about it but brother i can tell you strange news that you yet dreamt not of leonato are they good antonio 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 leonato hath the fellow any wit that told you this antonio a good sharp fellow i will send for him and question him yourself leonato 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 several persons cross the stage 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 exeunt scene iii another room in leonatos house enter don john and conrade conrade what the good year my lord why are you thus out of measure sad don john there is no measure in the occasion that breeds therefore the sadness is without limit conrade you should hear reason don john and when i have heard it what blessings brings it conrade if not a present remedy at least a patient sufferance don john i wonder that thou being as thou sayst 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 mans jests eat when i have stomach and wait for no mans leisure sleep when i am drowsy and tend on no mans business laugh when i am merry and claw no man in his humour conrade 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 taen 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 don john 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 conrade can you make no use of your discontent don john i make all use of it for i use it only who comes here enter borachio what news borachio 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 don john will it serve for any model to build mischief on what is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness borachio marry it is your brothers right hand don john who the most exquisite claudio borachio even he don john a proper squire and who and who which way looks he borachio marry on hero the daughter and heir of leonato don john a very forward march chick how came you to this borachio 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 don john 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 conrade to the death my lord don john 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 to prove whats to be done borachio well wait upon your lordship exeunt act ii scene i a hall in leonatos house enter leonato antonio hero beatrice and others leonato was not count john here at supper antonio i saw him not beatrice how tartly that gentleman looks i never can see him but i am heart burned an hour after hero he is of a very melancholy disposition beatrice 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 ladys eldest son evermore tattling leonato then half signior benedicks tongue in count johns mouth and half count johns melancholy in signior benedicks face beatrice 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 leonato by my troth niece thou wilt never get thee a husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue antonio in faith shes too curst beatrice too curst is more than curst i shall lessen gods sending that way for it is said god sends a curst cow short horns but to a cow too curst he sends none leonato so by being too curst god will send you no horns beatrice 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 leonato you may light on a husband that hath no beard beatrice 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 leonato well then go you into hell beatrice 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 heres 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 antonio to hero well niece i trust you will be ruled by your father beatrice yes faith it is my cousins 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 leonato well niece i hope to see you one day fitted with a husband beatrice 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 ill none adams sons are my brethren and truly i hold it a sin to match in my kindred leonato daughter remember what i told you if the prince do solicit you in that kind you know your answer beatrice 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 cinquepace 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 cinquepace faster and faster till he sink into his grave leonato cousin you apprehend passing shrewdly beatrice i have a good eye uncle i can see a church by daylight leonato the revellers are entering brother make good room enter don pedro claudio benedick balthasar don john borachio margaret ursula and others masked don pedro lady will you walk about with your friend hero so you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing i am yours for the walk and especially when i walk away don pedro with me in your company hero i may say so when i please don pedro and when please you to say so hero when i like your favour for god defend the lute should be like the case don pedro my visor is philemons roof within the house is jove hero why then your visor should be thatchd don pedro speak low if you speak love takes her aside balthasar well i would you did like me margaret so would not i for your own sake for i have many ill qualities balthasar which is one margaret i say my prayers aloud balthasar i love you the better the hearers may cry amen margaret god match me with a good dancer balthasar amen margaret and god keep him out of my sight when the dance is done answer clerk balthasar no more words the clerk is answered ursula i know you well enough you are signior antonio antonio at a word i am not ursula i know you by the waggling of your head antonio to tell you true i counterfeit him ursula you could never do him so ill well unless you were the very man heres his dry hand up and down you are he you are he antonio at a word i am not ursula 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 theres an end beatrice will you not tell me who told you so benedick no you shall pardon me beatrice nor will you not tell me who you are benedick not now beatrice 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 benedick whats he beatrice i am sure you know him well enough benedick not i believe me beatrice did he never make you laugh benedick i pray you what is he beatrice why he is the princes 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 villainy 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 benedick when i know the gentleman ill tell him what you say beatrice do do hell but break a comparison or two on me which peradventure not marked or not laughed at strikes him into melancholy and then theres a partridge wing saved for the fool will eat no supper that night music within we must follow the leaders benedick in every good thing beatrice nay if they lead to any ill i will leave them at the next turning dance then exeunt all but don john borachio and claudio don john 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 borachio and that is claudio i know him by his bearing don john are you not signior benedick claudio you know me well i am he don john 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 claudio how know you he loves her don john i heard him swear his affection borachio so did i too and he swore he would marry her tonight don john come let us to the banquet exeunt don john and borachio claudio thus answer i in name of benedick but hear these ill news with the ears of claudio tis certain so the prince wooes 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 re enter benedick benedick count claudio claudio yea the same benedick come will you go with me claudio whither benedick even to the next willow about your own business count what fashion will you wear the garland of about your neck like a usurers chain or under your arm like a lieutenants scarf you must wear it one way for the prince hath got your hero claudio i wish him joy of her benedick why thats spoken like an honest drovier so they sell bullocks but did you think the prince would have served you thus claudio i pray you leave me benedick ho now you strike like the blind man twas the boy that stole your meat and youll beat the post claudio if it will not be ill leave you exit benedick alas poor hurt fowl now will he creep into sedges but that my lady beatrice should know me and not know me the princes 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 ill be revenged as i may re enter don pedro don pedro now signior wheres the count did you see him benedick 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 don pedro to be whipped whats his fault benedick the flat transgression of a school boy who being overjoyd with finding a birds nest shows it his companion and he steals it don pedro wilt thou make a trust a transgression the transgression is in the stealer benedick 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 birds nest don pedro i will but teach them to sing and restore them to the owner benedick if their singing answer your saying by my faith you say honestly don pedro the lady beatrice hath a quarrel to you the gentleman that danced with her told her she is much wronged by you benedick 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 princes 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 re enter claudio beatrice hero and leonato don pedro look here she comes benedick will your grace command me any service to the worlds 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 johns foot fetch you a hair off the great chams beard do you any embassage to the pygmies rather than hold three words conference with this harpy you have no employment for me don pedro none but to desire your good company benedick o god sir heres a dish i love not i cannot endure my lady tongue exit don pedro come lady come you have lost the heart of signior benedick beatrice 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 don pedro you have put him down lady you have put him down beatrice 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 don pedro why how now count wherefore are you sad claudio not sad my lord don pedro how then sick claudio neither my lord beatrice the count is neither sad nor sick nor merry nor well but civil count civil as an orange and something of that jealous complexion don pedro i faith lady i think your blazon to be true though ill 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 leonato count take of me my daughter and with her my fortunes his grace hath made the match and all grace say amen to it beatrice speak count tis your cue claudio 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 beatrice speak cousin or if you cannot stop his mouth with a kiss and let not him speak neither don pedro in faith lady you have a merry heart beatrice 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 claudio and so she doth cousin beatrice good lord for alliance thus goes everyone to the world but i and i am sunburnt i may sit in a corner and cry heigh ho for a husband don pedro lady beatrice i will get you one beatrice i would rather have one of your fathers getting hath your grace neer a brother like you your father got excellent husbands if a maid could come by them don pedro will you have me lady beatrice 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 don pedro your silence most offends me and to be merry best becomes you for out of question you were born in a merry hour beatrice 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 leonato niece will you look to those things i told you of beatrice i cry you mercy uncle by your graces pardon exit don pedro by my troth a pleasant spirited lady leonato theres 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 don pedro she cannot endure to hear tell of a husband leonato o by no means she mocks all her wooers out of suit don pedro she were an excellent wife for benedick leonato o lord my lord if they were but a week married they would talk themselves mad don pedro count claudio when mean you to go to church claudio tomorrow my lord time goes on crutches till love have all his rites leonato 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 don pedro 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 leonato my lord i am for you though it cost me ten nights watchings claudio and i my lord don pedro and you too gentle hero hero i will do any modest office my lord to help my cousin to a good husband don pedro 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 exeunt scene ii another room in leonatos house enter don john and borachio don john it is so the count claudio shall marry the daughter of leonato borachio yea my lord but i can cross it don john 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 borachio not honestly my lord but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me don john show me briefly how borachio i think i told your lordship a year since how much i am in the favour of margaret the waiting gentlewoman to hero don john i remember borachio i can at any unseasonable instant of the night appoint her to look out at her ladys chamber window don john what life is in that to be the death of this marriage borachio 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 don john what proof shall i make of that borachio proof enough to misuse the prince to vex claudio to undo hero and kill leonato look you for any other issue don john only to despite them i will endeavour anything borachio 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 brothers honour who hath made this match and his friends 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 heros disloyalty that jealousy shall be called assurance and all the preparation overthrown don john 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 borachio be you constant in the accusation and my cunning shall not shame me don john i will presently go learn their day of marriage exeunt scene iii leonatos garden enter benedick benedick boy enter a boy boy signior benedick in my chamber window lies a book bring it hither to me in the orchard boy i am here already sir benedick 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 orthography 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 ill 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 thats certain wise or ill none virtuous or ill never cheapen her fair or ill 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 withdraws enter don pedro leonato and claudio followed by balthasar and musicians don pedro come shall we hear this music claudio yea my good lord how still the evening is as hushd on purpose to grace harmony don pedro see you where benedick hath hid himself claudio o very well my lord the music ended well fit the kid fox with a penny worth don pedro come balthasar well hear that song again balthasar o good my lord tax not so bad a voice to slander music any more than once don pedro 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 balthasar because you talk of wooing i will sing since many a wooer doth commence his suit to her he thinks not worthy yet he wooes yet will he swear he loves don pedro nay pray thee come or if thou wilt hold longer argument do it in notes balthasar note this before my notes theres not a note of mine thats worth the noting don pedro why these are very crotchets that he speaks notes notes forsooth and nothing music benedick now divine air now is his soul ravished is it not strange that sheeps guts should hale souls out of mens bodies well a horn for my money when alls done balthasar sings 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 don pedro by my troth a good song balthasar and an ill singer my lord don pedro ha no no faith thou singest well enough for a shift benedick aside and 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 don pedro yea marry dost thou hear balthasar i pray thee get us some excellent music for tomorrow night we would have it at the lady heros chamber window balthasar the best i can my lord don pedro do so farewell exeunt balthasar and musicians come hither leonato what was it you told me of today that your niece beatrice was in love with signior benedick claudio o ay aside to don pedro stalk on stalk on the fowl sits i did never think that lady would have loved any man leonato 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 benedick aside ist possible sits the wind in that corner leonato 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 don pedro maybe she doth but counterfeit claudio faith like enough leonato o god counterfeit there was never counterfeit of passion came so near the life of passion as she discovers it don pedro why what effects of passion shows she claudio aside bait the hook well this fish will bite leonato what effects my lord she will sit you to claudio you heard my daughter tell you how claudio she did indeed don pedro how how i pray you you amaze me i would have thought her spirit had been invincible against all assaults of affection leonato i would have sworn it had my lord especially against benedick benedick aside i should think this a gull but that the white bearded fellow speaks it knavery cannot sure hide itself in such reverence claudio aside he hath taen the infection hold it up don pedro hath she made her affection known to benedick leonato no and swears she never will thats her torment claudio 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 leonato this says she now when she is beginning to write to him for shell 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 claudio now you talk of a sheet of paper i remember a pretty jest your daughter told us of leonato o when she had writ it and was reading it over she found benedick and beatrice between the sheet claudio that leonato 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 claudio then down upon her knees she falls weeps sobs beats her heart tears her hair prays curses o sweet benedick god give me patience leonato 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 don pedro it were good that benedick knew of it by some other if she will not discover it claudio to what end he would make but a sport of it and torment the poor lady worse don pedro and he should it were an alms to hang him shes an excellent sweet lady and out of all suspicion she is virtuous claudio and she is exceeding wise don pedro in everything but in loving benedick leonato 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 don pedro 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 he will say leonato were it good think you claudio 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 don pedro she doth well if she should make tender of her love tis very possible hell scorn it for the man as you know all hath a contemptible spirit claudio he is a very proper man don pedro he hath indeed a good outward happiness claudio fore god and in my mind very wise don pedro he doth indeed show some sparks that are like wit claudio and i take him to be valiant don pedro 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 leonato 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 don pedro 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 claudio never tell him my lord let her wear it out with good counsel leonato nay thats impossible she may wear her heart out first don pedro 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 so good a lady leonato my lord will you walk dinner is ready claudio aside if he do not dote on her upon this i will never trust my expectation don pedro aside 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 anothers dotage and no such matter thats the scene that i would see which will be merely a dumb show let us send her to call him in to dinner exeunt don pedro claudio and leonato benedick advancing from the arbour 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 shes a fair lady i do spy some marks of love in her enter beatrice beatrice against my will i am sent to bid you come in to dinner benedick fair beatrice i thank you for your pains beatrice 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 benedick you take pleasure then in the message beatrice yea just so much as you may take upon a knifes point and choke a daw withal you have no stomach signior fare you well exit benedick ha against my will i am sent to bid you come in to dinner theres a double meaning in that i took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank me thats 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 exit act iii scene i leonatos garden enter hero margaret and ursula hero 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 ursala walk in the orchard and our whole discourse is all of her say that thou overheardst us and bid her steal into the pleached bower where honey suckles ripend 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 margaret ill make her come i warrant you presently exit hero 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 cupids crafty arrow made that only wounds by hearsay enter beatrice behind now begin for look where beatrice like a lapwing runs close by the ground to hear our conference ursula the pleasantst 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 hero then go we near her that her ear lose nothing of the false sweet bait that we lay for it they advance to the bower no truly ursula she is too disdainful i know her spirits are as coy and wild as haggards of the rock ursula but are you sure that benedick loves beatrice so entirely hero so says the prince and my new trothed lord ursula and did they bid you tell her of it madam hero they did entreat me to acquaint her of it but i persuaded them if they lovd benedick to wish him wrestle with affection and never to let beatrice know of it ursula why did you so doth not the gentleman deserve as full as fortunate a bed as ever beatrice shall couch upon hero o god of love i know he doth deserve as much as may be yielded to a man but nature never framd a womans 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 endeard ursula sure i think so and therefore certainly it were not good she knew his love lest she make sport at it hero why you speak truth i never yet saw man how wise how noble young how rarely featurd but she would spell him backward if fair facd 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 ursula sure sure such carping is not commendable hero 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 coverd fire consume away in sighs waste inwardly it were a better death than die with mocks which is as bad as die with tickling ursula yet tell her of it hear what she will say hero no rather i will go to benedick and counsel him to fight against his passion and truly ill devise some honest slanders to stain my cousin with one doth not know how much an ill word may empoison liking ursula 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 prizd to have as to refuse so rare a gentleman as signior benedick hero he is the only man of italy always excepted my dear claudio ursula 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 hero indeed he hath an excellent good name ursula his excellence did earn it ere he had it when are you married madam hero why every day tomorrow come go in ill show thee some attires and have thy counsel which is the best to furnish me tomorrow ursula shes limd i warrant you we have caught her madam hero if it prove so then loving goes by haps some cupid kills with arrows some with traps exeunt hero and ursula beatrice advancing what fire is in mine ears can this be true stand i condemnd 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 exit scene ii a room in leonatos house enter don pedro claudio benedick and leonato don pedro i do but stay till your marriage be consummate and then go i toward arragon claudio ill bring you thither my lord if youll vouchsafe me don pedro 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 cupids bowstring 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 benedick gallants i am not as i have been leonato so say i methinks you are sadder claudio i hope he be in love don pedro hang him truant theres no true drop of blood in him to be truly touched with love if he be sad he wants money benedick i have the tooth ache don pedro draw it benedick hang it claudio you must hang it first and draw it afterwards don pedro what sigh for the tooth ache leonato where is but a humour or a worm benedick well everyone can master a grief but he that has it claudio yet say i he is in love don pedro there is no appearance of fancy in him unless it be a fancy that he hath to strange disguises as to be a dutchman today a frenchman tomorrow 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 claudio 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 don pedro hath any man seen him at the barbers claudio no but the barbers man hath been seen with him and the old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis balls leonato indeed he looks younger than he did by the loss of a beard don pedro nay a rubs himself with civet can you smell him out by that claudio thats as much as to say the sweet youths in love don pedro the greatest note of it is his melancholy claudio and when was he wont to wash his face don pedro yea or to paint himself for the which i hear what they say of him claudio nay but his jesting spirit which is now crept into a lute string and now governed by stops don pedro indeed that tells a heavy tale for him conclude conclude he is in love claudio nay but i know who loves him don pedro that would i know too i warrant one that knows him not claudio yes and his ill conditions and in despite of all dies for him don pedro she shall be buried with her face upwards benedick 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 exeunt benedick and leonato don pedro for my life to break with him about beatrice claudio 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 enter don john don john my lord and brother god save you don pedro good den brother don john if your leisure served i would speak with you don pedro in private don john if it please you yet count claudio may hear for what i would speak of concerns him don pedro whats the matter don john to claudio means your lordship to be married tomorrow don pedro you know he does don john i know not that when he knows what i know claudio if there be any impediment i pray you discover it don john 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 don pedro why whats the matter don john i came hither to tell you and circumstances shortened for she has been too long a talking of the lady is disloyal claudio who hero don john even she leonatos hero your hero every mans hero claudio disloyal don john the words 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 tonight you shall see her chamber window entered even the night before her wedding day if you love her then tomorrow wed her but it would better fit your honour to change your mind claudio may this be so don pedro i will not think it don john 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 claudio if i see anything tonight why i should not marry her tomorrow in the congregation where i should wed there will i shame her don pedro and as i wooed for thee to obtain her i will join with thee to disgrace her don john i will disparage her no farther till you are my witnesses bear it coldly but till midnight and let the issue show itself don pedro o day untowardly turned claudio o mischief strangely thwarting don john o plague right well prevented so will you say when you have seen the sequel exeunt scene iii a street enter dogberry and verges with the watch dogberry are you good men and true verges yea or else it were pity but they should suffer salvation body and soul dogberry nay that were a punishment too good for them if they should have any allegiance in them being chosen for the princes watch verges well give them their charge neighbour dogberry dogberry first who think you the most desartless man to be constable first watch hugh oatcake sir or george seacoal for they can write and read dogberry 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 second watch both which master constable dogberry 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 princes name second watch how if a will not stand dogberry 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 verges if he will not stand when he is bidden he is none of the princes subjects dogberry true and they are to meddle with none but the princes 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 second watch we will rather sleep than talk we know what belongs to a watch dogberry 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 second watch how if they will not dogberry 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 second watch well sir dogberry 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 second watch if we know him to be a thief shall we not lay hands on him dogberry 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 verges you have been always called a merciful man partner dogberry truly i would not hang a dog by my will much more a man who hath any honesty in him verges if you hear a child cry in the night you must call to the nurse and bid her still it second watch how if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us dogberry 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 verges tis very true dogberry this is the end of the charge you constable are to present the princes own person if you meet the prince in the night you may stay him verges nay byr lady that i think a cannot dogberry five shillings to one ont with any man that knows the statutes 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 verges byr lady i think it be so dogberry 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 second watch well masters we hear our charge let us go sit here upon the church bench till two and then all to bed dogberry one word more honest neighbours i pray you watch about signior leonatos door for the wedding being there tomorrow there is a great coil tonight adieu be vigitant i beseech you exeunt dogberry and verges enter borachio and conrade borachio what conrade watch aside peace stir not borachio conrade i say conrade here man i am at thy elbow borachio mass and my elbow itched i thought there would a scab follow conrade i will owe thee an answer for that and now forward with thy tale borachio stand thee close then under this penthouse for it drizzles rain and i will like a true drunkard utter all to thee watch aside some treason masters yet stand close borachio therefore know i have earned of don john a thousand ducats conrade is it possible that any villainy should be so dear borachio thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any villainy should be so rich for when rich villains have need of poor ones poor ones may make what price they will conrade i wonder at it borachio that shows thou art unconfirmed thou knowest that the fashion of a doublet or a hat or a cloak is nothing to a man conrade yes it is apparel borachio i mean the fashion conrade yes the fashion is the fashion borachio tush i may as well say the fools the fool but seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is watch aside 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 borachio didst thou not hear somebody conrade no twas the vane on the house borachio 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 pharaohs soldiers in the reechy painting sometime like god bels priests in the old church window sometime like the shaven hercules in the smirched worm eaten tapestry where his codpiece seems as massy as his club conrade 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 borachio not so neither but know that i have tonight wooed margaret the lady heros 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 conrade and thought they margaret was hero borachio 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 villainy 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 oer night and send her home again without a husband first watch we charge you in the princes name stand second watch call up the right master constable we have here recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth first watch and one deformed is one of them i know him a wears a lock conrade masters masters second watch youll be made bring deformed forth i warrant you conrade masters first watch never speak we charge you let us obey you to go with us borachio we are like to prove a goodly commodity being taken up of these mens bills conrade a commodity in question i warrant you come well obey you exeunt scene iv a room in leonatos house enter hero margaret and ursula hero good ursula wake my cousin beatrice and desire her to rise ursula i will lady hero and bid her come hither ursula well exit margaret troth i think your other rebato were better hero no pray thee good meg ill wear this margaret by my troths not so good and i warrant your cousin will say so hero my cousin s a fool and thou art another ill wear none but this margaret 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 milans gown that they praise so hero o that exceeds they say margaret 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 ont hero god give me joy to wear it for my heart is exceeding heavy margaret twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man hero fie upon thee art not ashamed margaret 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 ill offend nobody is there any harm in the heavier for a husband none i think and it be the right husband and the right wife otherwise tis light and not heavy ask my lady beatrice else here she comes enter beatrice hero good morrow coz beatrice good morrow sweet hero hero why how now do you speak in the sick tune beatrice i am out of all other tune methinks margaret claps into light o love that goes without a burden do you sing it and ill dance it beatrice ye light o love with your heels then if your husband have stables enough youll see he shall lack no barnes margaret o illegitimate construction i scorn that with my heels beatrice tis almost five oclock cousin tis time you were ready by my troth i am exceeding ill heigh ho margaret for a hawk a horse or a husband beatrice for the letter that begins them all h margaret well and you be not turned turk theres no more sailing by the star beatrice what means the fool trow margaret nothing i but god send everyone their hearts desire hero these gloves the count sent me they are an excellent perfume beatrice i am stuffed cousin i cannot smell margaret a maid and stuffed theres goodly catching of cold beatrice o god help me god help me how long have you professed apprehension margaret ever since you left it doth not my wit become me rarely beatrice it is not seen enough you should wear it in your cap by my troth i am sick margaret get you some of this distilled carduus benedictus and lay it to your heart it is the only thing for a qualm hero there thou prickst her with a thistle beatrice benedictus why benedictus you have some moral in this benedictus margaret 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 byr 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 beatrice what pace is this that thy tongue keeps margaret not a false gallop re enter ursula ursula madam withdraw the prince the count signior benedick don john and all the gallants of the town are come to fetch you to church hero help to dress me good coz good meg good ursula exeunt scene v another room in leonatos house enter leonato and dogberry and verges leonato what would you with me honest neighbour dogberry marry sir i would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly leonato brief i pray you for you see it is a busy time with me dogberry marry this it is sir verges yes in truth it is sir leonato what is it my good friends dogberry 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 verges yes i thank god i am as honest as any man living that is an old man and no honester than i dogberry comparisons are odorous palabras neighbour verges leonato neighbours you are tedious dogberry it pleases your worship to say so but we are the poor dukes 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 leonato all thy tediousness on me ah dogberry yea and twere 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 verges and so am i leonato i would fain know what you have to say verges marry sir our watch tonight excepting your worships presence ha taen a couple of as arrant knaves as any in messina dogberry 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 gods a good man and 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 leonato indeed neighbour he comes too short of you dogberry gifts that god gives leonato i must leave you dogberry one word sir our watch sir have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons and we would have them this morning examined before your worship leonato take their examination yourself and bring it me i am now in great haste as may appear unto you dogberry it shall be suffigance leonato drink some wine ere you go fare you well enter a messenger messenger my lord they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband leonato ill wait upon them i am ready exeunt leonato and messenger dogberry 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 verges and we must do it wisely dogberry we will spare for no wit i warrant you heres 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 exeunt act iv scene i the inside of a church enter don pedro don john leonato friar francis claudio benedick hero beatrice etc leonato come friar francis be brief only to the plain form of marriage and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards friar you come hither my lord to marry this lady claudio no leonato to be married to her friar you come to marry her friar lady you come hither to be married to this count hero i do friar if either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined i charge you on your souls to utter it claudio know you any hero hero none my lord friar know you any count leonato i dare make his answer none claudio o what men dare do what men may do what men daily do not knowing what they do benedick how now interjections why then some be of laughing as ah ha he claudio stand thee by friar father by your leave will you with free and unconstrained soul give me this maid your daughter leonato as freely son as god did give her me claudio and what have i to give you back whose worth may counterpoise this rich and precious gift don pedro nothing unless you render her again claudio sweet prince you learn me noble thankfulness there leonato take her back again give not this rotten orange to your friend shes 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 leonato what do you mean my lord claudio not to be married not to knit my soul to an approved wanton leonato dear my lord if you in your own proof have vanquishd the resistance of her youth and made defeat of her virginity claudio i know what you would say if i have known her you will 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 showd bashful sincerity and comely love hero and seemd i ever otherwise to you claudio 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 pamperd animals that rage in savage sensuality hero is my lord well that he doth speak so wide leonato sweet prince why speak not you don pedro what should i speak i stand dishonourd that have gone about to link my dear friend to a common stale leonato are these things spoken or do i but dream don john sir they are spoken and these things are true benedick this looks not like a nuptial hero true o god claudio leonato stand i here is this the prince is this the princes brother is this face heros are our eyes our own leonato all this is so but what of this my lord claudio 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 leonato i charge thee do so as thou art my child hero o god defend me how am i beset what kind of catechizing call you this claudio to make you answer truly to your name hero is it not hero who can blot that name with any just reproach claudio marry that can hero hero itself can blot out heros virtue what man was he talkd with you yesternight out at your window betwixt twelve and one now if you are a maid answer to this hero i talkd with no man at that hour my lord don pedro why then are you no maiden leonato i am sorry you must hear upon my 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 confessd the vile encounters they have had a thousand times in secret don john fie fie they are not to be namd 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 claudio o hero what a hero hadst thou been if half thy outward graces had been placd 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 ill 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 leonato hath no mans dagger here a point for me hero swoons beatrice why how now cousin wherefore sink you down don john come let us go these things come thus to light smother her spirits up exeunt don pedro don john and claudio benedick how doth the lady beatrice dead i think help uncle hero why hero uncle signior benedick friar leonato o fate take not away thy heavy hand death is the fairest cover for her shame that may be wishd for beatrice how now cousin hero friar have comfort lady leonato dost thou look up friar yea wherefore should she not leonato 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 grievd i i had but one chid i for that at frugal natures frame o one too much by thee why had i one why ever wast thou lovely in my eyes why had i not with charitable hand took up a beggars issue at my gates who smirched thus and mird with infamy i might have said no part of it is mine this shame derives itself from unknown loins but mine and mine i lovd and mine i praisd 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 benedick sir sir be patient for my part i am so attird in wonder i know not what to say beatrice o on my soul my cousin is belied benedick lady were you her bedfellow last night beatrice no truly not although until last night i have this twelvemonth been her bedfellow leonato confirmd confirmd o that is stronger made which was before barrd up with ribs of iron would the two princes lie and claudio lie who lovd her so that speaking of her foulness washd it with tears hence from her let her die friar 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 markd 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 appeard a fire to burn the errors that these princes hold against her maiden truth call me a fool trust not my reading nor my observations which with experimental seal doth warrant the tenure of my book trust not my age my reverence calling nor divinity if this sweet lady lie not guiltless here under some biting error leonato 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 seekst thou then to cover with excuse that which appears in proper nakedness friar lady what man is he you are accusd of hero 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 conversd at hours unmeet or that i yesternight maintaind the change of words with any creature refuse me hate me torture me to death friar there is some strange misprision in the princes benedick 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 villainies leonato 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 awakd 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 friar 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 familys old monument hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites that appertain unto a burial leonato what shall become of this what will this do friar 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 maintaind upon the instant that she was accusd shall be lamented pitied and excusd of every hearer for it so falls out that what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we enjoy it but being lackd 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 apparelld in more precious habit more moving delicate and full of life into the eye and prospect of his soul than when she livd 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 levelld false the supposition of the ladys 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 benedick 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 leonato being that i flow in grief the smallest twine may lead me friar 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 prolongd have patience and endure exeunt friar hero and leonato benedick lady beatrice have you wept all this while beatrice yea and i will weep a while longer benedick i will not desire that beatrice you have no reason i do it freely benedick surely i do believe your fair cousin is wronged beatrice ah how much might the man deserve of me that would right her benedick is there any way to show such friendship beatrice a very even way but no such friend benedick may a man do it beatrice it is a mans office but not yours benedick i do love nothing in the world so well as you is not that strange beatrice as strange as the thing i know not it were as possible for me to say i loved nothing so well as you but believe me not and yet i lie not i confess nothing nor i deny nothing i am sorry for my cousin benedick by my sword beatrice thou lovest me beatrice do not swear by it and eat it benedick i will swear by it that you love me and i will make him eat it that says i love not you beatrice will you not eat your word benedick with no sauce that can be devised to it i protest i love thee beatrice why then god forgive me benedick what offence sweet beatrice beatrice you have stayed me in a happy hour i was about to protest i loved you benedick and do it with all thy heart beatrice i love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest benedick come bid me do anything for thee beatrice kill claudio benedick ha not for the wide world beatrice you kill me to deny it farewell benedick tarry sweet beatrice beatrice i am gone though i am here there is no love in you nay i pray you let me go benedick beatrice beatrice in faith i will go benedick well be friends first beatrice you dare easier be friends with me than fight with mine enemy benedick is claudio thine enemy beatrice 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 benedick hear me beatrice beatrice talk with a man out at a window a proper saying benedick nay but beatrice beatrice sweet hero she is wronged she is slandered she is undone benedick beat beatrice 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 benedick tarry good beatrice by this hand i love thee beatrice use it for my love some other way than swearing by it benedick think you in your soul the count claudio hath wronged hero beatrice yea as sure is i have a thought or a soul benedick 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 exeunt scene ii a prison enter dogberry verges and sexton in gowns and the watch with conrade and borachio dogberry is our whole dissembly appeared verges o a stool and a cushion for the sexton sexton which be the malefactors dogberry marry that am i and my partner verges nay thats certain we have the exhibition to examine sexton but which are the offenders that are to be examined let them come before master constable dogberry yea marry let them come before me what is your name friend borachio borachio dogberry pray write down borachio yours sirrah conrade i am a gentleman sir and my name is conrade dogberry write down master gentleman conrade masters do you serve god both yea sir we hope dogberry 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 conrade marry sir we say we are none dogberry 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 borachio sir i say to you we are none dogberry well stand aside fore god they are both in a tale have you writ down that they are none sexton master constable you go not the way to examine you must call forth the watch that are their accusers dogberry yea marry thats the eftest way let the watch come forth masters i charge you in the princes name accuse these men first watch this man said sir that don john the princes brother was a villain dogberry write down prince john a villain why this is flat perjury to call a princes brother villain borachio master constable dogberry pray thee fellow peace i do not like thy look i promise thee sexton what heard you him say else second watch marry that he had received a thousand ducats of don john for accusing the lady hero wrongfully dogberry flat burglary as ever was committed verges yea by the mass that it is sexton what else fellow first watch and that count claudio did mean upon his words to disgrace hero before the whole assembly and not marry her dogberry o villain thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this sexton what else second watch this is all sexton 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 manner refused and upon the grief of this suddenly died master constable let these men be bound and brought to leonatos i will go before and show him their examination exit dogberry come let them be opinioned verges let them be in the hands conrade off coxcomb dogberry gods my life wheres the sexton let him write down the princes officer coxcomb come bind them thou naughty varlet conrade away you are an ass you are an ass dogberry 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 exeunt act v scene i before leonatos house enter leonato and antonio antonio if you go on thus you will kill yourself and tis not wisdom thus to second grief against yourself leonato 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 lovd his child whose joy of her is overwhelmd 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 mens office to speak patience to those that wring under the load of sorrow but no mans 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 antonio therein do men from children nothing differ leonato 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 antonio yet bend not all the harm upon yourself make those that do offend you suffer too leonato there thou speakst 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 antonio here comes the prince and claudio hastily enter don pedro and claudio don pedro good den good den claudio good day to both of you leonato hear you my lords don pedro we have some haste leonato leonato some haste my lord well fare you well my lord are you so hasty now well all is one don pedro nay do not quarrel with us good old man antonio if he could right himself with quarrelling some of us would lie low claudio who wrongs him leonato marry thou dost wrong me thou dissembler thou nay never lay thy hand upon thy sword i fear thee not claudio marry beshrew my hand if it should give your age such cause of fear in faith my hand meant nothing to my sword leonato 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 wrongd mine innocent child and me that i am forcd 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 framd by thy villainy claudio my villainy leonato thine claudio thine i say don pedro you say not right old man leonato my lord my lord ill prove it on his body if he dare despite his nice fence and his active practice his may of youth and bloom of lustihood claudio away i will not have to do with you leonato canst thou so daff me thou hast killd my child if thou killst me boy thou shalt kill a man antonio he shall kill two of us and men indeed but thats 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 ill whip you from your foining fence nay as i am a gentleman i will leonato brother antonio content yourself god knows i lovd my niece and she is dead slanderd 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 leonato brother anthony antonio hold you content what man i know them yea and what they weigh even to the utmost scruple scambling 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 leonato but brother anthony antonio come tis no matter do not you meddle let me deal in this don pedro gentlemen both we will not wake your patience my heart is sorry for your daughters death but on my honour she was chargd with nothing but what was true and very full of proof leonato my lord my lord don pedro i will not hear you leonato no come brother away i will be heard antonio and shall or some of us will smart for it exeunt leonato and antonio enter benedick don pedro see see here comes the man we went to seek claudio now signior what news benedick good day my lord don pedro welcome signior you are almost come to part almost a fray claudio we had like to have had our two noses snapped off with two old men without teeth don pedro leonato and his brother what thinkst thou had we fought i doubt we should have been too young for them benedick in a false quarrel there is no true valour i came to seek you both claudio 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 benedick it is in my scabbard shall i draw it don pedro dost thou wear thy wit by thy side claudio 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 don pedro as i am an honest man he looks pale art thou sick or angry claudio what courage man what though care killed a cat thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care benedick sir i shall meet your wit in the career and you charge it against me i pray you choose another subject claudio nay then give him another staff this last was broke cross don pedro by this light he changes more and more i think he be angry indeed claudio if he be he knows how to turn his girdle benedick shall i speak a word in your ear claudio god bless me from a challenge benedick aside to claudio 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 claudio well i will meet you so i may have good cheer don pedro what a feast a feast claudio i faith i thank him he hath bid me to a calfs head and a capon the which if i do not carve most curiously say my knifes naught shall i not find a woodcock too benedick sir your wit ambles well it goes easily don pedro ill 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 theres a double tongue theres 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 claudio for the which she wept heartily and said she cared not don pedro yea that she did but yet for all that an if she did not hate him deadly she would love him dearly the old mans daughter told us all claudio all all and moreover god saw him when he was hid in the garden don pedro but when shall we set the savage bulls horns on the sensible benedicks head claudio yea and text underneath here dwells benedick the married man benedick 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 exit don pedro he is in earnest claudio in most profound earnest and ill warrant you for the love of beatrice don pedro and hath challenged thee claudio most sincerely don pedro what a pretty thing man is when he goes in his doublet and hose and leaves off his wit claudio he is then a giant to an ape but then is an ape a doctor to such a man don pedro but soft you let me be pluck up my heart and be sad did he not say my brother was fled enter dogberry verges and the watch with conrade and borachio dogberry come you sir if justice cannot tame you she shall neer weigh more reasons in her balance nay an you be a cursing hypocrite once you must be looked to don pedro how now two of my brothers men bound borachio one claudio hearken after their offence my lord don pedro officers what offence have these men done dogberry 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 don pedro first i ask thee what they have done thirdly i ask thee whats their offence sixth and lastly why they are committed and to conclude what you lay to their charge claudio rightly reasoned and in his own division and by my troth theres one meaning well suited don pedro who have you offended masters that you are thus bound to your answer this learned constable is too cunning to be understood whats your offence borachio sweet prince let me go no farther 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 heros garments how you disgraced her when you should marry her my villainy 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 masters false accusation and briefly i desire nothing but the reward of a villain don pedro runs not this speech like iron through your blood claudio i have drunk poison whiles he utterd it don pedro but did my brother set thee on to this borachio yea and paid me richly for the practice of it don pedro he is composd and framd of treachery and fled he is upon this villainy claudio sweet hero now thy image doth appear in the rare semblance that i lovd it first dogberry 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 verges here here comes master signior leonato and the sexton too re enter leonato antonio and the sexton leonato 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 borachio if you would know your wronger look on me leonato art thou the slave that with thy breath hast killd mine innocent child borachio yea even i alone leonato 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 daughters death record it with your high and worthy deeds twas bravely done if you bethink you of it claudio 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 sinnd i not but in mistaking don pedro by my soul nor i and yet to satisfy this good old man i would bend under any heavy weight that hell enjoin me to leonato 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 tonight tomorrow 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 thats 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 claudio o noble sir your over kindness doth wring tears from me i do embrace your offer and dispose for henceforth of poor claudio leonato tomorrow then i will expect your coming tonight i take my leave this naughty man shall face to face be brought to margaret who i believe was packd in all this wrong hird to it by your brother borachio 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 dogberry 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 gods name the which he hath used so long and never paid that now men grow hard hearted and will lend nothing for gods sake pray you examine him upon that point leonato i thank thee for thy care and honest pains dogberry your worship speaks like a most thankful and reverent youth and i praise god for you leonato theres for thy pains dogberry god save the foundation leonato go i discharge thee of thy prisoner and i thank thee dogberry i leave an arrant knave with your worship which i beseech your worship to correct 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 exeunt dogberry and verges leonato until tomorrow morning lords farewell antonio farewell my lords we look for you tomorrow don pedro we will not fail claudio tonight ill mourn with hero exeunt don pedro and claudio leonato to the watch bring you these fellows on well talk with margaret how her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow exeunt scene ii leonatos garden enter benedick and margaret meeting benedick pray thee sweet mistress margaret deserve well at my hands by helping me to the speech of beatrice margaret will you then write me a sonnet in praise of my beauty benedick in so high a style margaret that no man living shall come over it for in most comely truth thou deservest it margaret to have no man come over me why shall i always keep below stairs benedick thy wit is as quick as the greyhounds mouth it catches margaret and yours as blunt as the fencers foils which hit but hurt not benedick a most manly wit margaret it will not hurt a woman and so i pray thee call beatrice i give thee the bucklers margaret give us the swords we have bucklers of our own benedick if you use them margaret you must put in the pikes with a vice and they are dangerous weapons for maids margaret well i will call beatrice to you who i think hath legs benedick and therefore will come exit margaret 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 panders 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 enter beatrice sweet beatrice wouldst thou come when i called thee beatrice yea signior and depart when you bid me benedick o stay but till then beatrice 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 benedick only foul words and thereupon i will kiss thee beatrice foul words is but foul wind and foul wind is but foul breath and foul breath is noisome therefore i will depart unkissed benedick 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 beatrice 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 benedick suffer love a good epithet i do suffer love indeed for i love thee against my will beatrice 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 benedick thou and i are too wise to woo peaceably beatrice it appears not in this confession theres not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself benedick 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 beatrice and how long is that think you benedick question why an hour in clamour and a quarter in rheum therefore is it 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 beatrice very ill benedick and how do you beatrice very ill too benedick serve god love me and mend there will i leave you too for here comes one in haste enter ursula ursula madam you must come to your uncle yonders 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 beatrice will you go hear this news signior benedick 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 uncles exeunt scene iii the inside of a church enter don pedro claudio and attendants with music and tapers claudio is this the monument of leonato a lord it is my lord claudio reads from a scroll epitaph 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 death with glorious fame hang thou there upon the tomb praising her when i am dumb now music sound and sing your solemn hymn song 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 claudio now unto thy bones good night yearly will i do this rite don pedro good morrow masters put your torches out the wolves have preyd and look the gentle day before the wheels of phoebus round about dapples the drowsy east with spots of grey thanks to you all and leave us fare you well claudio good morrow masters each his several way don pedro come let us hence and put on other weeds and then to leonatos we will go claudio and hymen now with luckier issue speeds than this for whom we rendred up this woe exeunt scene iv a room in leonatos house enter leonato antonio benedick beatrice margaret ursula friar francis and hero friar did i not tell you she was innocent leonato so are the prince and claudio who accusd 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 antonio well i am glad that all things sort so well benedick and so am i being else by faith enforcd to call young claudio to a reckoning for it leonato well daughter and you gentlewomen all withdraw into a chamber by yourselves and when i send for you come hither maskd the prince and claudio promisd by this hour to visit me exeunt ladies you know your office brother you must be father to your brothers daughter and give her to young claudio antonio which i will do with confirmd countenance benedick friar i must entreat your pains i think friar to do what signior benedick 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 leonato that eye my daughter lent her tis most true benedick and i do with an eye of love requite her leonato the sight whereof i think you had from me from claudio and the prince but whats your will benedick your answer sir is enigmatical but for my will my will is your good will may stand with ours this day to be conjoind in the state of honourable marriage in which good friar i shall desire your help leonato my heart is with your liking friar and my help here comes the prince and claudio enter don pedro and claudio with attendants don pedro good morrow to this fair assembly leonato good morrow prince good morrow claudio we here attend you are you yet determind today to marry with my brothers daughter claudio ill hold my mind were she an ethiope leonato call her forth brother heres the friar ready exit antonio don pedro good morrow benedick why whats the matter that you have such a february face so full of frost of storm and cloudiness claudio i think he thinks upon the savage bull tush fear not man well 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 benedick bull jove sir had an amiable low and some such strange bull leapd your fathers cow and got a calf in that same noble feat much like to you for you have just his bleat claudio for this i owe you here comes other reckonings re enter antonio with the ladies masked which is the lady i must seize upon antonio this same is she and i do give you her claudio why then shes mine sweet let me see your face leonato no that you shall not till you take her hand before this friar and swear to marry her claudio give me your hand before this holy friar i am your husband if you like of me hero and when i livd i was your other wife unmasking and when you lovd you were my other husband claudio another hero hero nothing certainer one hero died defild but i do live and surely as i live i am a maid don pedro the former hero hero that is dead leonato she died my lord but whiles her slander livd friar all this amazement can i qualify when after that the holy rites are ended ill tell you largely of fair heros death meantime let wonder seem familiar and to the chapel let us presently benedick soft and fair friar which is beatrice beatrice unmasking i answer to that name what is your will benedick do not you love me beatrice why no no more than reason benedick why then your uncle and the prince and claudio have been deceived for they swore you did beatrice do not you love me benedick troth no no more than reason beatrice why then my cousin margaret and ursula are much deceivd for they did swear you did benedick they swore that you were almost sick for me beatrice they swore that you were well nigh dead for me benedick tis no such matter then you do not love me beatrice no truly but in friendly recompense leonato come cousin i am sure you love the gentleman claudio and ill be sworn upon t that he loves her for heres a paper written in his hand a halting sonnet of his own pure brain fashiond to beatrice hero and heres another writ in my cousins hand stolen from her pocket containing her affection unto benedick benedick a miracle heres our own hands against our hearts come i will have thee but by this light i take thee for pity beatrice 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 benedick peace i will stop your mouth kisses her don pedro how dost thou benedick the married man benedick ill tell thee what prince a college of witcrackers cannout flout me out of my humour dost thou think i care for a satire or an epigram no if 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 claudio 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 benedick come come we are friends lets have a dance ere we are married that we may lighten our own hearts and our wives heels leonato well have dancing afterward benedick first of my word therefore play music prince thou art sad get thee a wife get thee a wife there is no staff more reverent than one tipped with horn enter messenger messenger my lord your brother john is taen in flight and brought with armed men back to messina benedick think not on him till tomorrow ill devise thee brave punishments for him strike up pipers dance exeunt the tragedy of othello moor of venice dramatis personae othello the moor general of the venetian forces desdemona his wife iago ensign to othello emilia his wife lady in waiting to desdemona cassio lieutenant to othello the duke of venice brabantio venetian senator father of desdemona gratiano nobleman of venice brother of brabantio lodovico nobleman of venice kinsman of brabantio roderigo rejected suitor of desdemona bianca mistress of cassio montano a cypriot official a clown in service to othello senators sailors messengers officers gentlemen musicians and attendants scene venice and cyprus act i scene i venice a street enter roderigo and iago roderigo 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 iago sblood but you will not hear me if ever i did dream of such a matter abhor me roderigo thou toldst me thou didst hold him in thy hate iago despise me if i do not three great ones of the city in personal suit to make me his lieutenant off cappd 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 bumbast circumstance horribly stuffd 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 damnd 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 beleed and calmd by debitor and creditor this counter caster he in good time must his lieutenant be and i god bless the mark his moorships ancient roderigo by heaven i rather would have been his hangman iago why theres no remedy tis the curse of service preferment goes by letter and affection and not by old gradation where each second stood heir to the first now sir be judge yourself whether i in any just term am affined to love the moor roderigo i would not follow him then iago o sir content you i follow him to serve my turn upon him we cannot all be masters nor all masters cannot be truly followd you shall mark many a duteous and knee crooking knave that doting on his own obsequious bondage wears out his time much like his masters ass for nought but provender and when hes old cashierd whip me such honest knaves others there are who trimmd 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 lined 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 complement 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 roderigo what a full fortune does the thick lips owe if he can carryt thus iago 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 ont as it may lose some color roderigo here is her fathers house ill call aloud iago do with like timorous accent and dire yell as when by night and negligence the fire is spied in populous cities roderigo what ho brabantio signior brabantio ho iago awake what ho brabantio thieves thieves thieves look to your house your daughter and your bags thieves thieves brabantio appears above at a window brabantio what is the reason of this terrible summons what is the matter there roderigo signior is all your family within iago are your doors lockd brabantio why wherefore ask you this iago zounds sir youre robbd 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 brabantio what have you lost your wits roderigo most reverend signior do you know my voice brabantio not i what are you roderigo my name is roderigo brabantio the worser welcome i have charged 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 bravery dost thou come to start my quiet roderigo sir sir sir brabantio but thou must needs be sure my spirit and my place have in them power to make this bitter to thee roderigo patience good sir brabantio what tellst thou me of robbing this is venice my house is not a grange roderigo most grave brabantio in simple and pure soul i come to you iago 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 youll have your daughter covered with a barbary horse youll have your nephews neigh to you youll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans brabantio what profane wretch art thou iago i am one sir that comes to tell you your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs brabantio thou are a villain iago you are a senator brabantio this thou shalt answer i know thee roderigo roderigo sir i will answer anything but i beseech you ift 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 everywhere 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 brabantio 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 exit above iago farewell for i must leave you it seems not meet nor wholesome to my place to be produced 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 hes embarkd with such loud reason to the cyprus wars which even now stands 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 exit enter below brabantio in his nightgown and servants with torches brabantio it is too true an evil gone she is and whats 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 roderigo truly i think they are brabantio 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 is there not charms by which the property of youth and maidhood may be abused have you not read roderigo of some such thing roderigo yes sir i have indeed brabantio call up my brother o would you had had her some one way some another do you know where we may apprehend her and the moor roderigo i think i can discover him if you please to get good guard and go along with me brabantio pray you lead on at every house ill call i may command at most get weapons ho and raise some special officers of night on good roderigo ill deserve your pains exeunt scene ii another street enter othello iago and attendants with torches iago though in the trade of war i have slain men yet do i hold it very stuff o the conscience to do no contrived murther i lack iniquity sometimes to do me service nine or ten times i had thought to have yerkd him here under the ribs othello tis better as it is iago nay but he prated and spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honor that with the little godliness i have i did full hard forbear him but i pray you sir are you fast married be assured of this that the magnifico is much beloved and hath in his effect a voice potential as double as the dukes 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 othello 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 honor 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 reachd for know iago but that i love the gentle desdemona i would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the seas worth but look what lights come yond iago those are the raised father and his friends you were best go in othello not i i must be found my parts my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly is it they iago by janus i think no enter cassio and certain officers with torches othello the servants of the duke and my lieutenant the goodness of the night upon you friends what is the news cassio the duke does greet you general and he requires your haste post haste appearance even on the instant othello what is the matter think you cassio 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 anothers heels and many of the consuls raised and met are at the dukes already you have been hotly calld for when being not at your lodging to be found the senate hath sent about three several quests to search you out othello tis well i am found by you i will but spend a word here in the house and go with you exit cassio ancient what makes he here iago faith he tonight hath boarded a land carack if it prove lawful prize hes made forever cassio i do not understand iago hes married cassio to who re enter othello iago marry to come captain will you go othello have with you cassio here comes another troop to seek for you iago it is brabantio general be advised he comes to bad intent enter brabantio roderigo and officers with torches and weapons othello holla stand there roderigo signior it is the moor brabantio down with him thief they draw on both sides iago you roderigo come sir i am for you othello keep up your bright swords for the dew will rust them good signior you shall more command with years than with your weapons brabantio o thou foul thief where hast thou stowd my daughter damnd as thou art thou hast enchanted her for ill 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 shunnd 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 practiced on her with foul charms abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals that weaken motion ill havet disputed on tis probable and palpable to thinking i therefore apprehend and do attach thee for an abuser of the world a practicer of arts inhibited and out of warrant lay hold upon him if he do resist subdue him at his peril othello 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 brabantio to prison till fit time of law and course of direct session call thee to answer othello 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 first officer tis true most worthy signior the dukes in council and your noble self i am sure is sent for brabantio how the duke in council in this time of the night bring him away mines 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 exeunt scene iii a council chamber the duke and senators sitting at a table officers attending duke there is no composition in these news that gives them credit first senator indeed they are disproportiond my letters say a hundred and seven galleys duke and mine a hundred and forty second senator 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 duke nay it is possible enough to judgement i do not so secure me in the error but the main article i do approve in fearful sense sailor within what ho what ho what ho first officer a messenger from the galleys enter sailor duke now whats the business sailor the turkish preparation makes for rhodes so was i bid report here to the state by signior angelo duke how say you by this change first senator 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 warlike brace but altogether lacks the abilities that rhodes is dressd in if we make thought of this we must not think the turk is so unskillful to leave that latest which concerns him first neglecting an attempt of ease and gain to wake and wage a danger profitless duke nay in all confidence hes not for rhodes first officer here is more news enter a messenger messenger the ottomites reverend and gracious steering with due course toward the isle of rhodes have there injointed them with an after fleet first senator ay so i thought how many as you guess messenger 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 duke tis certain then for cyprus marcus luccicos is not he in town first senator hes now in florence duke write from us to him post post haste dispatch first senator here comes brabantio and the valiant moor enter brabantio othello iago roderigo and officers duke valiant othello we must straight employ you against the general enemy ottoman to brabantio i did not see you welcome gentle signior we lackd your counsel and your help tonight brabantio so did i yours good your grace pardon me neither my place nor aught i heard of business hath raised me from my bed nor doth the general care take hold on me for my particular grief is of so flood gate and oerbearing nature that it engluts and swallows other sorrows and it is still itself duke why whats the matter brabantio my daughter o my daughter all dead brabantio ay to me she is abused stoln from me and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of mountebanks for nature so preposterously to err being not deficient blind or lame of sense sans witchcraft could not duke whoeer he be that in this foul proceeding hath thus beguiled 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 brabantio 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 all we are very sorry fort duke to othello what in your own part can you say to this brabantio nothing but this is so othello most potent grave and reverend signiors my very noble and approved good masters that i have taen away this old mans 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 blest with the soft phrase of peace for since these arms of mine had seven years pith till now some nine moons wasted they have used 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 unvarnishd tale deliver of my whole course of love what drugs what charms what conjuration and what mighty magic for such proceeding i am charged withal i won his daughter brabantio a maiden never bold of spirit so still and quiet that her motion blushd at herself and she in spite of nature of years of country credit everything to fall in love with what she feard to look on it is judgement maimd 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 oer the blood or with some dram conjured to this effect he wrought upon her duke 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 first senator but othello speak did you by indirect and forced courses subdue and poison this young maids affections or came it by request and such fair question as soul to soul affordeth othello 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 duke fetch desdemona hither othello ancient conduct them you best know the place exeunt iago and attendants and till she come as truly as to heaven i do confess the vices of my blood so justly to your grave ears ill present how i did thrive in this fair ladys love and she in mine duke say it othello othello her father loved me oft invited me still questiond me the story of my life from year to year the battles sieges fortunes that i have passd 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 travels history wherein of antres vast and deserts 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 sheld 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 sufferd 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 wishd she had not heard it yet she wishd that heaven had made her such a man she thankd me and bade me if i had a friend that loved her i should but teach him how to tell my story and that would woo her upon this hint i spake she loved me for the dangers i had passd and i loved her that she did pity them this only is the witchcraft i have used here comes the lady let her witness it enter desdemona iago and attendants duke 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 brabantio 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 desdemona 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 heres my husband and so much duty as my mother showd to you preferring you before her father so much i challenge that i may profess due to the moor my lord brabantio 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 duke let me speak like yourself and lay a sentence which as a grise or step may help these lovers into your favor 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 preserved when fortune takes patience her injury a mockery makes the robbd that smiles steals something from the thief he robs himself that spends a bootless grief brabantio 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 bruised heart was pierced through the ear i humbly beseech you proceed to the affairs of state duke 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 othello 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 duke if you please bet at her fathers brabantio ill not have it so othello nor i desdemona 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 prosperous ear and let me find a charter in your voice to assist my simpleness duke what would you desdemona desdemona that i did love the moor to live with him my downright violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world my hearts subdued even to the very quality of my lord i saw othellos visage in his mind and to his honors 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 othello 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 wingd toys of featherd cupid seel with wanton dullness my speculative and officed 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 duke be it as you shall privately determine either for her stay or going the affair cries haste and speed must answert you must hence tonight desdemona tonight my lord duke this night othello with all my heart duke at nine i the morning here well 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 othello 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 duke let it be so good night to everyone to brabantio and noble signior if virtue no delighted beauty lack your son in law is far more fair than black first senator adieu brave moor use desdemona well brabantio look to her moor if thou hast eyes to see she has deceived her father and may thee exeunt duke senators and officers othello 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 exeunt othello and desdemona roderigo iago iago what sayst thou noble heart roderigo what will i do thinkest thou iago why go to bed and sleep roderigo i will incontinently drown myself iago if thou dost i shall never love thee after why thou silly gentleman roderigo it is silliness to live when to live is torment and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician iago o villainous 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 roderigo what should i do i confess it is my shame to be so fond but it is not in my virtue to amend it iago virtue a fig tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus our bodies are gardens to the which our wills are gardeners so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce set hyssop and weed 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 roderigo it cannot be iago 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 thou the wars defeat thy favor with an 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 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 acerb as the 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 roderigo wilt thou be fast to my hopes if i depend on the issue iago thou art sure of me go make money i have told thee often and i retell 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 tomorrow adieu roderigo where shall we meet i the morning iago at my lodging roderigo ill be with thee betimes iago go to farewell do you hear roderigo roderigo what say you iago no more of drowning do you hear roderigo i am changed ill go sell all my land exit iago thus do i ever make my fool my purse for i mine own gaind 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 ift 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 cassios a proper man let me see now to get his place and to plume up my will in double knavery how how lets see after some time to abuse othellos 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 havet it is engenderd hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light exit act ii scene i a seaport in cyprus an open place near the quay enter montano and two gentlemen montano what from the cape can you discern at sea first gentleman nothing at all it is a high wrought flood i cannot twixt the heaven and the main descry a sail montano methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land a fuller blast neer shook our battlements if it hath ruffiand so upon the sea what ribs of oak when mountains melt on them can hold the mortise what shall we hear of this second gentleman a segregation of the turkish fleet for do but stand upon the foaming shore the chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds the wind shaked 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 montano if that the turkish fleet be not enshelterd and embayd they are drownd it is impossible to bear it out enter a third gentleman third gentleman news lads our wars are done the desperate tempest hath so bangd the turks that their designment halts a noble ship of venice hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance on most part of their fleet montano how is this true third gentleman the ship is here put in a veronesa michael cassio lieutenant to the warlike moor othello is come on shore the moor himself at sea and is in full commission here for cyprus montano i am glad ont tis a worthy governor third gentleman 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 montano pray heavens he be for i have served him and the man commands like a full soldier lets to the seaside ho as well to see the vessel thats come in as to throw out our eyes for brave othello even till we make the main and the aerial blue an indistinct regard third gentleman come lets do so for every minute is expectancy of more arrivance enter cassio cassio thanks you the valiant of this warlike isle that so approve the moor o let the heavens give him defense against the elements for i have lost him on a dangerous sea montano i she well shippd cassio his bark is stoutly timberd and his pilot of very expert and approved allowance therefore my hopes not surfeited to death stand in bold cure a cry within a sail a sail a sail enter a fourth gentleman what noise fourth gentleman the town is empty on the brow o the sea stand ranks of people and they cry a sail cassio my hopes do shape him for the governor guns heard second gentleman they do discharge their shot of courtesy our friends at least cassio i pray you sir go forth and give us truth who tis that is arrived second gentleman i shall exit montano but good lieutenant is your general wived cassio most fortunately he hath achieved a maid that paragons description and wild fame one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens and in the essential vesture of creation does tire the ingener re enter second gentleman how now who has put in second gentleman tis one iago ancient to the general cassio he has had most favorable and happy speed tempests themselves high seas and howling winds the gutterd rocks and congregated sands traitors ensteepd to clog the guiltless keel as having sense of beauty do omit their mortal natures letting go safely by the divine desdemona montano what is she cassio she that i spake of our great captains captain left in the conduct of the bold iago whose footing here anticipates our thoughts a sennights 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 loves quick pants in desdemonas arms give renewd fire to our extincted spirits and bring all cyprus comfort enter desdemona emilia iago roderigo and attendants o behold the riches of the ship is come on shore ye men of cyprus let her have your knees hall to thee lady and the grace of heaven before behind thee and on every hand enwheel thee round desdemona i thank you valiant cassio what tidings can you tell me of my lord cassio he is not yet arrived nor know i aught but that hes well and will be shortly here desdemona o but i fear how lost you company cassio the great contention of the sea and skies parted our fellowship but hark a sail a cry within a sail a sail guns heard second gentleman they give their greeting to the citadel this likewise is a friend cassio see for the news exit gentleman good ancient you are welcome to emilia 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 kisses her iago sir would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft bestows on me yould have enough desdemona alas she has no speech iago 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 emilia you have little cause to say so iago come on come on you are pictures out of doors bells in your parlors wildcats in your kitchens saints in your injuries devils being offended players in your housewifery and housewives in your beds desdemona o fie upon thee slanderer iago nay it is true or else i am a turk you rise to play and go to bed to work emilia you shall not write my praise iago no let me not desdemona what wouldst thou write of me if thou shouldst praise me iago o gentle lady do not put me tot for i am nothing if not critical desdemona come on assay theres one gone to the harbor iago ay madam desdemona i am not merry but i do beguile the thing i am by seeming otherwise come how wouldst thou praise me iago i am about it but indeed my invention comes from my pate as birdlime does from frieze it plucks out brains and all but my muse labors and thus she is deliverd if she be fair and wise fairness and wit the ones for use the other useth it desdemona well praised how if she be black and witty iago if she be black and thereto have a wit shell find a white that shall her blackness fit desdemona worse and worse emilia how if fair and foolish iago she never yet was foolish that was fair for even her folly helpd her to an heir desdemona these are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i the alehouse what miserable praise hast thou for her thats foul and foolish iago theres none so foul and foolish thereunto but does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do desdemona 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 iago she that was ever fair and never proud had tongue at will and yet was never loud never lackd gold and yet went never gay fled from her wish and yet said now i may she that being angerd her revenge being nigh bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly she that in wisdom never was so frail to change the cods head for the salmons tail she that could think and neer disclose her mind see suitors following and not look behind she was a wight if ever such wight were desdemona to do what iago to suckle fools and chronicle small beer desdemona 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 counselor cassio he speaks home madam you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar iago aside 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 trumpet within the moor i know his trumpet cassio tis truly so desdemona lets meet him and receive him cassio lo where he comes enter othello and attendants othello o my fair warrior desdemona my dear othello othello it gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me o my souls joy if after every tempest come such calms may the winds blow till they have wakend death and let the laboring bark climb hills of seas olympus high and duck again as low as hells 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 desdemona the heavens forbid but that our loves and comforts should increase even as our days do grow othello 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 kisses her that eer our hearts shall make iago aside o you are well tuned now but ill set down the pegs that make this music as honest as i am othello come let us to the castle news friends our wars are done the turks are drownd how does my old acquaintance of this isle honey you shall be well desired 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 exeunt all but iago and roderigo iago do thou meet me presently at the harbor come hither if thou best 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 tonight watches on the court of guard first i must tell thee this desdemona is directly in love with him roderigo with him why tis not possible iago 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 favor 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 compass 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 roderigo i cannot believe that in her shes full of most blest condition iago blest figs end the wine she drinks is made of grapes if she had been blest she would never have loved the moor blest pudding didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand didst not mark that roderigo yes that i did but that was but courtesy iago 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 villainous 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 tonight for the command ill layt upon you cassio knows you not ill 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 favorably minister roderigo well iago 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 roderigo i will do this if i can bring it to any opportunity iago i warrant thee meet me by and by at the citadel i must fetch his necessaries ashore farewell roderigo adieu exit iago 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 hell 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 leapd 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 evend with him wife for wife or failing so yet that i put the moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure which thing to do if this poor trash of venice whom i trace for his quick hunting stand the putting on ill have our michael cassio on the hip abuse him to the moor in the rank garb for i fear cassio with my nightcap too make the moor thank me love me and reward me for making him egregiously an ass and practicing upon his peace and quiet even to madness tis here but yet confused knaverys plain face is never seen till used exit scene ii a street enter a herald with a proclamation people following herald it is othellos 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 exeunt scene iii a hall in the castle enter othello desdemona cassio and attendants othello good michael look you to the guard tonight lets teach ourselves that honorable stop not to outsport discretion cassio iago hath direction what to do but notwithstanding with my personal eye will i look tot othello iago is most honest michael good night tomorrow with your earliest let me have speech with you come my dear love the purchase made the fruits are to ensue that profits yet to come tween me and you good night exeunt othello desdemona and attendants enter iago cassio welcome iago we must to the watch iago 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 cassio shes a most exquisite lady iago and ill warrant her full of game cassio indeed shes a most fresh and delicate creature iago what an eye she has methinks it sounds a parley to provocation cassio an inviting eye and yet methinks right modest iago and when she speaks is it not an alarum to love cassio she is indeed perfection iago well happiness to their sheets come lieutenant i have a stope of wine and here without are a brace of cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the health of black othello cassio not tonight good iago i have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking i could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment iago o they are our friends but one cup ill drink for you cassio i have drunk but one cup tonight 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 iago what man tis a night of revels the gallants desire it cassio where are they iago here at the door i pray you call them in cassio ill dot but it dislikes me exit iago if i can fasten but one cup upon him with that which he hath drunk tonight already hell be as full of quarrel and offense as my young mistress dog now my sick fool roderigo whom love hath turnd almost the wrong side out to desdemona hath tonight caroused potations pottle deep and hes to watch three lads of cyprus noble swelling spirits that hold their honors in a wary distance the very elements of this warlike isle have i tonight flusterd 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 re enter cassio with him montano and gentlemen servants following with wine cassio fore god they have given me a rouse already montano good faith a little one not past a pint as i am a soldier iago some wine ho sings and let me the canakin clink clink and let me the canakin clink a soldiers a man o mans lifes but a span why then let a soldier drink some wine boys cassio fore god an excellent song iago 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 cassio is your englishman so expert in his drinking iago 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 cassio to the health of our general montano i am for it lieutenant and ill do you justice iago o sweet england sings king stephen was and a worthy peer his breeches cost him but a crown he held them sixpence all too dear with that he calld 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 cassio why this is a more exquisite song than the other iago will you heart again cassio no for i hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things well gods above all and there be souls must be saved and there be souls must not be saved iago its true good lieutenant cassio for mine own part no offense to the general nor any man of quality i hope to be saved iago and so do i too lieutenant cassio ay but by your leave not before me the lieutenant is to be saved before the ancient lets have no more of this lets to our affairs god forgive us our sins gentlemen lets 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 i am not drunk now i can stand well enough and i speak well enough all excellent well cassio why very well then you must not think then that i am drunk exit montano to the platform masters come lets set the watch iago you see this fellow that is gone before he is a soldier fit to stand by caesar 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 montano but is he often thus iago tis evermore the prologue to his sleep hell watch the horologe a double set if drink rock not his cradle montano 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 enter roderigo iago aside to him how now roderigo i pray you after the lieutenant go exit roderigo montano 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 iago 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 a cry within help help re enter cassio driving in roderigo cassio zounds you rogue you rascal montano whats the matter lieutenant cassio a knave teach me my duty but ill beat the knave into a twiggen bottle roderigo beat me cassio dost thou prate rogue strikes roderigo montano nay good lieutenant i pray you sir hold your hand cassio let me go sir or ill knock you oer the mazzard montano come come youre drunk cassio drunk they fight iago aside to roderigo away i say go out and cry a mutiny exit roderigo nay good lieutenant gods will gentlemen help ho lieutenant sir montano sir help masters heres a goodly watch indeed a bell rings whos that that rings the bell diablo ho the town will rise gods will lieutenant hold you will be shamed forever re enter othello and attendants othello what is the matter here montano zounds i bleed still i am hurt to the death faints othello hold for your lives iago hold ho lieutenant sir montano gentlemen have you forgot all place of sense and duty hold the general speaks to you hold hold for shame othello why how now ho from whence ariseth this are we turnd 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 lookst dead with grieving speak who began this on thy love i charge thee iago 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 others 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 othello how comes it michael you are thus forgot cassio i pray you pardon me i cannot speak othello 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 whats 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 montano 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 thats 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 othello now by heaven my blood begins my safer guides to rule and passion having my best judgement 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 approved in this offense though he had twinnd with me both at a birth shall lose me what in a town of war yet wild the peoples hearts brimful of fear to manage private and domestic quarrel in night and on the court and guard of safety tis monstrous iago who begant montano if partially affined or leagued in office thou dost deliver more or less than truth thou art no soldier iago touch me not so near i had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense 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 help and cassio following him with determined 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 clamor as it so fell out the town might fall in fright he swift of foot outran my purpose and i returnd the rather for that i heard the clink and fall of swords and cassio high in oath which till tonight i neer 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 cannot i 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 received from him that fled some strange indignity which patience could not pass othello 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 re enter desdemona attended look if my gentle love be not raised up ill make thee an example desdemona whats the matter othello alls well now sweeting come away to bed sir for your hurts myself will be your surgeon lead him off exit montano attended 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 waked with strife exeunt all but iago and cassio iago what are you hurt lieutenant cassio ay past all surgery iago marry heaven forbid cassio 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 iago as i am an honest man i thought you had received some bodily wound there is more sense 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 offenseless dog to affright an imperious lion sue to him again and hes yours cassio 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 ones own shadow o thou invisible spirit of wine if thou hast no name to be known by let us call thee devil iago what was he that you followed with your sword what had he done to you cassio i know not iago ist possible cassio 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 iago why but you are now well enough how came you thus recovered cassio it hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath one unperfectness shows me another to make me frankly despise myself iago 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 cassio 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 unblest and the ingredient is a devil iago 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 cassio i have well approved it sir i drunk iago you or any man living may be drunk at some time man ill tell you what you shall do our generals 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 help to put you in your place again she is of so free so kind so apt so blessed a disposition 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 cassio you advise me well iago i protest in the sincerity of love and honest kindness cassio 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 iago you are in the right good night lieutenant i must to the watch cassio good night honest iago exit iago and whats 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 shes framed as fruitful as the free elements and then for her to win the moor weret to renounce his baptism all seals and symbols of redeemed sin his soul is so enfetterd 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 whiles this honest fool plies desdemona to repair his fortune and she for him pleads strongly to the moor ill pour this pestilence into his ear that she repeals him for her bodys 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 enter roderigo how now roderigo 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 tonight exceedingly well cudgeled 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 iago how poor are they that have not patience what wound did ever heal but by degrees thou knowst we work by wit and not by witchcraft and wit depends on dilatory time doest not go well cassio hath beaten thee and thou by that small hurt hast cashierd 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 exit roderigo two things are to be done my wife must move for cassio to her mistress ill set her on myself the while to draw the moor apart and bring him jump when he may cassio find soliciting his wife ay thats the way dull not device by coldness and delay exit act iii scene i before the castle enter cassio and some musicians cassio masters play here i will content your pains something thats brief and bid good morrow general music enter clown clown why masters have your instruments been in naples that they speak i the nose thus first musician how sir how clown are these i pray you wind instruments first musician ay marry are they sir clown o thereby hangs a tail first musician whereby hangs a tale sir clown marry sir by many a wind instrument that i know but masters heres money for you and the general so likes your music that he desires you for loves sake to make no more noise with it first musician well sir we will not clown if you have any music that may not be heard tot again but as they say to hear music the general does not greatly care first musician we have none such sir clown then put up your pipes in your bag for ill away go vanish into air away exeunt musicians cassio dost thou hear my honest friend clown no i hear not your honest friend i hear you cassio prithee keep up thy quillets theres a poor piece of gold for thee if the gentlewoman that attends the generals wife be stirring tell her theres one cassio entreats her a little favor of speech wilt thou do this clown she is stirring sir if she will stir hither i shall seem to notify unto her cassio do good my friend exit clown enter iago in happy time iago iago you have not been abed then cassio 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 iago ill send her to you presently and ill devise a mean to draw the moor out of the way that your converse and business may be more free cassio i humbly thank you fort exit iago i never knew a florentine more kind and honest enter emilia emilia good morrow good lieutenant i am sorry for your displeasure but all will sure 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 safest occasion by the front to bring you in again cassio yet i beseech you if you think fit or that it may be done give me advantage of some brief discourse with desdemona alone emilia pray you come in i will bestow you where you shall have time to speak your bosom freely cassio i am much bound to you exeunt scene ii a room in the castle enter othello iago and gentlemen othello 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 iago well my good lord ill dot othello this fortification gentlemen shall we seet gentlemen well wait upon your lordship exeunt scene iii the garden of the castle enter desdemona cassio and emilia desdemona be thou assured good cassio i will do all my abilities in thy behalf emilia good madam do i warrant it grieves my husband as if the cause were his desdemona o thats an honest fellow do not doubt cassio but i will have my lord and you again as friendly as you were cassio bounteous madam whatever shall become of michael cassio hes never anything but your true servant desdemona i knowt i thank you you do love my lord you have known him long and be you well assured he shall in strangeness stand no farther off than in a politic distance cassio ay but lady that policy may either last so long or feed upon such nice and waterish diet or breed itself so out of circumstances that i being absent and my place supplied my general will forget my love and service desdemona do not doubt that before emilia here i give thee warrant of thy place assure thee if i do vow a friendship ill perform it to the last article my lord shall never rest ill watch him tame and talk him out of patience his bed shall seem a school his board a shrift ill intermingle everything he does with cassios suit therefore be merry cassio for thy solicitor shall rather die than give thy cause away enter othello and iago at a distance emilia madam here comes my lord cassio madam ill take my leave desdemona nay stay and hear me speak cassio madam not now i am very ill at ease unfit for mine own purposes desdemona well do your discretion exit cassio iago ha i like not that othello what dost thou say iago nothing my lord or if i know not what othello was not that cassio parted from my wife iago cassio my lord no sure i cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty like seeing you coming othello i do believe twas he desdemona how now my lord i have been talking with a suitor here a man that languishes in your displeasure othello who ist you mean desdemona 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 judgement in an honest face i prithee call him back othello went he hence now desdemona ay sooth so humbled that he hath left part of his grief with me to suffer with him good love call him back othello not now sweet desdemona some other time desdemona but shallt be shortly othello the sooner sweet for you desdemona shallt be tonight at supper othello no not tonight desdemona tomorrow dinner then othello i shall not dine at home i meet the captains at the citadel desdemona why then tomorrow 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 hes penitent and yet his trespass in our common reason save that they say the wars must make example 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 would ask me that i should deny or stand so mammering on what michael cassio that came awooing with you and so many a time when i have spoke of you dispraisingly hath taen your part to have so much to do to bring him in trust me i could do much othello prithee no more let him come when he will i will deny thee nothing desdemona 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 othello i will deny thee nothing whereon i do beseech thee grant me this to leave me but a little to myself desdemona shall i deny you no farewell my lord othello farewell my desdemona ill come to thee straight desdemona emilia come be as your fancies teach you whateer you be i am obedient exeunt desdemona and emilia othello excellent wretch perdition catch my soul but i do love thee and when i love thee not chaos is come again iago my noble lord othello what dost thou say iago iago did michael cassio when you wood my lady know of your love othello he did from first to last why dost thou ask iago but for a satisfaction of my thought no further harm othello why of thy thought iago iago i did not think he had been acquainted with her othello o yes and went between us very oft iago indeed othello indeed ay indeed discernst thou aught in that is he not honest iago honest my lord othello honest ay honest iago my lord for aught i know othello what dost thou think iago think my lord othello 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 even now thou likest 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 iago my lord you know i love you othello i think thou dost and for i know thourt full of love and honesty and weighst thy words before thou givest 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 thats just theyre close dilations working from the heart that passion cannot rule iago for michael cassio i dare be sworn i think that he is honest othello i think so too iago men should be what they seem or those that be not would they might seem none othello certain men should be what they seem iago why then i think cassios an honest man othello nay yet theres more in this i prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings as thou dost ruminate and give thy worst of thoughts the worst of words iago 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 wheres 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 othello thou dost conspire against thy friend iago if thou but thinkst him wrongd and makest his ear a stranger to thy thoughts iago i do beseech you though i perchance am vicious in my guess as i confess it is my natures 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 othello what dost thou mean iago 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 othello by heaven ill know thy thoughts iago you cannot if my heart were in your hand nor shall not whilst tis in my custody othello ha iago o beware my lord of jealousy it is the green eyed 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 oer who dotes yet doubts suspects yet strongly loves othello o misery iago 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 othello why why is this thinkst thou ild 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 ill 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 iago 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 abused look tot 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 leavet undone but keept unknown othello dost thou say so iago she did deceive her father marrying you and when she seemd to shake and fear your looks she loved them most othello and so she did iago why go to then she that so young could give out such a seeming to seel her fathers 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 othello i am bound to thee forever iago i see this hath a little dashd your spirits othello not a jot not a jot iago ifaith i fear it has i hope you will consider what is spoke comes from my love but i do see youre moved i am to pray you not to strain my speech to grosser issues nor to larger reach than to suspicion othello i will not iago should you do so my lord my speech should fall into such vile success which my thoughts aim not at cassios my worthy friend my lord i see youre moved othello no not much moved i do not think but desdemonas honest iago long live she so and long live you to think so othello and yet how nature erring from itself iago ay theres 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 judgement may fall to match you with her country forms and happily repent othello farewell farewell if more thou dost perceive let me know more set on thy wife to observe leave me iago iago going my lord i take my leave othello why did i marry this honest creature doubtless sees and knows more much more than he unfolds iago returning my lord i would i might entreat your honor to scan this thing no further leave it to time though it be 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 meantime 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 honor othello fear not my government iago i once more take my leave exit othello this fellows 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 ild 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 declined into the vale of years yet thats not much shes gone i am abused 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 vapor of a dungeon than keep a corner in the thing i love for others uses yet tis the plague of great ones prerogatived are they less than the base tis destiny unshunnable like death even then this forked plague is fated to us when we do quicken desdemona comes re enter desdemona and emilia if she be false o then heaven mocks itself ill not believet desdemona how now my dear othello your dinner and the generous islanders by you invited do attend your presence othello i am to blame desdemona why do you speak so faintly are you not well othello i have a pain upon my forehead here desdemona faith thats with watching twill away again let me but bind it hard within this hour it will be well othello your napkin is too little he puts the handkerchief from him and she drops it let it alone come ill go in with you desdemona i am very sorry that you are not well exeunt othello and desdemona emilia i am glad i have found this napkin this was her first remembrance from the moor my wayward husband hath a hundred times wood me to steal it but she so loves the token for he conjured her she should ever keep it that she reserves it evermore about her to kiss and talk to ill have the work taen out and givet iago what he will do with it heaven knows not i i nothing but to please his fantasy re enter iago iago how now what do you here alone emilia do not you chide i have a thing for you iago a thing for me it is a common thing emilia ha iago to have a foolish wife emilia o is that all what will you give me now for that same handkerchief iago what handkerchief emilia what handkerchief why that the moor first gave to desdemona that which so often you did bid me steal iago hast stoln it from her emilia no faith she let it drop by negligence and to the advantage i being here tookt up look here it is iago a good wench give it me emilia what will you do witht that you have been so earnest to have me filch it iago snatching it why what is that to you emilia ift be not for some purpose of import givet me again poor lady shell run mad when she shall lack it iago be not acknown ont i have use for it go leave me exit emilia i will in cassios 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 re enter othello not poppy nor mandragora nor all the drowsy syrups of the world shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep which thou owedst yesterday othello ha ha false to me iago why how now general no more of that othello avaunt be gone thou hast set me on the rack i swear tis better to be much abused than but to knowt a little iago how now my lord othello what sense had i of her stoln hours of lust i sawt not thought it not it harmd not me i slept the next night well was free and merry i found not cassios kisses on her lips he that is robbd not wanting what is stoln let him not knowt and hes not robbd at all iago i am sorry to hear this othello i had been happy if the general camp pioners and all had tasted her sweet body so i had nothing known o now forever 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 joves dread clamors counterfeit farewell othellos occupations gone iago ist possible my lord othello villain be sure thou prove my love a whore be sure of it give me the ocular proof or by the worth of mans eternal soul thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my waked wrath iago ist come to this othello make me to seet 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 iago my noble lord othello if thou dost slander her and torture me never pray more abandon all remorse on horrors head horrors accumulate do deeds to make heaven weep all earth amazed for nothing canst thou to damnation add greater than that iago o grace o heaven defend me are you a man have you a soul or sense god be wi you take mine office o wretched fool that livest 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 ill love no friend sith love breeds such offense othello nay stay thou shouldst be honest iago i should be wise for honestys a fool and loses that it works for othello 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 ill have some proof her name that was as fresh as dians visage is now begrimed and black as mine own face if there be cords or knives poison or fire or suffocating streams ill not endure it would i were satisfied iago i see sir you are eaten up with passion i do repent me that i put it to you you would be satisfied othello would nay i will iago and may but how how satisfied my lord would you the supervisor grossly gape on behold her toppd othello death and damnation o iago 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 wheres 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 havet othello give me a living reason shes disloyal iago i do not like the office but sith i am enterd in this cause so far prickd tot 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 pluckd up kisses by the roots that grew upon my lips then laid his leg over my thigh and sighd and kissd and then cried cursed fate that gave thee to the moor othello o monstrous monstrous iago nay this was but his dream othello but this denoted a foregone conclusion tis a shrewd doubt though it be but a dream iago and this may help to thicken other proofs that do demonstrate thinly othello ill tear her all to pieces iago 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 wifes hand othello i gave her such a one twas my first gift iago i know not that but such a handkerchief i am sure it was your wifes did i today see cassio wipe his beard with othello if it be that iago if it be that or any that was hers it speaks against her with the other proofs othello 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 thy hollow hell yield up o love thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate swell bosom with thy fraught for tis of aspics tongues iago yet be content othello o blood blood blood iago patience i say your mind perhaps may change othello never iago like to the pontic sea whose icy current and compulsive course neer feels retiring ebb but keeps due on to the propontic and the hellespont even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace shall neer look back neer 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 kneels i here engage my words iago do not rise yet kneels 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 wrongd othellos service let him command and to obey shall be in me remorse what bloody business ever they rise othello i greet thy love not with vain thanks but with acceptance bounteous and will upon the instant put thee tot within these three days let me hear thee say that cassios not alive iago my friend is dead tis done at your request but let her live othello 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 iago i am your own forever exeunt scene iv before the castle enter desdemona emilia and clown desdemona do you know sirrah where lieutenant cassio lies clown i dare not say he lies anywhere desdemona why man clown hes a soldier and for one to say a soldier lies is stabbing desdemona go to where lodges he clown to tell you where he lodges is to tell you where i lie desdemona can anything be made of this clown 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 desdemona can you inquire him out and be edified by report clown i will catechize the world for him that is make questions and by them answer desdemona seek him bid him come hither tell him i have moved my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well clown to do this is within the compass of mans wit and therefore i will attempt the doing it exit desdemona where should i lose that handkerchief emilia emilia i know not madam desdemona believe me i had rather have lost my purse full of crusadoes 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 emilia is he not jealous desdemona who he i think the sun where he was born drew all such humors from him emilia look where he comes desdemona i will not leave him now till cassio be calld to him enter othello how ist with you my lord othello well my good lady aside o hardness to dissemble how do you desdemona desdemona well my good lord othello give me your hand this hand is moist my lady desdemona it yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow othello 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 heres a young and sweating devil here that commonly rebels tis a good hand a frank one desdemona you may indeed say so for twas that hand that gave away my heart othello a liberal hand the hearts of old gave hands but our new heraldry is hands not hearts desdemona i cannot speak of this come now your promise othello what promise chuck desdemona i have sent to bid cassio come speak with you othello i have a salt and sorry rheum offends me lend me thy handkerchief desdemona here my lord othello that which i gave you desdemona i have it not about me othello not desdemona no faith my lord othello thats 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 fathers 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 ont make it a darling like your precious eye to loset or givet away were such perdition as nothing else could match desdemona ist possible othello tis true theres magic in the web of it a sibyl that had numberd in the world the sun to course two hundred compasses in her prophetic fury sewd the work the worms were hallowd that did breed the silk and it was dyed in mummy which the skillful conserved of maidens hearts desdemona indeed ist true othello most veritable therefore look tot well desdemona then would to god that i had never seent othello ha wherefore desdemona why do you speak so startingly and rash othello ist lost ist gone speak is it out o the way desdemona heaven bless us othello say you desdemona it is not lost but what an if it were othello how desdemona i say it is not lost othello fetcht let me see it desdemona 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 received again othello fetch me the handkerchief my mind misgives desdemona come come youll never meet a more sufficient man othello the handkerchief desdemona i pray talk me of cassio othello the handkerchief desdemona a man that all his time hath founded his good fortunes on your love shared dangers with you othello the handkerchief desdemona in sooth you are to blame othello away exit emilia is not this man jealous desdemona i neer saw this before sure theres some wonder in this handkerchief i am most unhappy in the loss of it emilia 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 enter cassio and iago iago there is no other way tis she must dot and lo the happiness go and importune her desdemona how now good cassio whats the news with you cassio 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 honor i would not be delayd if my offense be of such mortal kind that nor my service past nor present sorrows nor purposed 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 forced content and shut myself up in some other course to fortunes alms desdemona 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 favor as in humor alterd 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 iago is my lord angry emilia he went hence but now and certainly in strange unquietness iago 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 puffd his own brother and can he be angry something of moment then i will go meet him theres matter int indeed if he be angry desdemona i prithee do so exit iago something sure of state either from venice or some unhatchd practice made demonstrable here in cyprus to him hath puddled his clear spirit and in such cases mens 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 even 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 subornd the witness and hes indicted falsely emilia pray heaven it be state matters as you think and no conception nor no jealous toy concerning you desdemona alas the day i never gave him cause emilia but jealous souls will not be answerd so they are not ever jealous for the cause but jealous for they are jealous tis a monster begot upon itself born on itself desdemona heaven keep that monster from othellos mind emilia lady amen desdemona i will go seek him cassio walk hereabout if i do find him fit ill move your suit and seek to effect it to my uttermost cassio i humbly thank your ladyship exeunt desdemona and emilia enter bianca bianca save you friend cassio cassio what make you from home how is it with you my most fair bianca ifaith sweet love i was coming to your house bianca 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 cassio pardon me bianca i have this while with leaden thoughts been pressd but i shall in a more continuate time strike off this score of absence sweet bianca gives her desdemonas handkerchief take me this work out bianca o cassio whence came this this is some token from a newer friend to the felt absence now i feel a cause ist come to this well well cassio go to woman throw your vile guesses in the devils teeth from whence you have them you are jealous now that this is from some mistress some remembrance no by my faith bianca bianca why whose is it cassio i know not sweet i found it in my chamber i like the work well ere it be demanded as like enough it will ild have it copied take it and dot and leave me for this time bianca leave you wherefore cassio i do attend here on the general and think it no addition nor my wish to have him see me womand bianca why i pray you cassio not that i love you not bianca 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 cassio tis but a little way that i can bring you for i attend here but ill see you soon bianca tis very good i must be circumstanced exeunt act iv scene i cyprus before the castle enter othello and iago iago will you think so othello think so iago iago what to kiss in private othello an unauthorized kiss iago or to be naked with her friend in bed an hour or more not meaning any harm othello naked in 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 iago so they do nothing tis a venial slip but if i give my wife a handkerchief othello what then iago why then tis hers my lord and being hers she may i think bestowt on any man othello she is protectress of her honor too may she give that iago her honor is an essence thats not seen they have it very oft that have it not but for the handkerchief othello by heaven i would most gladly have forgot it thou saidst o it comes oer my memory as doth the raven oer the infected house boding to all he had my handkerchief iago ay what of that othello thats not so good now iago 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 othello hath he said anything iago he hath my lord but be you well assured no more than hell unswear othello what hath he said iago faith that he did i know not what he did othello what what iago lie othello with her iago with her on her what you will othello lie with her lie on her we say lie on her when they belie her lie with her zounds thats fulsome handkerchief confessions handkerchief to confess and be hanged for his labor 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 shakes me thus pish noses ears and lips ist possible confess handkerchief o devil falls in a trance iago work on my medicine work thus credulous fools are caught and many worthy and chaste dames even thus all guiltless meet reproach what ho my lord my lord i say othello enter cassio how now cassio cassio whats the matter iago my lord is falln into an epilepsy this is his second fit he had one yesterday cassio rub him about the temples iago 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 exit cassio how is it general have you not hurt your head othello dost thou mock me iago i mock you no by heaven would you would bear your fortune like a man othello a horned mans a monster and a beast iago theres many a beast then in a populous city and many a civil monster othello did he confess it iago good sir be a man think every bearded fellow thats but yoked may draw with you theres 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 fiends 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 othello o thou art wise tis certain iago stand you awhile apart confine yourself but in a patient list whilst you were here oerwhelmed 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 promised 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 othello dost thou hear iago i will be found most cunning in my patience but dost thou hear most bloody iago thats not amiss but yet keep time in all will you withdraw othello retires 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 strumpets plague to beguile many and be beguiled by one he when he hears of her cannot refrain from the excess of laughter here he comes re enter cassio as he shall smile othello shall go mad and his unbookish jealousy must construe poor cassios smiles gestures and light behavior quite in the wrong how do you now lieutenant cassio the worser that you give me the addition whose want even kills me iago ply desdemona well and you are sure ont now if this suit lay in biancos power how quickly should you speed cassio alas poor caitiff othello look how he laughs already iago i never knew a woman love man so cassio alas poor rogue i think ifaith she loves me othello now he denies it faintly and laughs it out iago do you hear cassio othello now he importunes him to tell it oer go to well said well said iago she gives it out that you shall marry her do you intend it cassio ha ha ha othello do you triumph roman do you triumph cassio i marry her what a customer i prithee bear some charity to my wit do not think it so unwholesome ha ha ha othello so so so so they laugh that win iago faith the cry goes that you shall marry her cassio prithee say true iago i am a very villain else othello have you scored me well cassio this is the monkeys own giving out she is persuaded i will marry her out of her own love and flattery not out of my promise othello iago beckons me now he begins the story cassio 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 comes the bauble and by this hand she falls me thus about my neck othello crying o dear cassio as it were his gesture imports it cassio so hangs and lolls and weeps upon me so hales and pulls me ha ha ha othello now he tells how she plucked him to my chamber o i see that nose of yours but not that dog i shall throw it to cassio well i must leave her company iago before me look where she comes cassio tis such another fitchew marry a perfumed one enter bianca what do you mean by this haunting of me bianca 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 minxs token and i must take out the work there give it your hobbyhorse wheresoever you had it ill take out no work ont cassio how now my sweet bianca how now how now othello by heaven that should be my handkerchief bianca an youll come to supper tonight you may an you will not come when you are next prepared for exit iago after her after her cassio faith i must shell rail i the street else iago will you sup there cassio faith i intend so iago well i may chance to see you for i would very fain speak with you cassio prithee come will you iago go to say no more exit cassio othello advancing how shall i murther him iago iago did you perceive how he laughed at his vice othello o iago iago and did you see the handkerchief othello was that mine iago 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 othello i would have him nine years akilling a fine woman a fair woman a sweet woman iago nay you must forget that othello ay let her rot and perish and be damned tonight 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 emperors side and command him tasks iago nay thats not your way othello 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 iago shes the worse for all this othello o a thousand a thousand times and then of so gentle a condition iago ay too gentle othello nay thats certain but yet the pity of it iago o iago the pity of it iago iago if you are so fond over her iniquity give her patent to offend for if it touch not you it comes near nobody othello i will chop her into messes cuckold me iago o tis foul in her othello with mine officer iago thats fouler othello get me some poison iago this night ill not expostulate with her lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again this night iago iago do it not with poison strangle her in her bed even the bed she hath contaminated othello good good the justice of it pleases very good iago and for cassio let me be his undertaker you shall hear more by midnight othello excellent good a trumpet within what trumpet is that same iago something from venice sure tis lodovico come from the duke and see your wife is with him enter lodovico desdemona and attendants lodovico god save the worthy general othello with all my heart sir lodovico the duke and senators of venice greet you gives him a letter othello i kiss the instrument of their pleasures opens the letter and reads desdemona and whats the news good cousin lodovico iago i am very glad to see you signior welcome to cyprus lodovico i thank you how does lieutenant cassio iago lives sir desdemona cousin theres falln between him and my lord an unkind breech but you shall make all well othello are you sure of that desdemona my lord othello reads this fail you not to do as you will lodovico he did not call hes busy in the paper is there division twixt my lord and cassio desdemona a most unhappy one i would do much to atone them for the love i bear to cassio othello fire and brimstone desdemona my lord othello are you wise desdemona what is he angry lodovico may be the letter moved him for as i think they do command him home deputing cassio in his government desdemona by my troth i am glad ont othello indeed desdemona my lord othello i am glad to see you mad desdemona why sweet othello othello devil strikes her desdemona i have not deserved this lodovico my lord this would not be believed in venice though i should swear i sawt tis very much make her amends she weeps othello o devil devil if that the earth could teem with womans tears each drop she falls would prove a crocodile out of my sight desdemona going i will not stay to offend you lodovico truly an obedient lady i do beseech your lordship call her back othello mistress desdemona my lord othello what would you with her sir lodovico who i my lord othello 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 shes 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 ill send for you anon sir i obey the mandate and will return to venice hence avaunt exit desdemona cassio shall have my place and sir tonight i do entreat that we may sup together you are welcome sir to cyprus goats and monkeys exit lodovico is this the noble moor whom our full senate call all in all sufficient this the nature whom passion could not shake whose solid virtue the shot of accident nor dart of chance could neither graze nor pierce iago he is much changed lodovico are his wits safe is he not light of brain iago hes 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 lodovico what strike his wife iago faith that was not so well yet would i knew that stroke would prove the worst lodovico is it his use or did the letters work upon his blood and new create this fault iago 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 lodovico i am sorry that i am deceived in him exeunt scene ii a room in the castle enter othello and emilia othello you have seen nothing then emilia nor ever heard nor ever did suspect othello yes you have seen cassio and she together emilia but then i saw no harm and then i heard each syllable that breath made up between them othello what did they never whisper emilia never my lord othello nor send you out o the way emilia never othello to fetch her fan her gloves her mask nor nothing emilia never my lord othello thats strange emilia 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 serpents curse for if she be not honest chaste and true theres no man happy the purest of their wives is foul as slander othello bid her come hither go exit emilia she says enough yet shes a simple bawd that cannot say as much this is a subtle whore a closet lock and key of villainous secrets and yet shell kneel and pray i have seen her dot enter desdemona with emilia desdemona my lord what is your will othello pray chuck come hither desdemona what is your pleasure othello let me see your eyes look in my face desdemona what horrible fancys this othello to emilia some of your function mistress leave procreants alone and shut the door cough or cry hem if anybody come your mystery your mystery nay dispatch exit emilia desdemona upon my knees what doth your speech import i understand a fury in your words but not the words othello why what art thou desdemona your wife my lord your true and loyal wife othello come swear it damn thyself lest being like one of heaven the devils themselves should fear to seize thee therefore be double damnd swear thou art honest desdemona heaven doth truly know it othello heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell desdemona to whom my lord with whom how am i false othello o desdemona away away away desdemona 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 othello had it pleased heaven to try me with affliction had they raind all kinds of sores and shames on my bare head steepd me in poverty to the very lips given to captivity me and my utmost hopes i should have found in some place of my soul a drop of patience but alas to make me a fixed figure for the time of scorn to point his slow unmoving finger at yet could i bear that too well very well but there where i have garnerd 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 lippd cherubin ay there look grim as hell desdemona i hope my noble lord esteems me honest othello o ay as summer flies are in the shambles that quicken even with blowing o thou weed who art so lovely fair and smellst so sweet that the sense aches at thee would thou hadst neer been born desdemona alas what ignorant sin have i committed othello 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 hushd within the hollow mine of earth and will not hear it what committed impudent strumpet desdemona by heaven you do me wrong othello are not you a strumpet desdemona 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 othello what not a whore desdemona no as i shall be saved othello ist possible desdemona o heaven forgive us othello i cry you mercy then i took you for that cunning whore of venice that married with othello raises his voice you mistress that have the office opposite to saint peter and keep the gate of hell re enter emilia you you ay you we have done our course theres money for your pains i pray you turn the key and keep our counsel exit emilia alas what does this gentleman conceive how do you madam how do you my good lady desdemona faith half asleep emilia good madam whats the matter with my lord desdemona with who emilia why with my lord madam desdemona who is thy lord emilia he that is yours sweet lady desdemona i have none do not talk to me emilia i cannot weep nor answer have i none but what should go by water prithee tonight lay on my bed my wedding sheets remember and call thy husband hither emilia heres a change indeed exit desdemona tis meet i should be used so very meet how have i been behaved that he might stick the smallst opinion on my least misuse re enter emilia with iago iago what is your pleasure madam how ist with you desdemona 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 iago whats the matter lady emilia alas iago my lord hath so bewhored her thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her as true hearts cannot bear desdemona am i that name iago iago what name fair lady desdemona such as she says my lord did say i was emilia he calld her whore a beggar in his drink could not have laid such terms upon his callet iago why did he so desdemona i do not know i am sure i am none such iago do not weep do not weep alas the day emilia hath she forsook so many noble matches her father and her country and her friends to be calld whore would it not make one weep desdemona it is my wretched fortune iago beshrew him fort how comes this trick upon him desdemona nay heaven doth know emilia i will be hangd if some eternal villain some busy and insinuating rogue some cogging cozening slave to get some office have not devised this slander ill be hangd else iago fie there is no such man it is impossible desdemona if any such there be heaven pardon him emilia 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 moors abused by some most villainous knave some base notorious knave some scurvy fellow o heaven that such companions thouldst unfold and put in every honest hand a whip to lash the rascals naked through the world even from the east to the west iago speak within door emilia o fie upon them some such squire he was that turnd your wit the seamy side without and made you to suspect me with the moor iago you are a fool go to desdemona 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 eer 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 doth abhor me now i speak the word to do the act that might the addition earn not the worlds mass of vanity could make me iago i pray you be content tis but his humor the business of the state does him offense and he does chide with you desdemona if twere no other iago tis but so i warrant trumpets within hark how these instruments summon to supper the messengers of venice stay the meat go in and weep not all things shall be well exeunt desdemona and emilia enter roderigo how now roderigo roderigo i do not find that thou dealest justly with me iago what in the contrary roderigo 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 iago will you hear me roderigo roderigo faith i have heard too much for your words and performances are no kin together iago you charge me most unjustly roderigo 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 hath received them and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance but i find none iago well go to very well roderigo very well go to i cannot go to man nor tis not very well by this hand i say tis very scurvy and begin to find myself fopped in it iago very well roderigo 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 iago you have said now roderigo ay and said nothing but what i protest intendment of doing iago why now i see theres 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 have dealt most directly in thy affair roderigo it hath not appeared iago i grant indeed it hath not appeared and your suspicion is not without wit and judgement but roderigo if thou hast that in thee indeed which i have greater reason to believe now than ever i mean purpose courage and valor 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 roderigo well what is it is it within reason and compass iago sir there is especial commission come from venice to depute cassio in othellos place roderigo is that true why then othello and desdemona return again to venice iago 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 roderigo how do you mean removing of him iago why by making him uncapable of othellos place knocking out his brains roderigo and that you would have me to do iago ay if you dare do yourself a profit and a right he sups tonight with a harlotry and thither will i go to him he knows not yet of his honorable fortune if you will watch his going thence which his 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 roderigo i will hear further reason for this iago and you shall be satisfied exeunt scene iii another room in the castle enter othello lodovico desdemona emilia and attendants lodovico i do beseech you sir trouble yourself no further othello o pardon me twill do me good to walk lodovico madam good night i humbly thank your ladyship desdemona your honor is most welcome othello will you walk sir o desdemona desdemona my lord othello get you to bed on the instant i will be returned forthwith dismiss your attendant there look it be done desdemona i will my lord exeunt othello lodovico and attendants emilia how goes it now he looks gentler than he did desdemona he says he will return incontinent he hath commanded me to go to bed and bade me to dismiss you emilia dismiss me desdemona it was his bidding therefore good emilia give me my nightly wearing and adieu we must not now displease him emilia i would you had never seen him desdemona so would not i my love doth so approve him that even his stubbornness his checks his frowns prithee unpin me have grace and favor in them emilia i have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed desdemona alls one good faith how foolish are our minds if i do die before thee prithee shroud me in one of those same sheets emilia come come you talk desdemona my mother had a maid calld barbary she was in love and he she loved proved mad and did forsake her she had a song of willow an old thing twas but it expressd her fortune and she died singing it that song tonight 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 barbary prithee dispatch emilia shall i go fetch your nightgown desdemona no unpin me here this lodovico is a proper man emilia a very handsome man desdemona he speaks well emilia i know a lady in venice would have walked barefoot to palestine for a touch of his nether lip desdemona sings 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 murmurd her moans sing willow willow willow her salt tears fell from her and softend the stones lay be these sings sing willow willow willow prithee hie thee hell come anon sings sing all a green willow must be my garland let nobody blame him his scorn i approve nay thats not next hark who ist that knocks emilia its the wind desdemona sings i calld my love false love but what said he then sing willow willow willow if i court moe women youll couch with moe men so get thee gone good night mine eyes do itch doth that bode weeping emilia tis neither here nor there desdemona 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 emilia there be some such no question desdemona wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world emilia why would not you desdemona no by this heavenly light emilia nor i neither by this heavenly light i might dot as well i the dark desdemona wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world emilia the worlds a huge thing it is a great price for a small vice desdemona in troth i think thou wouldst not emilia in troth i think i should and undot when i had done marry i would not do such a thing for a joint ring nor for measures of lawn nor for gowns petticoats nor caps nor any petty exhibition but for the whole world why who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch i should venture purgatory fort desdemona beshrew me if i would do such a wrong for the whole world emilia why the wrong is but a wrong i the world and having the world for your labor tis a wrong in your own world and you might quickly make it right desdemona i do not think there is any such woman emilia 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 ist 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 desdemona good night good night heaven me such uses send not to pick bad from bad but by bad mend exeunt act v scene i cyprus a street enter iago and roderigo iago here stand behind this bulk straight will he come wear thy good rapier bare and put it home quick quick fear nothing ill be at thy elbow it makes us or it mars us think on that and fix most firm thy resolution roderigo be near at hand i may miscarry int iago here at thy hand be bold and take thy stand retires roderigo i have no great devotion to the deed and yet he hath given me satisfying reasons tis but a man gone forth my sword he dies iago i have rubbd 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 bobbd 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 bet so i hear him coming enter cassio roderigo i know his gait tis he villain thou diest makes a pass at cassio cassio that thrust had been mine enemy indeed but that my coat is better than thou knowst i will make proof of thine draws and wounds roderigo roderigo o i am slain iago from behind wounds cassio in the leg and exit cassio i am maimd forever help ho murther murther falls enter othello othello the voice of cassio iago keeps his word roderigo o villain that i am othello it is even so cassio o help ho light a surgeon othello tis he o brave iago honest and just that hast such noble sense of thy friends 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 staind shall with lusts blood be spotted exit enter lodovico and gratiano cassio what ho no watch no passage murther murther gratiano tis some mischance the cry is very direful cassio o help lodovico hark roderigo o wretched villain lodovico two or three groan it is a heavy night these may be counterfeits lets thinkt unsafe to come in to the cry without more help roderigo nobody come then shall i bleed to death lodovico hark re enter iago with a light gratiano heres one comes in his shirt with light and weapons iago whos there whose noise is this that cries on murther lodovico we do not know iago did not you hear a cry cassio here here for heavens sake help me iago whats the matter gratiano this is othellos ancient as i take it lodovico the same indeed a very valiant fellow iago what are you here that cry so grievously cassio iago o i am spoild undone by villains give me some help iago o me lieutenant what villains have done this cassio i think that one of them is hereabout and cannot make away iago o treacherous villains to lodovico and gratiano what are you there come in and give some help roderigo o help me here cassio thats one of them iago o murtherous slave o villain stabs roderigo roderigo o damnd iago o inhuman dog iago kill men i the dark where be these bloody thieves how silent is this town ho murther murther what may you be are you of good or evil lodovico as you shall prove us praise us iago signior lodovico lodovico he sir iago i cry you mercy heres cassio hurt by villains gratiano cassio iago how ist brother cassio my leg is cut in two iago marry heaven forbid light gentlemen ill bind it with my shirt enter bianca bianca what is the matter ho who ist that cried iago who ist that cried bianca o my dear cassio my sweet cassio o cassio cassio cassio iago o notable strumpet cassio may you suspect who they should be that have thus mangled you cassio no gratiano i am sorry to find you thus i have been to seek you iago lend me a garter so o for a chair to bear him easily hence bianca alas he faints o cassio cassio cassio iago 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 gratiano what of venice iago even he sir did you know him gratiano know him ay iago signior gratiano i cry you gentle pardon these bloody accidents must excuse my manners that so neglected you gratiano i am glad to see you iago how do you cassio o a chair a chair gratiano roderigo iago he he tis he a chair brought in o thats well said the chair some good man bear him carefully from hence ill fetch the generals surgeon to bianca for you mistress save you your labor he that lies slain here cassio was my dear friend what malice was between you cassio none in the world nor do i know the man iago to bianca what look you pale o bear him out o the air cassio and roderigo are borne off 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 enter emilia emilia las whats the matter whats the matter husband iago cassio hath here been set on in the dark by roderigo and fellows that are scaped hes almost slain and roderigo dead emilia alas good gentleman alas good cassio iago this is the fruit of whoring prithee emilia go know of cassio where he suppd tonight what do you shake at that bianca he suppd at my house but i therefore shake not iago o did he so i charge you go with me emilia fie fie upon thee strumpet bianca i am no strumpet but of life as honest as you that thus abuse me emilia as i foh fie upon thee iago kind gentlemen lets go see poor cassio dressd come mistress you must tells another tale emilia run you to the citadel and tell my lord and lady what hath happd will you go on aside this is the night that either makes me or fordoes me quite exeunt scene ii a bedchamber in the castle desdemona in bed asleep a light burning enter othello othello 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 ill not shed her blood nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow and smooth as monumental alabaster yet she must die else shell 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 cunningst pattern of excelling nature i know not where is that promethean heat that can thy light relume when i have pluckd the rose i cannot give it vital growth again it must needs wither ill smell it on the tree kisses her 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 neer so fatal i must weep but they are cruel tears this sorrows heavenly it strikes where it doth love she wakes desdemona whos there othello othello ay desdemona desdemona will you come to bed my lord othello have you prayd tonight desdemona desdemona ay my lord othello if you bethink yourself of any crime unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace solicit for it straight desdemona alas my lord what may you mean by that othello 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 desdemona talk you of killing othello ay i do desdemona then heaven have mercy on me othello amen with all my heart desdemona if you say so i hope you will not kill me othello hum desdemona 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 othello think on thy sins desdemona they are loves i bear to you othello ay and for that thou diest desdemona that deaths 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 othello peace and be still desdemona i will so whats the matter othello that handkerchief which i so loved and gave thee thou gavest to cassio desdemona no by my life and soul send for the man and ask him othello sweet soul take heed take heed of perjury thou are on thy deathbed desdemona ay but not yet to die othello 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 desdemona then lord have mercy on me othello i say amen desdemona and have you mercy too i never did offend you in my life never loved cassio but with such general warranty of heaven as i might love i never gave him token othello by heaven i saw my handkerchief in s hand o perjured woman thou dost stone my heart and makest me call what i intend to do a murther which i thought a sacrifice i saw the handkerchief desdemona he found it then i never gave it him send for him hither let him confess a truth othello he hath confessd desdemona what my lord othello that he hath used thee desdemona how unlawfully othello ay desdemona he will not say so othello no his mouth is stoppd honest iago hath taen order fort desdemona o my fear interprets what is he dead othello had all his hairs been lives my great revenge had stomach for them all desdemona alas he is betrayd and i undone othello out strumpet weepst thou for him to my face desdemona o banish me my lord but kill me not othello down strumpet desdemona kill me tomorrow let me live tonight othello nay if you strive desdemona but half an hour othello being done there is no pause desdemona but while i say one prayer othello it is too late he stifles her emilia within my lord my lord what ho my lord my lord othello 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 emilia within what ho my lord my lord othello whos there emilia within o good my lord i would speak a word with you othello yes tis emilia by and by shes dead tis like she comes to speak of cassios death the noise was here ha no more moving still as the grave shall she come in weret good i think she stirs again no whats best to do if she come in shell 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 emilia within i do beseech you that i may speak with you o good my lord othello i had forgot thee o come in emilia soft by and by let me the curtains draw where art thou unlocks the door enter emilia whats the matter with thee now emilia o my good lord yonders foul murthers done othello what now emilia but now my lord othello it is the very error of the moon she comes more nearer earth than she was wont and makes men mad emilia cassio my lord hath killd a young venetian calld roderigo othello roderigo killd and cassio killd emilia no cassio is not killd othello not cassio killd then murthers out of tune and sweet revenge grows harsh desdemona o falsely falsely murtherd emilia alas what cry is that othello that what emilia out and alas that was my ladys voice help help ho help o lady speak again sweet desdemona o sweet mistress speak desdemona a guiltless death i die emilia o who hath done this deed desdemona nobody i myself farewell commend me to my kind lord o farewell dies othello why how should she be murtherd emilia alas who knows othello you heard her say herself it was not i emilia she said so i must needs report the truth othello shes like a liar gone to burning hell twas i that killd her emilia o the more angel she and you the blacker devil othello she turnd to folly and she was a whore emilia thou dost belie her and thou art a devil othello she was false as water emilia thou art rash as fire to say that she was false o she was heavenly true othello cassio did top her ask thy husband else o i were damnd beneath all depth in hell but that i did proceed upon just grounds to this extremity thy husband knew it all emilia my husband othello thy husband emilia that she was false to wedlock othello ay with cassio nay had she been true if heaven would make me such another world of one entire and perfect chrysolite ild not have sold her for it emilia my husband othello ay twas he that told me first an honest man he is and hates the slime that sticks on filthy deeds emilia my husband othello what needs this iteration woman i say thy husband emilia o mistress villainy hath made mocks with love my husband say that she was false othello he woman i say thy husband dost understand the word my friend thy husband honest honest iago emilia 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 othello ha emilia do thy worst this deed of thine is no more worthy heaven than thou wast worthy her othello peace you were best emilia thou hast not half that 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 ill make thee known though i lost twenty lives help help ho help the moor hath killd my mistress murther murther enter montano gratiano iago and others montano what is the matter how now general emilia o are you come iago you have done well that men must lay their murthers on your neck gratiano what is the matter emilia disprove this villain if thou best a man he says thou toldst him that his wife was false i know thou didst not thourt not such a villain speak for my heart is full iago i told him what i thought and told no more than what he found himself was apt and true emilia but did you ever tell him she was false iago i did emilia 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 iago with cassio mistress go to charm your tongue emilia i will not charm my tongue i am bound to speak my mistress here lies murtherd in her bed all o heavens forfend emilia and your reports have set the murther on othello nay stare not masters it is true indeed gratiano tis a strange truth montano o monstrous act emilia villainy villainy villainy i think upont i think i smellt o villainy i thought so then ill kill myself for grief o villainy villainy iago what are you mad i charge you get you home emilia good gentlemen let me have leave to speak tis proper i obey him but not now perchance iago i will neer go home othello o o o falls on the bed emilia nay lay thee down and roar for thou hast killd the sweetest innocent that eer did lift up eye othello rises o she was foul i scarce did know you uncle there lies your niece whose breath indeed these hands have newly stoppd i know this act shows horrible and grim gratiano poor desdemon i am glad thy fathers 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 othello tis pitiful but yet iago knows that she with cassio hath the act of shame a thousand times committed cassio confessd 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 emilia o heaven o heavenly powers iago zounds hold your peace emilia twill out twill i peace 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 ill speak iago be wise and get you home emilia i will not iago offers to stab emilia gratiano fie your sword upon a woman emilia o thou dull moor that handkerchief thou speakst of i found by fortune and did give my husband for often with a solemn earnestness more than indeed belongd to such a trifle he beggd of me to steal it iago villainous whore emilia she give it cassio no alas i found it and i did givet my husband iago filth thou liest emilia by heaven i do not i do not gentlemen o murtherous coxcomb what should such a fool do with so good a wife othello are there not stones in heaven but what serve for thunder precious villain he runs at iago but montano disarms him iago stabs emilia gratiano the woman falls sure he hath killd his wife emilia ay ay o lay me by my mistress side exit iago gratiano hes gone but his wifes killd montano tis a notorious villain take you this weapon which i have here recoverd from the moor come guard the door without let him not pass but kill him rather ill after that same villain for tis a damned slave exeunt all but othello and emilia othello i am not valiant neither but every puny whipster gets my sword but why should honor outlive honesty let it go all emilia what did thy song bode lady hark canst thou hear me i will play the swan and die in music sings willow willow willow moor she was chaste she loved thee cruel moor so come my soul to bliss as i speak true so speaking as i think i die i die dies othello i have another weapon in this chamber it is a sword of spain the ice brooks temper o here it is uncle i must come forth gratiano within if thou attempt it it will cost thee dear thou hast no weapon and perforce must suffer othello look in upon me then and speak with me or naked as i am i will assault thee re enter gratiano gratiano what is the matter othello behold i have a weapon a better never did itself sustain upon a soldiers 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 weapond here is my journeys end here is my butt and very sea mark of my utmost sail do you go back dismayd tis a lost fear man but a rush against othellos breast and he retires where should othello go now how dost thou look now o ill starrd 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 desdemon dead desdemon dead o o o enter lodovico montano cassio carried in a chair and officers with iago prisoner lodovico where is this rash and most unfortunate man othello thats he that was othello here i am lodovico where is that viper bring the villain forth othello i look down towards his feet but thats a fable if that thou best a devil i cannot kill thee wounds iago lodovico wrench his sword from him iago i bleed sir but not killd othello i am not sorry neither ild have thee live for in my sense tis happiness to die lodovico o thou othello that wert once so good falln in the practice of a damned slave what shall be said to thee othello why anything an honorable murtherer if you will for nought did i in hate but all in honor lodovico this wretch hath part confessd his villainy did you and he consent in cassios death othello ay cassio dear general i never gave you cause othello i do believe it and i ask your pardon will you i pray demand that demi devil why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body iago demand me nothing what you know you know from this time forth i never will speak word lodovico what not to pray gratiano torments will ope your lips othello well thou dost best lodovico sir you shall understand what hath befalln 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 othello o villain cassio most heathenish and most gross lodovico now heres 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 othello o the pernicious caitiff how came you cassio by that handkerchief that was my wifes cassio i found it in my chamber and he himself confessd but even now that there he droppd it for a special purpose which wrought to his desire othello o fool fool fool cassio there is besides in roderigos 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 lodovico 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 away othello soft you a word or two before you go i have done the state some service and they knowt 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 loved not wisely but too well of one not easily jealous but being wrought perplexd in the extreme of one whose hand like the base indian threw a pearl away richer than all his tribe of one whose subdued eyes albeit unused to the melting mood drop tears as fast as the arabian trees their medicinal gum set you down this and say besides that in aleppo once where a malignant and a turband turk beat a venetian and traduced the state i took by the throat the circumcised dog and smote him thus stabs himself lodovico o bloody period gratiano all thats spoke is marrd othello i kissd thee ere i killd thee no way but this killing myself to die upon a kiss falls on the bed and dies cassio this did i fear but thought he had no weapon for he was great of heart lodovico to iago 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 exeunt the end pericles prince of tyre by william shakespeare contents act i chorus before the palace of antioch scene i antioch a room in the palace scene ii tyre a room in the palace scene iii tyre an ante chamber in the palace scene iv tarsus a room in the governors house act ii chorus chorus scene i pentapolis an open place by the seaside scene ii the same a public way or platform leading to the lists scene iii the same a hall of state a banquet prepared scene iv tyre a room in the governors house scene v pentapolis a room in the palace act iii chorus chorus scene i on shipboard scene ii ephesus a room in cerimons house scene iii tarsus a room in cleons house scene iv ephesus a room in cerimons house act iv chorus chorus scene i tarsus an open place near the seashore scene ii mytilene a room in a brothel scene iii tarsus a room in cleons house scene iv before the monument of marina at tarsus scene v mytilene a street before the brothel scene vi the same a room in the brothel act v chorus chorus scene i on board pericles ship off mytilene scene ii before the temple of diana at ephesus scene iii the temple of diana at ephesus dramatis personae antiochus king of antioch pericles prince of tyre helicanus escanes two lords of tyre simonides king of pentapolis cleon governor of tarsus lysimachus governor of mytilene cerimon a lord of ephesus thaliard a lord of antioch philemon servant to cerimon leonine servant to dionyza marshal a pandar boult his servant the daughter of antiochus dionyza wife to cleon thaisa daughter to simonides marina daughter to pericles and thaisa lychorida nurse to marina a bawd lords knights gentlemen sailors pirates fishermen and messengers diana gower as chorus scene dispersedly in various countries act i enter gower before the palace of antioch to sing a song that old was sung from ashes ancient gower is come assuming mans 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 wits more ripe accept my rhymes 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 but custom what they did begin was with long use accountd no sin the beauty of this sinful dame made many princes thither frame to seek her as a bedfellow in marriage pleasures playfellow which to prevent he made a law to keep her still and men in awe that whoso askd 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 judgement your eye i give my cause who best can justify exit scene i antioch a room in the palace enter antiochus prince pericles and followers antiochus young prince of tyre you have at large received the danger of the task you undertake pericles i have antiochus and with a soul emboldened with the glory of her praise think death no hazard in this enterprise antiochus music bring in our daughter clothed like a bride for the embracements even of jove himself at whose conception till lucina reigned nature this dowry gave to glad her presence the senate house of planets all did sit to knit in her their best perfections music enter the daughter of antiochus pericles see where she comes apparelld 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 razed and testy wrath could never be her mild companion you gods that made me man and sway in love that have inflamed desire in my breast to taste the fruit of yon 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 antiochus prince pericles pericles that would be son to great antiochus antiochus before thee stands this fair hesperides with golden fruit but dangerous to be touchd 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 the whole heap must die yon sometimes 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 here they stand martyrs slain in cupids wars and with dead cheeks advise thee to desist for going on deaths net whom none resist pericles 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 rememberd should be like a mirror who tells us lifes but breath to trust it error ill 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 to the daughter of antiochus but my unspotted fire of love to you thus ready for the way of life or death i wait the sharpest blow antiochus antiochus scorning advice read the conclusion then which read and not expounded tis decreed as these before thee thou thyself shalt bleed daughter of all ssayed yet mayst thou prove prosperous of all ssayed yet i wish thee happiness pericles like a bold champion i assume the lists nor ask advice of any other thought but faithfulness and courage he reads the riddle i am no viper yet i feed on mothers flesh which did me breed i sought a husband in which labour i found that kindness in a father hes 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 mens acts why cloud they not their sights perpetually if this be true which makes me pale to read it fair glass of light i loved you and could still takes hold of the hand of the princess were not this glorious casket stored with ill but i must tell you now my thoughts revolt for hes no man on whom perfections wait that knowing sin within will touch the gate you are a fair viol and your sense the strings who fingerd to make man his lawful music would draw heaven down and all the gods to hearken but being playd upon before your time hell only danceth at so harsh a chime good sooth i care not for you antiochus prince pericles touch not upon thy life for thats an article within our law as dangerous as the rest your times expired either expound now or receive your sentence pericles 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 hes 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 coppd hills towards heaven to tell the earth is throngd by mans oppression and the poor worm doth die fort kind are earths gods in vice their laws 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 bred then give my tongue like leave to love my head antiochus aside 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 well joy in such a son and until then your entertain shall be as doth befit our honour and your worth exeunt all but pericles pericles how courtesy would seem to cover sin when what is done is like an 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 youre both a father and a son by your untimely claspings with your child which pleasures fits a husband not a father and she an eater of her mothers flesh by the defiling of her parents 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 schew no course to keep them from the light one sin i know another doth provoke murders 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 croppd to keep you clear by flight ill shun the danger which i fear exit re enter antiochus antiochus he hath found the meaning for which we mean to have 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 enter thaliard thaliard doth your highness call antiochus thaliard you are of our chamber and our mind partakes her private actions to your secrecy and for your faithfulness we will advance you thaliard behold heres poison and heres 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 thaliard my lord tis done antiochus enough enter a messenger let your breath cool yourself telling your haste messenger my lord prince pericles is fled exit antiochus as thou wilt live fly after and like an arrow shot from a well experienced archer hits the mark his eye doth level at so thou neer return unless thou say prince pericles is dead thaliard my lord if i can get him within my pistols length ill make him sure enough so farewell to your highness antiochus thaliard adieu exit thaliard till pericles be dead my heart can lend no succour to my head exit scene ii tyre a room in the palace enter pericles with his lords pericles to lords without let none disturb us why should this change of thoughts the sad companion dull eyed melancholy be my so used a guest as not an hour in the days 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 feard is at antioch whose arm seems far too short to hit me here yet neither pleasures art can joy my spirits nor yet the others distance comfort me then it is thus the passions of the mind that have their first conception by misdread 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 hes 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 hell stop the course by which it might be known with hostile forces hell oerspread the land and with the ostent of war will look so huge amazement shall drive courage from the state our men be vanquishd ere they do resist and subjects punishd that neer 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 makes both my body pine and soul to languish and punish that before that he would punish enter helicanus with other lords first lord joy and all comfort in your sacred breast second lord and keep your mind till you return to us peaceful and comfortable helicanus 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 flatterd but a spark to which that spark 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 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 pericles all leave us else but let your cares oerlook what shipping and what ladings in our haven and then return to us exeunt lords helicanus thou hast moved us what seest thou in our looks helicanus an angry brow dread lord pericles if there be such a dart in princes frowns how durst thy tongue move anger to our face helicanus how dares the plants look up to heaven from whence they have their nourishment pericles thou knowst i have power to take thy life from thee helicanus kneeling i have ground the axe myself do but you strike the blow pericles 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 makest a prince thy servant what wouldst thou have me do helicanus to bear with patience such griefs as you yourself do lay upon yourself pericles thou speakst like a physician helicanus that ministers a potion unto me that thou wouldst tremble to receive thyself attend me then i went to antioch where as thou knowst 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 seemd not to strike but smooth but thou knowst this tis time to fear when tyrants seems to kiss which fear so grew in me i hither fled under the covering of a careful night who seemd 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 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 hell fill this land with arms and make pretence of wrong that i have done him when all for mine if i may call offence must feel wars blow who spares not innocence which love to all of which thyself art one who now reprovest me for it helicanus alas sir pericles 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 helicanus 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 ill be pericles i do not doubt thy faith but should he wrong my liberties in my absence helcanus well mingle our bloods together in the earth from whence we had our being and our birth pericles tyre i now look from thee then and to tarsus intend my travel where ill hear from thee and by whose letters ill dispose myself the care i had and have of subjects good on thee i lay whose wisdoms strength can bear it ill take thy word for faith not ask thine oath who shuns not to break one will sure crack both but in our orbs well live so round and safe that time of both this truth shall neer convince thou showdst a subjects shine i a true prince exeunt scene iii tyre an ante chamber in the palace enter thaliard thaliard so this is tyre and this the court here must i kill king pericles and if i do it 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 fort for if a king bid a man be a villain hes bound by the indenture of his oath to be one husht here come the lords of tyre enter helicanus and escanes with other lords of tyre helicanus you shall not need my fellow peers of tyre further to question me of your kings departure his seald commission left in trust with me doth speak sufficiently hes gone to travel thaliard aside how the king gone helicanus if further yet you will be satisfied why as it were unlicensed of your loves he would depart ill give some light unto you being at antioch thaliard aside what from antioch helicanus royal antiochus on what cause i know not took some displeasure at him at least he judged so and doubting lest that he had errd or sinnd to show his sorrow hed correct himself so puts himself unto the shipmans toil with whom each minute threatens life or death thaliard aside well i perceive i shall not be hangd now although i would but since hes gone the kings seas must please he scaped the land to perish at the sea ill present myself peace to the lords of tyre helicanus lord thaliard from antiochus is welcome thaliard from him i come with message unto princely pericles but since my landing i have understood your lord has betook himself to unknown travels my message must return from whence it came helicanus 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 exeunt scene iv tarsus a room in the governors house enter cleon the governor of tarsus with dionyza and others cleon my dionyza shall we rest us here and by relating tales of others griefs see if twill teach us to forget our own dionyza 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 theyre but felt and seen with mischiefs eyes but like to groves being toppd they higher rise cleon 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 ill then discourse our woes felt several years and wanting breath to speak help me with tears dionyza ill do my best sir cleon this tarsus oer which i have the government a city on whom plenty held full hand for riches strewd herself even in the streets whose towers bore heads so high they kissd the clouds and strangers neer beheld but wonderd at whose men and dames so jetted and adornd like one anothers glass to trim them by their tables were stored full to glad the sight and not so much to feed on as delight all poverty was scornd and pride so great the name of help grew odious to repeat dionyza o tis too true cleon but see what heaven can do by this our change these mouths who 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 defiled for want of use they are now starved 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 loved so sharp are hungers 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 dionyza our cheeks and hollow eyes do witness it cleon o let those cities that of plentys cup and her prosperities so largely taste with their superflous riots hear these tears the misery of tarsus may be theirs enter a lord lord wheres the lord governor cleon here speak out thy sorrows which thou bringst in haste for comfort is too far for us to expect lord we have descried upon our neighbouring shore a portly sail of ships make hitherward cleon i thought as much one sorrow never comes but brings an heir that may succeed as his inheritor and so in ours some neighbouring nation taking advantage of our misery that stuffd the hollow vessels with their power to beat us down the which are down already and make a conquest of unhappy me whereas no glorys got to overcome lord thats the least fear for by the semblance of their white flags displayd they bring us peace and come to us as favourers not as foes cleon thou speakst like hims untutord 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 grounds 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 lord i go my lord exit cleon welcome is peace if he on peace consist if wars we are unable to resist enter pericles with attendants pericles lord governor for so we hear you are let not our ships and number of our men be like a beacon fired 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 stuffd within with bloody veins expecting overthrow are stored with corn to make your needy bread and give them life whom hunger starved half dead all the gods of greece protect you and well pray for you pericles arise i pray you rise we do not look for reverence but for love and harbourage for ourself our ships and men cleon 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 neer be seen your grace is welcome to our town and us pericles which welcome well accept feast here awhile until our stars that frown lend us a smile exeunt act ii enter gower gower here have you seen a mighty king his child iwis to incest bring a better prince and benign lord that will prove awful both in deed word be quiet then as men should be till he hath passd necessity ill 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 dumb show enter at one door pericles talking with cleon all the train with them enter at another door a gentleman with a letter to pericles pericles shows the letter to cleon gives the messenger a reward and knights him exit pericles at one door and cleon at another good helicane that stayd 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 theres 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 wreckd 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 tired 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 exit scene i pentapolis an open place by the seaside enter pericles wet pericles 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 washd 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 hell crave enter three fishermen first fisherman what ho pilch second fisherman ha come and bring away the nets first fisherman what patch breech i say third fisherman what say you master first fisherman look how thou stirrest now come away or ill fetch thee with a wanion third fisherman faith master i am thinking of the poor men that were cast away before us even now first fisherman 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 third fisherman nay master said not i as much when i saw the porpus how he bounced and tumbled they say theyre half fish half flesh a plague on them they neer come but i look to be washed master i marvel how the fishes live in the sea first fisherman 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 swallowed the whole parish church steeple bells and all pericles aside a pretty moral third fisherman but master if i had been the sexton i would have been that day in the belfry second fisherman why man third fisherman 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 pericles aside simonides third fisherman we would purge the land of these drones that rob the bee of her honey pericles aside 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 second fisherman honest good fellow whats that if it be a day fits you search out of the calendar and nobody look after it pericles may see the sea hath cast upon your coast second fisherman what a drunken knave was the sea to cast thee in our way pericles 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 used to beg first fisherman no friend cannot you beg heres them in our country of greece gets more with begging than we can do with working second fisherman canst thou catch any fishes then pericles i never practised it second fisherman nay then thou wilt starve sure for heres nothing to be got now a days unless thou canst fish fort pericles what i have been i have forgot to know but what i am want teaches me to think on a man throngd 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 first fisherman die quoth a now gods forbidt and i have a gown here come put it on keep thee warm now afore me a handsome fellow come thou shalt go home and well have flesh for holidays fish for fasting days and moreoer puddings and flap jacks and thou shalt be welcome pericles i thank you sir second fisherman hark you my friend you said you could not beg pericles i did but crave second fisherman but crave then ill turn craver too and so i shall scape whipping pericles why are your beggars whipped then second fisherman 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 ill go draw up the net exit with third fisherman pericles aside how well this honest mirth becomes their labour first fisherman hark you sir do you know where ye are pericles not well first fisherman why ill tell you this is called pentapolis and our king the good simonides pericles the good simonides do you call him first fisherman ay sir and he deserves so to be called for his peaceable reign and good government pericles he is a happy king since he gains from his subjects the name of good government how far is his court distant from this shore first fisherman marry sir half a days journey and ill tell you he hath a fair daughter and tomorrow is her birth day and there are princes and knights come from all parts of the world to joust and tourney for her love pericles were my fortunes equal to my desires i could wish to make one there first fisherman o sir things must be as they may and what a man cannot get he may lawfully deal for his wifes soul re enter second and third fishermen drawing up a net second fisherman help master help heres a fish hangs in the net like a poor mans right in the law twill hardly come out ha bots ont tis come at last and tis turned to a rusty armour pericles an armour friends i pray you let me see it thanks fortune yet that after all my crosses thou givest me somewhat to repair myself and though it was mine own part of my 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 saved me keep it in like necessity the which the gods protect thee from may defend thee it kept where i kept i so dearly loved it till the rough seas that spares not any man took it in rage though calmd have givent again i thank thee fort my shipwreck nows no ill since i have here my father gave in his will first fisherman what mean you sir pericles 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 loved me dearly and for his sake i wish the having of it and that youd guide me to your sovereign court where with it i may appear a gentleman and if that ever my low fortunes better ill pay your bounties till then rest your debtor first fisherman why wilt thou tourney for the lady pericles ill show the virtue i have borne in arms first fisherman why dye take it and the gods give thee good ont second fisherman ay but hark you my friend twas we that made up this garment through the rough seams of the waters there are certain condolements certain vails i hope sir if you thrive youll remember from whence you had them pericles believet i will by your furtherance i am clothed in steel and spite of all the rapture of the sea this jewel holds his building on my arm unto thy value i will 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 second fisherman well sure provide thou shalt have my best gown to make thee a pair and ill bring thee to the court myself pericles then honour be but a goal to my will this day ill rise or else add ill to ill exeunt scene ii the same a public way or platform leading to the lists a pavilion by the side of it for the reception of the king princess lords etc enter simonides thaisa lords and attendants simonides are the knights ready to begin the triumph first lord they are my liege and stay your coming to present themselves simonides return them we are ready and our daughter in honour of whose birth these triumphs are sits here like beautys child whom nature gat for men to see and seeing wonder at exit a lord thaisa it pleaseth you my royal father to express my commendations great whose merits less simonides its 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 entertain the labour of each knight in his device thaisa which to preserve mine honour ill perform the first knight passes by and his squire presents his shield to thaisa simonides who is the first that doth prefer himself thaisa a knight of sparta my renowned father and the device he bears upon his shield is a black ethiope reaching at the sun the word lux tua vita mihi simonides he loves you well that holds his life of you the second knight passes by and his squire presents his shield to thaisa who is the second that presents himself thaisa a prince of macedon my royal father and the device he bears upon his shield is an armd knight thats conquerd by a lady the motto thus in spanish piu por dulzura que por forza the third knight passes by and his squire presents his shield to thaisa simonides and whats the third thaisa the third of antioch and his device a wreath of chivalry the word me pompae provexit apex the fourth knight passes by and his squire presents his shield to thaisa simonides what is the fourth thaisa a burning torch thats turned upside down the word quod me alit me extinguit simonides which shows that beauty hath his power and will which can as well inflame as it can kill the fifth knight passes by and his squire presents his shield to thaisa thaisa the fifth an hand environed with clouds holding out gold thats by the touchstone tried the motto thus sic spectanda fides the sixth knight pericles passes in rusty armour with bases and unaccompanied he presents his device directly to thaisa simonides and whats the sixth and last the which the knight himself with such a graceful courtesy deliverd thaisa he seems to be a stranger but his present is a witherd branch thats only green at top the motto in hac spe vivo simonides a pretty moral from the dejected state wherein he is he hopes by you his fortunes yet may flourish first lord 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 practised more the whipstock than the lance second lord he well may be a stranger for he comes to an honourd triumph strangely furnished third lord and on set purpose let his armour rust until this day to scour it in the dust simonides opinions but a fool that makes us scan the outward habit by the inward man but stay the knights are coming we will withdraw into the gallery exeunt great shouts within and all cry the mean knight scene iii the same a hall of state a banquet prepared enter simonides thaisa lords attendants and knights from tilting simonides knights to say youre 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 thans fit since every worth in show commends itself prepare for mirth for mirth becomes a feast you are princes and my guests thaisa but you my knight and guest to whom this wreath of victory i give and crown you king of this days happiness pericles tis more by fortune lady than by merit simonides 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 are her labourd scholar come queen of the feast for daughter so you are here take your place marshal the rest as they deserve their grace knights we are honourd much by good simonides simonides your presence glads our days honour we love for who hates honour hates the gods above marshall sir yonder is your place pericles some other is more fit first knight contend not sir for we are gentlemen have neither in our hearts nor outward eyes envied the great nor shall the low despise pericles you are right courteous knights simonides sit sir sit by jove i wonder that is king of thoughts these cates resist me he but thought upon thaisa by juno that is queen of marriage all viands that i eat do seem unsavoury wishing him my meat sure hes a gallant gentleman simonides hes but a country gentleman has done no more than other knights have done has broken a staff or so so let it pass thaisa to me he seems like diamond to glass pericles yon kings to me like to my fathers 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 sons like a glow worm in the night the which hath fire in darkness none in light whereby i see that times the king of men hes both their parent and he is their grave and gives them what he will not what they crave simonides what are you merry knights knights who can be other in this royal presence simonides here with a cup thats stored unto the brim as you do love fill to your mistress lips we drink this health to you knights we thank your grace simonides 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 thaisa what ist to me my father simonides o attend my daughter princes in this should live like gods above who freely give to everyone that comes to honour them and princes not doing so are like to gnats which make a sound but killd are wonderd at therefore to make his entrance more sweet here say we drink this standing bowl of wine to him thaisa 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 womens gifts for impudence simonides how do as i bid you or youll move me else thaisa aside now by the gods he could not please me better simonides and furthermore tell him we desire to know of him of whence he is his name and parentage thaisa the king my father sir has drunk to you pericles i thank him thaisa wishing it so much blood unto your life pericles i thank both him and you and pledge him freely thaisa and further he desires to know of you of whence you are your name and parentage pericles 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 shipwreck driven upon this shore thaisa 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 simonides 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 addressd will well become a soldiers 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 the knights dance so this was well askd twas so well performd come sir here is a lady which wants breathing too and i have heard you knights of tyre are excellent in making ladies trip and that their measures are as excellent pericles in those that practise them they are my lord simonides o thats as much as you would be denied of your fair courtesy the knights and ladies dance unclasp unclasp thanks gentlemen to all all have done well to pericles but you the best pages and lights to conduct these knights unto their several lodgings to pericles yours sir we have given order to be next our own pericles i am at your graces pleasure simonides princes it is too late to talk of love and thats the mark i know you level at therefore each one betake him to his rest tomorrow all for speeding do their best exeunt scene iv tyre a room in the governors house enter helicanus and escanes helicanus no escanes know this of me antiochus from incest lived 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 shrivelld up their bodies even to loathing for they so stunk that all those eyes adored them ere their fall scorn now their hand should give them burial escanes twas very strange helicanus and yet but justice for though this king were great his greatness was no guard to bar heavens shaft but sin had his reward escanes tis very true enter two or three lords first lord see not a man in private conference or council has respect with him but he second lord it shall no longer grieve without reproof third lord and cursed be he that will not second it first lord follow me then lord helicane a word helicanus with me and welcome happy day my lords first lord know that our griefs are risen to the top and now at length they overflow their banks helicanus your griefs for what wrong not your prince you love first lord wrong not yourself then noble helicane but if the prince do live let us salute him or know what grounds made happy by his breath if in the world he live well seek him out if in his grave he rest well find him there well be resolved he lives to govern us or dead gives cause to mourn his funeral and leave us to our free election second lord whose deaths 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 how to rule and how to reign we thus submit unto our sovereign all live noble helicane helicanus for honours cause forbear your suffrages if that you love prince pericles forbear take i your wish i leap into the seas wheres hourly trouble for a minutes ease a twelvemonth longer let me entreat you to forbear the absence of your king if in which time expired 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 first lord to wisdom hes a fool that will not yield and since lord helicane enjoineth us we with our travels will endeavour us helicanus then you love us we you and well clasp hands when peers thus knit a kingdom ever stands exeunt scene v pentapolis a room in the palace enter simonides reading a letter at one door the knights meet him first knight good morrow to the good simonides simonides knights from my daughter this i let you know that for this twelvemonth shell not undertake a married life her reason to herself is only known which yet from her by no means can i get second knight may we not get access to her my lord simonides faith by no means she hath so strictly tied her to her chamber that tis impossible one twelve moons more shell wear dianas livery this by the eye of cynthia hath she vowd and on her virgin honour will not break it third knight loath to bid farewell we take our leaves exeunt knights simonides so they are well dispatchd now to my daughters letter she tells me here shell 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 nay how absolute shes int not minding whether i dislike or no well i do commend her choice and will no longer have it be delayd soft here he comes i must dissemble it enter pericles pericles all fortune to the good simonides 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 pericles it is your graces pleasure to commend not my desert simonides sir you are musics master pericles the worst of all her scholars my good lord simonides let me ask you one thing what do you think of my daughter sir pericles a most virtuous princess simonides and she is fair too is she not pericles as a fair day in summer wondrous fair simonides sir my daughter thinks very well of you ay so well that you must be her master and she will be your scholar therefore look to it pericles i am unworthy for her schoolmaster simonides she thinks not so peruse this writing else pericles aside whats here a letter that she loves the knight of tyre tis the kings subtlety to have my life o seek not to entrap me gracious lord a stranger and distressed gentleman that never aimd so high to love your daughter but bent all offices to honour her simonides thou hast bewitchd my daughter and thou art a villain pericles 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 simonides traitor thou liest pericles traitor simonides ay traitor pericles even in his throat unless it be the king that calls me traitor i return the lie simonides aside now by the gods i do applaud his courage pericles my actions are as noble as my thoughts that never relishd of a base descent i came unto your court for honours cause and not to be a rebel to her state and he that otherwise accounts of me this sword shall prove hes honours enemy simonides no here comes my daughter she can witness it enter thaisa pericles then as you are as virtuous as fair resolve your angry father if my tongue did eer solicit or my hand subscribe to any syllable that made love to you thaisa why sir say if you had who takes offence at that would make me glad simonides yea mistress are you so peremptory aside i am glad ont with all my heart ill tame you ill bring you in subjection will you not having my consent bestow your love and your affections upon a stranger aside 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 ruled by me or i will make you man and wife nay come your hands and lips must seal it too and being joind ill thus your hopes destroy and for further grief god give you joy what are you both pleased thaisa yes if you love me sir pericles even as my life my blood that fosters it simonides what are you both agreed both yes ift please your majesty simonides it pleaseth me so well that i will see you wed and then with what haste you can get you to bed exeunt act iii enter gower gower now sleep yslaked hath the rouse no din but snores about the house made louder by the oerfed breast of this most pompous marriage feast the cat with eyne of burning coal now couches fore the mouses hole and crickets sing at the ovens mouth are 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 whats dumb in show ill plain with speech dumb show enter pericles and simonides at one door with attendants a messenger meets them kneels and gives pericles a letter pericles shows it simonides the lords kneel to him then enter thaisa with child with lychorida a nurse the king shows her the letter she rejoices she and pericles take leave of her father and depart with lychorida and their attendants then exeunt simonides and the rest 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 enquire to th 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 toppress 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 y ravished the regions round and everyone with claps can sound our heir apparent is a king who dreamt 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 neptunes billow half the flood hath their keel cut but fortunes 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 exit scene i enter pericles on shipboard pericles 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 calld 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 seamans 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 queens travails now lychorida enter lychorida with an infant 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 pericles how how lychorida lychorida patience good sir do not assist the storm heres all that is left living of your queen a little daughter for the sake of it be manly and take comfort pericles 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 vie honour with you lychorida patience good sir even for this charge pericles now mild may be thy life for a more blustrous birth had never babe quiet and gentle thy conditions for thou art the rudeliest welcome to this world that ever was princes 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 upont enter two sailors first sailor what courage sir god save you pericles 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 first sailor slack the bolins there thou wilt not wilt thou blow and split thyself second sailor but sea room and the brine and cloudy billow kiss the moon i care not first sailor sir your queen must overboard the sea works high the wind is loud and will not lie till the ship be cleared of the dead pericles thats your superstition first sailor pardon us sir with us at sea it has been still observed and we are strong in custom therefore briefly yield her for she must overboard straight pericles as you think meet most wretched queen lychorida here she lies sir pericles a terrible childbed hast thou had my dear no light no fire thunfriendly elements forgot thee utterly nor have i time to give thee hallowd to thy grave but straight must cast thee scarcely coffind in the ooze where for a monument upon thy bones and eer remaining lamps the belching whale and humming water must oerwhelm 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 exit lychorida second sailor sir we have a chest beneath the hatches caulked and bitumed ready pericles i thank thee mariner say what coast is this second sailor we are near tarsus pericles thither gentle mariner alter thy course for tyre when canst thou reach it second sailor by break of day if the wind cease pericles o make for tarsus there will i visit cleon for the babe cannot hold out to tyrus there ill leave it at careful nursing go thy ways good mariner ill bring the body presently exeunt scene ii ephesus a room in cerimons house enter cerimon with a servant and some persons who have been shipwrecked cerimon philemon ho enter philemon philemon doth my lord call cerimon get fire and meat for these poor men t has been a turbulent and stormy night servant i have been in many but such a night as this till now i neer endured cerimon your master will be dead ere you return theres nothing can be ministerd to nature that can recover him to philemon give this to the pothecary and tell me how it works exeunt all but cerimon enter two gentlemen first gentleman good morrow second gentleman good morrow to your lordship cerimon gentlemen why do you stir so early first gentleman 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 second gentleman that is the cause we trouble you so early tis not our husbandry cerimon o you say well first gentleman 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 compelld cerimon 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 oer 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 i 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 pleasure up in silken bags to please the fool and death second gentleman your honour has through ephesus pourd forth your charity and hundreds call themselves your creatures who by you have been restored and not your knowledge your personal pain but even your purse still open hath built lord cerimon such strong renown as time shall never enter two or three servants with a chest first servant so lift there cerimon whats that first servant sir even now did the sea toss upon our shore this chest tis of some wreck cerimon sett down lets look upont second gentleman tis like a coffin sir cerimon whateer it be tis wondrous heavy wrench it open straight if the seas stomach be oercharged with gold tis a good constraint of fortune it belches upon us second gentleman tis so my lord cerimon how close tis caulkd and bitumed did the sea cast it up first servant i never saw so huge a billow sir as tossd it upon shore cerimon wrench it open soft it smells most sweetly in my sense second gentleman a delicate odour cerimon as ever hit my nostril so up with it o you most potent gods whats here a corpse first gentleman most strange cerimon shrouded in cloth of state balmd and entreasured with full bags of spices a passport too apollo perfect me in the characters reads from a scroll here i give to understand if eer this coffin drives 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 livest pericles thou hast a heart that even cracks for woe this chanced tonight second gentleman most likely sir cerimon nay certainly tonight for look how fresh she looks they were too rough that threw her in the sea make a fire within fetch hither all my boxes in my closet exit a servant death may usurp on nature many hours and yet the fire of life kindle again the oerpressd spirits i heard of an egyptian that had nine hours lain dead who was by good appliance recovered re enter a servant with napkins and fire 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 stirrst 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 entranced above five hours see how she gins to blow into lifes flower again first gentleman the heavens through you increase our wonder and sets up your fame for ever cerimon 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 doth appear to make the world twice rich live and make us weep to hear your fate fair creature rare as you seem to be she moves thaisa o dear diana where am i wheres my lord what world is this second gentleman is not this strange first gentleman most rare cerimon hush my gentle neighbours lend me your hands to the next chamber bear her get linen now this matter must be lookd to for her relapse is mortal come come and aesculapius guide us exeunt carrying her away scene iii tarsus a room in cleons house enter pericles cleon dionyza and lychorida with marina in her arms pericles most honourd cleon i must needs be gone my twelve months are expired 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 cleon your shafts of fortune though they hurt you mortally yet glance full wanderingly on us dionyza o your sweet queen that the strict fates had pleased you had brought her hither to have blessd mine eyes with her pericles 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 named so here i charge your charity withal leaving her the infant of your care beseeching you to give her princely training that she may be mannerd as she is born cleon fear not my lord but think your grace that fed my country with your corn for which the peoples prayers still fall upon you must in your child be thought on if neglection should therein make me vile the common body by you relieved 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 pericles i believe you your honour and your goodness teach me tot without your vows till she be married madam by bright diana whom we honour all unscissored shall this hair of mine remain though i show ill int so i take my leave good madam make me blessed in your care in bringing up my child dionyza i have one myself who shall not be more dear to my respect than yours my lord pericles madam my thanks and prayers cleon well bring your grace een to the edge othe shore then give you up to the maskd neptune and the gentlest winds of heaven pericles 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 exeunt scene iv ephesus a room in cerimons house enter cerimon and thaisa cerimon madam this letter and some certain jewels lay with you in your coffer which are at your command know you the character thaisa it is my lords that i was shippd at sea i well remember even on my groaning time but whether there deliverd by the holy gods i cannot rightly say but since king pericles my wedded lord i neer shall see again a vestal livery will i take me to and never more have joy cerimon madam if this you purpose as ye speak dianas 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 thaisa my recompense is thanks thats all yet my good will is great though the gift small exeunt act iv enter gower gower imagine pericles arrived at tyre welcomed 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 traind in musics letters who hath gaind of education all the grace which makes her both the heart and place of general wonder but alack that monster envy oft the wrack of earned praise marinas life seeks to take off by treasons knife and in this kind our cleon hath one daughter and a full grown wench even ripe for marriage rite this maid hight philoten and it is said for certain in our story she would ever with marina be bet when she weaved the sleided silk with fingers long small white as milk or when she would with sharp needle wound the cambric which she made more sound by hurting it or when to th 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 the dove of paphos might with 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 cleons 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 rhyme which never could i so convey unless your thoughts went on my way dionyza does appear with leonine a murderer exit scene i tarsus an open place near the seashore enter dionyza with leonine dionyza thy oath remember thou hast sworn to dot tis but a blow which never shall be known thou canst not do a thing in 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 be a soldier to thy purpose leonine i will dot but yet she is a goodly creature dionyza the fitter then the gods should have her here she comes weeping for her only mistress death thou art resolved leonine i am resolved enter marina with a basket of flowers marina 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 dionyza how now marina why do you keep alone how chance my daughter is not with you do not consume your blood with sorrowing have you a nurse of me lord how your favours changed 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 marina no i pray you ill not bereave you of your servant dionyza 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 marina well i will go but yet i have no desire to it dionyza come come i know tis good for you walk half an hour leonine at the least remember what i have said leonine i warrant you madam dionyza ill leave you my sweet lady for a while pray walk softly do not heat your blood what i must have a care of you marina my thanks sweet madam exit dionyza is this wind westerly that blows leonine south west marina when i was born the wind was north leonine wast so marina 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 endured a sea that almost burst the deck leonine when was this marina when i was born never was waves nor wind more violent and from the ladder tackle washes off a canvas climber ha says one wolt out and with a dropping industry they skip from stem to stern the boatswain whistles and the master calls and trebles their confusion leonine come say your prayers marina what mean you leonine 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 marina why will you kill me leonine to satisfy my lady marina why would she have me killd 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 killd 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 leonine my commission is not to reason of the deed but do it marina you will not dot for all the world i hope you are well favourd 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 showd well in you do so now your lady seeks my life come you between and save poor me the weaker leonine i am sworn and will dispatch he seizes her enter pirates first pirate hold villain leonine runs away second pirate a prize a prize third pirate half part mates half part come lets have her aboard suddenly exeunt pirates with marina re enter leonine leonine these roguing thieves serve the great pirate valdes and they have seized marina let her go theres no hope she will return ill swear shes dead and thrown into the sea but ill see further perhaps they will but please themselves upon her not carry her aboard if she remain whom they have ravishd must by me be slain exit scene ii mytilene a room in a brothel enter pandar bawd and boult pandar boult boult sir pandar search the market narrowly mytilene is full of gallants we lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless bawd 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 pandar therefore lets have fresh ones whateer we pay for them if there be not a conscience to be used in every trade we shall never prosper bawd thou sayest true tis not our bringing up of poor bastards as i think i have brought up some eleven boult ay to eleven and brought them down again but shall i search the market bawd what else man the stuff we have a strong wind will blow it to pieces they are so pitifully sodden pandar thou sayest true theyre too unwholesome o conscience the poor transylvanian is dead that lay with the little baggage boult ay she quickly pooped him she made him roast meat for worms but ill go search the market exit pandar three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly and so give over bawd why to give over i pray you is it a shame to get when we are old pandar 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 bawd come others sorts offend as well as we pandar as well as we ay and better too we offend worse neither is our profession any trade its no calling but here comes boult re enter boult with the pirates and marina boult to pirates come your ways my masters you say shes a virgin first pirate o sir we doubt it not boult master i have gone through for this piece you see if you like her so if not i have lost my earnest bawd boult has she any qualities boult she has a good face speaks well and has excellent good clothes theres no farther necessity of qualities can make her be refused bawd what is her price boult boult i cannot be baited one doit of a thousand pieces pandar 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 exeunt pandar and pirates bawd boult take you the marks of her the colour of her hair complexion height her age with warrant of her virginity and cry he that will give most shall have her first such a maidenhead were no cheap thing if men were as they have been get this done as i command you boult performance shall follow exit marina alack that leonine was so slack so slow he should have struck not spoke or that these pirates not enough barbarous had not oerboard thrown me for to seek my mother bawd why lament you pretty one marina that i am pretty bawd come the gods have done their part in you marina i accuse them not bawd you are light into my hands where you are like to live marina the more my fault to scape his hands where i was like to die bawd ay and you shall live in pleasure marina no bawd 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 marina are you a woman bawd what would you have me be an i be not a woman marina an honest woman or not a woman bawd marry whip the gosling i think i shall have something to do with you come youre a young foolish sapling and must be bowed as i would have you marina the gods defend me bawd if it please the gods to defend you by men then men must comfort you men must feed you men stir you up boults returned re enter boult now sir hast thou cried her through the market boult i have cried her almost to the number of her hairs i have drawn her picture with my voice bawd and i prithee tell me how dost thou find the inclination of the people especially of the younger sort boult faith they listened to me as they would have hearkened to their fathers testament there was a spaniards mouth so watered that he went to bed to her very description bawd we shall have him here tomorrow with his best ruff on boult tonight tonight but mistress do you know the french knight that cowers i the hams bawd who monsieur veroles boult ay he he offered to cut a caper at the proclamation but he made a groan at it and swore he would see her tomorrow bawd 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 boult well if we had of every nation a traveller we should lodge them with this sign to marina pray you come hither awhile you have fortunes coming upon you mark me you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly 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 marina i understand you not boult o take her home mistress take her home these blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practice bawd thou sayest true ifaith so they must for your bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant boult faith some do and some do not but mistress if i have bargained for the joint bawd thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit boult i may so bawd who should deny it come young one i like the manner of your garments well boult ay by my faith they shall not be changed yet bawd boult spend thou that in the town report what a sojourner we have youll 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 boult i warrant you mistress thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stirs up the lewdly inclined ill bring home some tonight bawd come your ways follow me marina if fires be hot knives sharp or waters deep untied i still my virgin knot will keep diana aid my purpose bawd what have we to do with diana pray you will you go with us exeunt scene iii tarsus a room in cleons house enter cleon and dionyza dionyza why are you foolish can it be undone cleon o dionyza such a piece of slaughter the sun and moon neer lookd upon dionyza i think youll turn a child again cleon were i chief lord of all this spacious world id give it to undo the deed a 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 poisond too if thou hadst drunk to him t had been a kindness becoming well thy face what canst thou say when noble pericles shall demand his child dionyza that she is dead nurses are not the fates to foster it nor ever to preserve she died at night ill say so who can cross it unless you play the pious innocent and for an honest attribute cry out she died by foul play cleon o go to well well of all the faults beneath the heavens the gods do like this worst dionyza be one of those that thinks the petty 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 cleon to such proceeding whoever but his approbation added though not his prime consent he did not flow from honourable sources dionyza 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 marinas face whilst ours was blurted at and held a malkin not worth the time of day it pierced me through and though you call my course unnatural you not your child well loving yet i find it greets me as an enterprise of kindness performd to your sole daughter cleon heavens forgive it dionyza and as for pericles what should he say we wept after her hearse and yet we mourn her monument is almost finishd and her epitaphs in glittering golden characters express a general praise to her and care in us at whose expense tis done cleon thou art like the harpy which to betray dost with thine angels face seize with thine eagles talons dionyza you are like one that superstitiously doth swear to the gods that winter kills the flies but yet i know youll do as i advise exeunt scene iv enter gower before the monument of marina at tarsus gower thus time we waste and long leagues make short sail seas in cockles have and wish but fort making to take your imagination from bourn to bourn region to region by you being pardond 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 ithe 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 lifes delight old helicanus goes along behind is left to govern if you bear in mind old escanes whom helicanus late advanced 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 go on to fetch his daughter home who first is gone like motes and shadows see them move awhile your ears unto your eyes ill reconcile dumb show enter pericles at one door with all his train cleon and dionyza at the other cleon shows pericles the tomb whereat pericles makes lamentation puts on sackcloth and in a mighty passion departs then exeunt cleon and dionyza see how belief may suffer by foul show this borrowd passion stands for true old woe and pericles in sorrow all devourd with sighs shot through and biggest tears oershowerd 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 reads the inscription on marinas monument the fairest sweetst and best lies here who witherd in her spring of year she was of tyrus the kings daughter on whom foul death hath made this slaughter marina was she calld and at her birth thetis being proud swallowd some part o the earth therefore the earth fearing to be oerflowd hath thetis birth child on the heavens bestowd wherefore she does and swears shell 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 daughters dead and bear his courses to be ordered by lady fortune while our scene must play his daughters woe and heavy well a day in her unholy service patience then and think you now are all in mytilene exit scene v mytilene a street before the brothel enter from the brothel two gentlemen first gentleman did you ever hear the like second gentleman no nor never shall do in such a place as this she being once gone first gentleman but to have divinity preached there did you ever dream of such a thing second gentleman no no come i am for no more bawdy houses shalls go hear the vestals sing first gentleman ill do anything now that is virtuous but i am out of the road of rutting for ever exeunt scene vi the same a room in the brothel enter pandar bawd and boult pandar well i had rather than twice the worth of her she had neer come here bawd fie fie upon her shes 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 boult faith i must ravish her or shell disfurnish us of all our cavaliers and make our swearers priests pandar now the pox upon her green sickness for me bawd faith theres no way to be rid ont but by the way to the pox here comes the lord lysimachus disguised boult we should have both lord and lown if the peevish baggage would but give way to customers enter lysimachus lysimachus how now how a dozen of virginities bawd now the gods to bless your honour boult i am glad to see your honour in good health lysimachus 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 bawd we have here one sir if she would but there never came her like in mytilene lysimachus if shed do the deed of darkness thou wouldst say bawd your honour knows what tis to say well enough lysimachus well call forth call forth boult for flesh and blood sir white and red you shall see a rose and she were a rose indeed if she had but lysimachus what prithee boult o sir i can be modest lysimachus that dignifies the renown of a bawd no less than it gives a good report to a number to be chaste exit boult bawd here comes that which grows to the stalk never plucked yet i can assure you re enter boult with marina is she not a fair creature lysimachus faith she would serve after a long voyage at sea well theres for you leave us bawd i beseech your honour give me leave a word and ill have done presently lysimachus i beseech you do bawd to marina first i would have you note this is an honourable man marina i desire to find him so that i may worthily note him bawd next hes the governor of this country and a man whom i am bound to marina if he govern the country you are bound to him indeed but how honourable he is in that i know not bawd pray you without any more virginal fencing will you use him kindly he will line your apron with gold marina what he will do graciously i will thankfully receive lysimachus ha you done bawd my lord shes 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 exeunt bawd pandar and boult lysimachus now pretty one how long have you been at this trade marina what trade sir lysimachus why i cannot namet but i shall offend marina i cannot be offended with my trade please you to name it lysimachus how long have you been of this profession marina eer since i can remember lysimachus did you go tot so young were you a gamester at five or at seven marina earlier too sir if now i be one lysimachus why the house you dwell in proclaims you to be a creature of sale marina do you know this house to be a place of such resort and will come intot i hear say you are of honourable parts and are the governor of this place lysimachus why hath your principal made known unto you who i am marina who is my principal lysimachus 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 marina if you were born to honour show it now if put upon you make the judgement good that thought you worthy of it lysimachus hows this hows this some more be sage marina for me that am a maid though most ungentle fortune have placed 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 unhallowd place though they did change me to the meanest bird that flies i the purer air lysimachus i did not think thou couldst have spoke so well neer dreamd thou couldst had i brought hither a corrupted mind thy speech had alterd it hold heres gold for thee persever in that clear way thou goest and the gods strengthen thee marina the good gods preserve you lysimachus for me be you thoughten that i came with no ill intent for to me the very doors and windows savour vilely fare thee well thou art a piece of virtue and i doubt not but thy training hath been noble hold heres 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 re enter boult boult i beseech your honour one piece for me lysimachus avaunt thou damned door keeper your house but for this virgin that doth prop it would sink and overwhelm you away exit boult hows 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 marina whither would you have me boult i must have your maidenhead taken off or the common hangman shall execute it come your ways well have no more gentlemen driven away come your ways i say re enter bawd bawd how now whats the matter boult worse and worse mistress she has here spoken holy words to the lord lysimachus bawd o abominable boult she makes our profession as it were to stink afore the face of the gods bawd marry hang her up for ever boult the nobleman would have dealt with her like a nobleman and she sent him away as cold as a snowball saying his prayers too bawd boult take her away use her at thy pleasure crack the glass of her virginity and make the rest malleable boult an if she were a thornier piece of ground than she is she shall be ploughed marina hark hark you gods bawd she conjures away with her would she had never come within my doors marry hang you shes born to undo us will you not go the way of womankind marry come up my dish of chastity with rosemary and bays exit boult come mistress come your way with me marina whither wilt thou have me boult to take from you the jewel you hold so dear marina prithee tell me one thing first boult come now your one thing marina what canst thou wish thine enemy to be boult why i could wish him to be my master or rather my mistress marina neither of these are so bad as thou art since they do better thee in their command thou holdst a place for which the painedst fiend of hell would not in reputation change thou art the damned doorkeeper to every coistrel that comes inquiring for his tib to the choleric fisting of every rogue thy ear is liable thy food is such as hath been belchd on by infected lungs boult 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 marina do anything but this thou doest empty old receptacles or common shores 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 heres gold for thee if that thy master would gain by me proclaim that i can sing weave sew and dance with other virtues which ill keep from boast and i will undertake all these to teach i doubt not but this populous city will yield many scholars boult but can you teach all this you speak of marina prove that i cannot take me home again and prostitute me to the basest groom that doth frequent your house boult well i will see what i can do for thee if i can place thee i will marina but amongst honest women boult faith my acquaintance lies little amongst them but since my master and mistress have bought you theres 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 ill do for thee what i can come your ways exeunt act v enter gower gower 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 neele composes natures 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 arrived here where his daughter dwells and on this coast suppose him now at anchor the city strived god neptunes annual feast to keep from whence lysimachus our tyrian ship espies his banners sable trimmd 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 discoverd please you sit and hark exit scene i on board pericles ship off mytilene a close pavilion on deck with a curtain before it pericles within it reclined on a couch a barge lying beside the tyrian vessel enter two sailors one belonging to the tyrian vessel the other to the barge to them helicanus tyrian sailor to the sailor of mytilene where is lord helicanus he can resolve you o here he is sir theres a barge put off from mytilene and in it is lysimachus the governor who craves to come aboard what is your will helicanus that he have his call up some gentlemen tyrian sailor ho gentlemen my lord calls enter two or three gentlemen first gentleman doth your lordship call helicanus gentlemen there is some of worth would come aboard i pray ye greet them fairly the gentlemen and the two sailors descend and go on board the barge enter from thence lysimachus and lords with the gentlemen and the two sailors tyrian sailor sir this is the man that can in aught you would resolve you lysimachus hail reverend sir the gods preserve you helicanus and you sir to outlive the age i am and die as i would do lysimachus you wish me well being on shore honouring of neptunes triumphs seeing this goodly vessel ride before us i made to it to know of whence you are helicanus first what is your place lysimachus i am the governor of this place you lie before helicanus sir our vessel is of tyre in it the king a man who for this three months hath not spoken to anyone nor taken sustenance but to prorogue his grief lysimachus upon what ground is his distemperature helicanus twould be too tedious to repeat but the main grief springs from the loss of a beloved daughter and a wife lysimachus may we not see him helicanus you may but bootless is your sight he will not speak to any lysimachus yet let me obtain my wish helicanus behold him pericles discovered this was a goodly person till the disaster that one mortal night drove him to this lysimachus sir king all hail the gods preserve you hail royal sir helicanus it is in vain he will not speak to you first lord sir we have a maid in mytilene i durst wager would win some words of him lysimachus tis well bethought she questionless with her sweet harmony and other chosen attractions would allure and make a battery through his deafend parts which now are midway stoppd she is all happy as the fairest of all and with her fellow maids is now upon the leafy shelter that abuts against the islands side whispers a lord who goes off in the barge of lysimachus helicanus sure alls effectless yet nothing well omit that bears recoverys name but since your kindness we have stretchd 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 lysimachus o sir a courtesy which if we should deny the most just gods for every graff would send a caterpillar and so inflict our province yet once more let me entreat to know at large the cause of your kings sorrow helicanus sit sir i will recount it to you but see i am prevented re enter from the barge lord with marina and a young lady lysimachus o here is the lady that i sent for welcome fair one ist not a goodly presence helicanus shes a gallant lady lysimachus shes such a one that were i well assured came of a gentle kind and noble stock id 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 marina sir i will use my utmost skill in his recovery provided that none but i and my companion maid be sufferd to come near him lysimachus come let us leave her and the gods make her prosperous marina sings lysimachus markd he your music marina no nor lookd on us lysimachus see she will speak to him marina hail sir my lord lend ear pericles hum ha marina i am a maid my lord that neer before invited eyes but have been gazed on like a comet she speaks my lord that may be hath endured a grief might equal yours if both were justly weighd 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 aside i will desist but there is something glows upon my cheek and whispers in mine ear go not till he speak pericles my fortunes parentage good parentage to equal mine was it not thus what say you marina i said my lord if you did know my parentage you would not do me violence pericles i do think so pray you turn your eyes upon me you are like something that what country woman here of these shores marina no nor of any shores yet i was mortally brought forth and am no other than i appear pericles 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 queens square brows her stature to an inch as wand like straight as silver voiced her eyes as jewel like and cased 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 marina where i am but a stranger from the deck you may discern the place pericles where were you bred and how achieved you these endowments which you make more rich to owe marina if i should tell my history it would seem like lies disdaind in the reporting pericles prithee speak falseness cannot come from thee for thou lookst modest as justice and thou seemst a palace for the crownd truth to dwell in i will believe thee and make my senses credit thy relation to points that seem impossible for thou lookst like one i loved indeed what were thy friends didst thou not say when i did push thee back which was when i perceived thee that thou camst from good descending marina so indeed i did pericles report thy parentage i think thou saidst thou hadst been tossd from wrong to injury and that thou thoughtst thy griefs might equal mine if both were opend marina some such thing i said and said no more but what my thoughts did warrant me was likely pericles tell thy story if thine considerd prove the thousand part of my endurance thou art a man and i have sufferd 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 marina my name is marina pericles o i am mockd and thou by some incensed god sent hither to make the world to laugh at me marina patience good sir or here ill cease pericles nay ill be patient thou little knowst how thou dost startle me to call thyself marina marina the name was given me by one that had some power my father and a king pericles how a kings daughter and calld marina marina you said you would believe me but not to be a troubler of your peace i will end here pericles 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 calld marina marina calld marina for i was born at sea pericles at sea what mother marina my mother was the daughter of a king who died the minute i was born as my good nurse lychorida hath oft deliverd weeping pericles o stop there a little aside this is the rarest dream that eer dull sleep did mock sad fools withal this cannot be my daughter buried well where were you bred ill hear you more to the bottom of your story and never interrupt you marina you scorn believe me twere best i did give oer pericles 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 marina the king my father did in tarsus leave me till cruel cleon with his wicked wife did seek to murder me and having wood a villain to attempt it who having drawn to dot a crew of pirates came and rescued me brought me to mytilene 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 pericles ho helicanus enter helicanus and lysimachus helicanus calls my lord pericles 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 helicanus i know not but here is the regent sir of mytilene speaks nobly of her lysimachus she would never tell her parentage being demanded that she would sit still and weep pericles o helicanus strike me honourd sir give me a gash put me to present pain lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me oerbear the shores of my mortality and drown me with their sweetness to marina o come hither thou that begetst 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 mothers name tell me but that for truth can never be confirmd enough though doubts did ever sleep marina first sir i pray what is your title pericles i am pericles of tyre but tell me now my drownd queens name as in the rest you said thou hast been godlike perfect the heir of kingdoms and another life to pericles thy father marina is it no more to be your daughter than to say my mothers name was thaisa thaisa was my mother who did end the minute i began pericles 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 helicanus sir tis the governor of mytilene who hearing of your melancholy state did come to see you pericles 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 oer point by point for yet he seems to doubt how sure you are my daughter but what music helicanus my lord i hear none pericles none the music of the spheres list my marina lysimachus it is not good to cross him give him way pericles rarest sounds do ye not hear lysimachus music my lord i hear music pericles most heavenly music it nips me unto listening and thick slumber hangs upon mine eyes let me rest sleeps lysimachus a pillow for his head so leave him all well my companion friends if this but answer to my just belief ill well remember you exeunt all but pericles diana appears to pericles as in a vision diana 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 daughters call and give them repetition to the life or perform my bidding or thou livest in woe do it and happy by my silver bow awake and tell thy dream disappears pericles celestial dian goddess argentine i will obey thee helicanus re enter helicanus lysimachus and marina helicanus sir pericles 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 ill tell thee why to lysimachus shall we refresh us sir upon your shore and give you gold for such provision as our intents will need lysimachus sir with all my heart and when you come ashore i have another suit pericles you shall prevail were it to woo my daughter for it seems you have been noble towards her lysimachus sir lend me your arm pericles come my marina exeunt scene ii enter gower before the temple of diana at ephesus gower 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 mytilene to greet the king so he thrived that he is promised to be wived 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 featherd briefness sails are filld and wishes fall out as theyre willd at ephesus the temple see our king and all his company that he can hither come so soon is by your fancys thankful doom exit scene iii the temple of diana at ephesus thaisa standing near the altar as high priestess a number of virgins on each side cerimon and other inhabitants of ephesus attending enter pericles with his train lysimachus helicanus marina and a lady pericles 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 calld marina whom o goddess wears yet thy silver livery she at tarsus was nursed with cleon who at fourteen years he sought to murder but her better stars brought her to mytilene gainst whose shore riding her fortunes brought the maid aboard us where by her own most clear remembrance she made known herself my daughter thaisa voice and favour you are you are o royal pericles faints pericles what means the nun she dies help gentlemen cerimon noble sir if you have told dianas altar true this is your wife pericles reverend appearer no i threw her overboard with these very arms cerimon upon this coast i warrant you pericles tis most certain cerimon look to the lady o shes but oer joyd early in blustering morn this lady was thrown upon this shore i oped the coffin found there rich jewels recoverd her and placed her here in dianas temple pericles may we see them cerimon great sir they shall be brought you to my house whither i invite you look thaisa is recovered thaisa 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 spake like him you are did you not name a tempest a birth and death pericles the voice of dead thaisa thaisa that thaisa am i supposed dead and drownd pericles immortal dian thaisa now i know you better when we with tears parted pentapolis the king my father gave you such a ring shows a ring pericles this this no more you gods your present kindness makes my past miseries sports 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 marina my heart leaps to be gone into my mothers bosom kneels to thaisa pericles look who kneels here flesh of thy flesh thaisa thy burden at the sea and calld marina for she was yielded there thaisa blest and mine own helicanus hail madam and my queen thaisa i know you not pericles you have heard me say when i did fly from tyre i left behind an ancient substitute can you remember what i calld the man i have named him oft thaisa twas helicanus then pericles still confirmation embrace him dear thaisa this is he now do i long to hear how you were found how possibly preserved and who to thank besides the gods for this great miracle thaisa lord cerimon my lord this man through whom the gods have shown their power that can from first to last resolve you pericles reverend sir the gods can have no mortal officer more like a god than you will you deliver how this dead queen relives cerimon 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 pericles 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 razor touchd to grace thy marriage day ill beautify thaisa lord cerimon hath letters of good credit sir my fathers dead pericles heavens make a star of him yet there my queen well 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 leads the way exeunt enter gower gower in antiochus and his daughter you have heard of monstrous lust the due and just reward in pericles his queen and daughter seen although assaild with fortune fierce and keen virtue preserved from fell destructions blast led on by heaven and crownd 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 the honourd 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 although not done but meant so on your patience evermore attending new joy wait on you here our play has ending exit king richard the second dramatis personae king richard the second john of gaunt duke of lancaster uncle to the king edmund langley duke of york uncle to the king henry surnamed bolingbroke duke of hereford son of john of gaunt afterwards king henry iv duke of aumerle son of the duke of york thomas mowbray duke of norfolk duke of surrey earl of salisbury earl berkeley bushy favourites of king richard bagot green earl of northumberland henry percy surnamed hotspur his son lord ross lord willoughby lord fitzwater bishop of carlisle abbot of westminster lord marshal sir stephen scroop sir pierce of exton captain of a band of welshmen two gardeners queen to king richard duchess of york duchess of gloucester widow of thomas of woodstock duke of gloucester lady attending on the queen lords heralds officers soldiers keeper messenger groom and other attendants scene england and wales act i scene i london the palace enter richard john of gaunt with other nobles and attendants king richard old john of gaunt time honoured lancaster hast thou according to thy oath and band brought hither henry hereford thy bold son here to make good the boistrous late appeal which then our leisure would not let us hear against the duke of norfolk thomas mowbray gaunt i have my liege king richard 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 gaunt as near as i could sift him on that argument on some apparent danger seen in him aimd at your highness no inveterate malice king richard 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 stomachd are they both and full of ire in rage deaf as the sea hasty as fire enter bolingbroke and mowbray bolingbroke many years of happy days befall my gracious sovereign my most loving liege mowbray each day still better others happiness until the heavens envying earths good hap add an immortal title to your crown king richard 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 bolingbroke first heaven be the record to my speech in the devotion of a subjects love tendring 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 traitors name stuff i thy throat and wish so please my sovereign ere i move what my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove mowbray let not my cold words here accuse my zeal tis not the trial of a womans war the bitter clamour of two eager tongues can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain the blood is hot that must be coold for this yet can i not of such tame patience boast as to be hushd and nought at an 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 returnd these terms of treason doubled down his throat setting aside his high bloods 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 where ever englishman durst set his foot meantime let this defend my loyalty by all my hopes most falsely doth he lie bolingbroke pale trembling coward there i throw my gage disclaiming here the kindred of the king and lay aside my high bloods royalty which fear not reverence makes thee to except if guilty dread have left thee so much strength as to take up mine honours 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 worst devise mowbray i take it up and by that sword i swear which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder ill 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 king richard what doth our cousin lay to mowbrays charge it must be great that can inherit us so much as of a thought of ill in him bolingbroke look what i speak my life shall prove it true that mowbray hath receivd eight thousand nobles in name of lendings for your highness soldiers the which he hath detaind 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 surveyd 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 gloucesters death suggest his soon believing adversaries and consequently like a traitor coward sluicd out his innocent soul through streams of blood which blood like sacrificing abels 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 king richard how high a pitch his resolution soars thomas of norfolk what sayst thou to this mowbray 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 king richard mowbray impartial are our eyes and cars were he my brother nay my kingdoms heir as he is but my fathers brothers son now by my sceptres 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 mowbray 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 disbursd i duly to his highness soldiers the other part reservd 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 gloucesters death i slew him not but to my 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 receivd the sacrament i did confess it and exactly beggd your graces pardon and i hope i had it this is my fault as for the rest appeald 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 traitors foot to prove myself a loyal gentleman even in the best blood chamberd in his bosom in haste whereof most heartily i pray your highness to assign our trial day king richard wrath kindled gentlemen be ruld by me lets 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 well calm the duke of norfolk you your son gaunt to be a make peace shall become my age throw down my son the duke of norfolks gage king richard and norfolk throw down his gaunt when harry when obedience bids i should not bid again king richard norfolk throw down we bid there is no boot mowbray 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 dishonours use thou shalt not have i am disgracd impeachd and baffld here piercd to the soul with slanders venomd spear the which no balm can cure but his heart blood which breathd this poison king richard rage must be withstood give me his gage lions make leopards tame mowbray 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 barrd 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 king richard cousin throw up your gage do you begin bolingbroke o god defend my soul from such deep sin shall i seem crest fallen in my fathers sight or with pale beggar fear impeach my height before this outdard dastard ere my tongue shall wound my 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 mowbrays face exit gaunt king richard 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 lamberts day there shall your swords and lances arbitrate the swelling difference of your settled hate since we can not atone you we shall see justice design the victors chivalry lord marshal command our officers at arms be ready to direct these home alarms exeunt scene london the duke of lancasters palace enter john of gaunt with the duchess of gloucester gaunt alas the part i had in woodstocks 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 duchess finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur hath love in thy old blood no living fire edwards 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 natures course some of those branches by the destinies cut but thomas my dear lord my life my gloucester one vial full of edwards sacred blood one flourishing branch of his most royal root is crackd and all the precious liquor spilt is hackd down and his summer leaves all faded by envys hand and murders bloody axe ah gaunt his blood was thine that bed that womb that mettle that self mould that fashiond thee made him a man and though thou livest and breathest yet art thou slain in him thou dost consent in some large measure to thy fathers death in that thou seest thy wretched brother die who was the model of thy fathers life call it not patience gaunt it is despair in suffring thus thy brother to be slaughtred thou showest 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 gloucesters death gaunt gods is the quarrel for gods substitute his deputy anointed in his sight hath causd his death the which if wrongfully let heaven revenge for i may never lift an angry arm against his minister duchess where then alas may i complain myself gaunt to god the widows champion and defence duchess why then i will farewell old gaunt thou goest to coventry there to behold our cousin hereford and fell mowbray fight o sit my husbands wrongs on herefords spear that it may enter butcher mowbrays breast or if misfortune miss the first career be mowbrays sins so heavy in his bosom that they may break his foaming coursers back and throw the rider headlong in the lists a caitiff recreant to my cousin hereford farewell old gaunt thy sometimes brothers wife with her companion grief must end her life gaunt sister farewell i must to coventry as much good stay with thee as go with me duchess 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 thy 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 unfurnishd 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 exeunt scene the lists at coventry enter the lord marshal and the duke of aumerle marshal my lord aumerle is harry hereford armd aumerle yea at all points and longs to enter in marshal the duke of norfolk spightfully and bold stays but the summons of the appelants trumpet aumerle why then the champions are prepard and stay for nothing but his majestys approach the trumpets sound and the king enters with his nobles gaunt bushy bagot green and others when they are set enter mowbray duke of nor folk in arms defendant and a herald king richard 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 marshal in gods name and the kings say who thou art and why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms against what man thou comst and what thy quarrel speak truly on thy knighthood and thy oath as so defend thee heaven and thy valour mowbray 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 my 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 the trumpets sound enter bolingbroke duke of hereford appellant in armour and a herald king richard 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 marshal what is thy name and wherefore comst thou hither before king richard in his royal lists against whom comest thou and whats thy quarrel speak like a true knight so defend thee heaven bolingbroke harry of hereford lancaster and derby am i who ready here do stand in arms to prove by gods grace and my bodys valour in lists on thomas mowbray duke of norfolk that he is a traitor foul and dangerous to god of heaven king richard and to me and as i truly fight defend me heaven marshal 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 bolingbroke lord marshal let me kiss my sovereigns 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 marshal the appellant in all duty greets your highness and craves to kiss your hand and take his leave king richard 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 bolingbroke o let no noble eye profane a tear for me if i be gord with mowbrays spear as confident as is the falcons 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 twofold 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 lances point that it may enter mowbrays waxen coat and furbish new the name of john o gaunt even in the lusty haviour of his son gaunt 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 bolingbroke mine innocence and saint george to thrive mowbray however god or fortune cast my lot there lives or dies true to king richards throne a loyal just and upright gentleman never did captive with a freer heart cast off his chains of bondage and embrace his golden uncontrolld 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 hath a quiet breast king richard farewell my lord securely i espy virtue with valour couched in thine eye order the trial marshal and begin marshal harry of hereford lancaster and derby receive thy lance and god defend the right bolingbroke strong as a tower in hope i cry amen marshal to an officer go bear this lance to thomas duke of norfolk first herald 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 second herald 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 marshal sound trumpets and set forward combatants a charge sounded stay the king hath thrown his warder down king richard 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 a long flourish while the king consults his council draw near and list what with our council we have done for that our kingdoms earth should not be soild with that dear blood which it hath fostered and for our eyes do hate the dire aspect of civil wounds ploughd up with neighbours sword 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 countrys cradle draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep which so rousd up with boistrous untund 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 kindreds blood therefore we banish you our territories you cousin hereford upon pain of life till twice five summers have enrichd our fields shall not regreet our fair dominions but tread the stranger paths of banishment bolingbroke 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 king richard 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 mowbray a heavy sentence my most sovereign liege and all unlookd 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 learnt these forty years my native english now i must forgo and now my tongues use is to me no more than an unstringed viol or a harp or like a cunning instrument casd up or being open put into his hands that knows no touch to tune the harmony within my mouth you have engaold my tongue doubly portcullisd 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 king richard it boots thee not to be compassionate after our sentence plaining comes too late mowbray then thus i turn me from my countrvs light to dwell in solemn shades of endless night king richard return again and take an oath with thee lay on our royal sword your banishd 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 others love in banishment nor never look upon each others face nor never write regreet nor reconcile this louring 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 bolingbroke i swear mowbray and i to keep all this bolingbroke norfolk so far as to mine enemy by this time had the king permitted us one of our souls had wandred in the air banishd this frail sepulchre of our flesh as now our flesh is banishd 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 mowbray no bolingbroke if ever i were traitor my name be blotted from the book of life and i from heaven banishd 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 an the worlds my way exit king richard uncle even in the glasses of thine eyes i see thy grieved heart thy sad aspect hath from the number of his banishd years pluckd four away to bolingbroke six frozen winters spent return with welcome home from banishment bolingbroke 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 gaunt i thank my liege that in regard of me he shortens four years of my sons 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 king richard why uncle thou hast many years to live gaunt 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 king richard thy son is banishd upon good advice whereto thy tongue a party verdict gave why at our justice seemst thou then to lour gaunt things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour you urgd 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 destroyd alas i lookd 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 king richard cousin farewell and uncle bid him so six years we banish him and he shall go flourish exit king with train aumerle cousin farewell what presence must not know from where you do remain let paper show marshal my lord no leave take i for i will ride as far as land will let me by your side gaunt o to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words that thou returnest no greeting to thy friends bolingbroke i have too few to take my leave of you when the tongues office should be prodigal to breathe the abundant dolour of the heart gaunt thy grief is but thy absence for a time bolingbroke joy absent grief is present for that time gaunt what is six winters they are quickly gone bolingbroke to men in joy but grief makes one hour ten gaunt call it a travel that thou takst for pleasure bolingbroke my heart will sigh when i miscall it so which finds it an enforced pilgrimage gaunt the sullen passage of thy weary steps esteem as foil wherein thou art to set the precious jewel of thy home return bolingbroke 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 gaunt 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 home go say i sent thee forth to purchase honour and not the king exild 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 goest not whence thou comst suppose the singing birds musicians the grass whereon thou treadst the presence strewd 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 bolingbroke 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 summers heat o no the apprehension of the good gives but the greater feeling to the worse fell sorrows tooth doth never rankle more than when he bites but lanceth not the sore gaunt come come my son ill bring thee on thy way had i thy youtli and cause i would not stay bolingbroke then englands ground farewell sweet soil adieu my mother and my nurse that bears me yet whereer i wander boast of this i can though banishd yet a trueborn english man exeunt scene london the court enter the king with bagot and green at one door and the duke of aumerle at another king richard we did observe cousin aumerle how far brought you high hereford on his way aumerle i brought high hereford if you call him so but to the next high way and there i left him king richard and say what store of parting tears were shed aumerle faith none for me except the north east wind which then blew bitterly against our faces awakd the sleeping rheum and so by chance did grace our hollow parting with a tear king richard what said our cousin when you parted with him aumerle 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 seemd buried in my sorrows grave marry would the word farewell have lengthned 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 king richard 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 observd 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 green 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 yicld them further means for their advantage and your highness loss king richard 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 enforcd 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 enter bushy bushy what news bushy old john of gaunt is grievous sick my lord suddenly taken and hath sent poste haste to entreat your majesty to visit him king richard where lies he bushy at ely house king richard now put it god in the physicians 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 lets all go visit him pray god we may make haste and come too late all amen exeunt act ii scene i london ely house enter john of gaunt sick with the duke of york etc gaunt will the king come that i may breathe my last in wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth york vex not yourself nor strive not with your breath for all in vain comes counsel to his ear gaunt 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 listend more than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose more are mens ends markd 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 lifes counsel would not hear my deaths sad tale may yet undeaf his ear york no it is stoppd with other flattering sounds as praises of whose taste the wise 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 theres no respect how vile that is not quickly buzzd into his ears then all too late comes counsel to be heard where will doth mutiny with wits regard direct not him whose way himself will choose tis breath thou lackst and that breath wilt thou lose gaunt methinks i am a prophet new inspird 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 sceptred 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 feard 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 worlds ransom blessed marys son this land of such dear souls this dear dear land dear for her reputation through the world is now leasd 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 watry 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 enter king and queen aumerle bushy green bagot ross and willoughby york the king is come deal mildly with his youth for young hot colts being ragd do rage the more queen how fares our noble uncle lancaster king richard what comfort man how ist with aged gaunt 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 watchd watching breeds leanness leanness is an gaunt the pleasure that some fathers feed upon is my strict fast i mean my childrens 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 king richard can sick men play so nicely with their names gaunt 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 king richard should dying men flatter with those that live gaunt no no men living flatter those that die king richard thou now a dying sayest thou flatterest me gaunt o no thou diest though i the sicker be king richard i am in health i breathe and see thee ill gaunt 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 commitst 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 prophets eye seen how his sons son should destroy his sons from forth thy reach he would have laid thy shame deposing thee before thou wert possessd which art possessd 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 bondslave to the law and thou king richard a lunatic lean witted fool presuming on an agues privilege darest with thy frozen admonition make pale our cheek chasing the royal blood with fury from his native residence now by my seats right royal majesty wert thou not brother to great edwards son this tongue that runs so roundly in thy head should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders gaunt o spare me not my brother edwards son for that i was his father edwards son that blood already like the pelican hast thou tappd out and drunkenly carousd my brother gloucester plain well meaning soul whom fair befall in heaven mongst happy souls may be a precedent and witness good that thou respectst not spilling edwards blood join with the present sickness that i have and thy unkindness be like crooked age to crop at once a too long withered 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 exit borne out by his attendants king richard and let them die that age and sullens have for both hast thou and both become the grave york 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 king richard right you say true as herefords love so his as theirs so mine and all be as it is enter northumberland northumberland my liege old gaunt commends him to your majesty king richard what says he northumberland nay nothing all is said his tongue is now a stringless instrument words life and all old lancaster hath spent york be york the next that must be bankrupt so though death be poor it ends a mortal woe king richard 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 possessd york how long shall i be patient ah how long shall tender duty make me suffer wrong not gloucesters death nor herefords banishment nor gaunts rebukes nor englands 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 sovereigns face i am the last of noble edwards sons of whom thy father prince of wales was first in war was never lion ragd more fierce in peace was never gentle lamb more mild than was that young and princely gentleman his face thou hast for even so lookd he accomplishd with the number of thy hours but when he frownd 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 fathers hand had won his hands were guilty of no kindred 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 king richard why uncle whats the matter york o my liege pardon me if you please if not i pleasd not to be pardoned am content withal seek you to seize and gripe into your hands the royalties and rights of banishd 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 herefords 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 herefords rights call in the letters patents that he hath by his attorneys general to sue his livery and deny his offred 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 king richard think what you will we seize into our hands his plate his goods his money and his lands york ill not be by the while my liege farewell what will ensue hereof theres none can tell but by bad courses may be understood that their events can never fall out good exit king richard 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 lovd us well come on our queen to morrow must we part be merry for our time of stay is short flourish exeunt king queen bushy aumerle green and bagot northumberland well lords the duke of lancaster is dead ross and living too for now his son is duke willoughby barely in title not in revenues northumberland richly in both if justice had her right ross my heart is great but it must break with silence eret be disburdened with a liberal tongue northumberland nay speak thy mind and let him neer speak more that speaks thy words again to do thee harm willoughby tends that thou wouldst 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 ross no good at all that i can do for him unless you call it good to pity him bereft and gelded of his patrimony northumberland now afore god tis shame such wrongs are borne in him a royal prince and many moe 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 an that will the king severely prosecute gainst us our lives our children and our heirs ross the commons hath he pilld with grievous taxes and quite lost their hearts the nobles hath he find for ancient quarrels and quite lost their hearts willoughby and daily new exactions are devisd as blanks benevolences and i wot not what but what a gods name doth become of this northumberland wars hath not wasted it for warrd he hath not but basely yielded upon compromise that which his noble ancestors achievd with blows more hath he spent in peace than they in wars ross the earl of wiltshire hath the realm in farm willoughby the kings grown bankrupt like a broken man northumberland reproach and dissolution hangeth over him ross he hath not money for these irish wars his burdenous taxations notwithstanding but by the robbing of the banishd duke northumberland 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 ross we see the very wreck that we must suffer and unavoided is the danger now for suffering so the causes of our wreck northumberland not so even through the hollow eyes of death i spy life peering but i dare not say how near the tidings of our comfort is willoughby nay let us share thy thoughts as thou dost ours ross be confident to speak northumberland we three are but thyself and speaking so thy words are but as thoughts therefore be bold northumberland then thus i have from le port blanc a bay in brittany receivd 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 furnishd 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 countrys broken wing redeem from broking pawn the blemishd crown wipe off the dust that hides our sceptres 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 ross to horse to horse urge doubts to them that fear willoughby hold out my horse and i will first be there exeunt scene windsor castle enter queen bushy and bagot bushy madam your majesty is too much sad you promisd when you parted with the king to lay aside life harming heaviness and entertain a cheerful disposition queen 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 fortunes 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 bushy each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows which shows like grief itself but is not so for sorrows eye glazed with blinding tears divides one thing entire to many objects like perspectives which rightly gazd upon show nothing but confusion eyd awry distinguish form so your sweet majesty looking awry upon your lords departure find shapes of grief more than himself to wail which lookd on as it is is nought but shadows of what it is not then thrice gracious queen more than your lords departure weep not more is not seen or if it be tis with false sorrows eye which for things true weeps things imaginary queen it may be so but yet my inward soul persuades me it is otherwise howeer it be i cannot but be sad so heavy sad as though on thinking on no thought i think makes me with heavy nothing faint and shrink bushy tis nothing but conceit my gracious lady queen tis nothing less conceit is still derivd 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 enter green green god save your majesty and well met gentlemen i hope the king is not yet shippd for ireland queen why hopest thou so tis better hope he is for his designs crave haste his haste good hope then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shippd green that he our hope might have retird his power and driven into despair an enemys hope who strongly hath set footing in this land the banishd bolingbroke repeals himself and with uplifted arms is safe arrivd at ravenspurgh queen now god in heaven forbid green 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 bushy why have you not proclaimd northumberland and all the rest revolted faction traitors green we have whereupon the earl of worcester hath broken his staff resignd his stewardship and all the household servants fled with him to bolingbroke queen so green thou art the midwife to my woe and bolingbroke my sorrows dismal heir now hath my soul brought forth her prodigy and i a gasping new deliverd mother have woe to woe sorrow to sorrow joind bushy despair not madam queen 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 enter york green here comes the duke of york queen with signs of war about his aged neck o full of careful business are his looks uncle for gods sake speak comfortable words york should i do so i should belie my thoughts comforts 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 flatterd him enter a servingman servingman my lord your son was gone before i came york 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 herefords side sirrah get thee to plashy to my sister gloucester bid her send me presently a thousand pound hold take my ring servingman 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 york what ist knave servingman an hour before i came the duchess died york 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 provokd him to it the king had cut off my head with my brothers what are there no posts dispatchd 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 exit servingman gentlemen will you go muster men if i know how or which way to order these affairs thus disorderly thrust into my hands never believe me both are my kinsmen tone is my sovereign whom both my oath and duty bids defend tother again is my kinsman whom the king hath wrongd whom conscience and my kindred bids to right well somewhat we must do come cousin ill dispose of you gentlemen go muster up your men and meet me presently at berkeley i should to plashy too but time will not permit all is uneven and everything is left at six and seven exeunt york and queen bushy 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 green besides our nearness to the king in love is near the hate of those love not the king bagot and that is the wavering commons for their love lies in their purses and whoso empties them by so much fills their hearts with deadly hate bushy wherein the king stands generally condemnd bagot if judgment lie in them then so do we because we ever have been near the king green well i will for refuge straight to bristow castle the earl of wiltshire is already there bushy thither will i with you for little office will the hateful commons perform for us except eke curs to tear us all to pieces will you go along with us bagot no i will to ireland to his majesty farewell if hearts presages be not vain we three here part that neer shall meet again bushy thats as york thrives to beat back bolingbroke green alas poor duke the task he undertakes is numbring sands and drinking oceans dry where one on his side fights thousands will fly farewell at once for once for all and ever bushy well we may meet again bagot i fear me never exeunt scene gloucestershire enter bolingbroke and northumberland forces bolingbroke how far is it my lord to berkeley now northumberland believe me noble lord i am a stranger here in gloucestershire these high wild hills and rough uneven ways draws out our miles and makes them wearisome and 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 beguild the tediousness and process of my travel but theirs is sweetned with the hope to have the present benefit which i possess and hope to joy is little less in joy than hope enjoyd by this the weary lords shall make their way seem short as mine hath done by sight of what i have your noble company bolingbroke of much less value is my company than your good words but who comes here enter harry percy northumberland it is my son young harry percy sent from my brother worcester whencesoever harry how fares your uncle percy i had thought my lord to have learnd his health of you northumberland why is he not with the queen percy no my good lord he hath forsook the court broken his staff of office and dispersd the household of the king northumberland what was his reason he was not so resolvd when last we spake together percy 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 directions to repair to ravenspurgh northumberland have you forgot the duke of hereford boy percy no my good lord for that is not forgot which neer i did remember to my knowledge i never in my life did look on him northumberland then learn to know him now this is the duke percy 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 bolingbroke i thank thee gentle percy and be sure i count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembring my good friends and as my fortune ripens with thy love it shall be still thy true loves recompense my heart this covenant makes my hand thus seals it northumberland how far is it to berkeley and what stir keeps good old york there with his men of war percy there stands the castle by yon tuft of trees mannd 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 enter ross and willoughby northumberland here come the lords of ross and willoughby bloody with spurring fiery red with haste bolingbroke welcome my lords i wot your love pursues a banishd traitor all my treasury is yet but unfelt thanks which more enrichd shall be your love and labours recompense ross your presence makes us rich most noble lord willoughby and far surmounts our labour to attain it bolingbroke evermore thanks the exchequer of the poor which till my infant fortune comes to years stands for my bounty but who comes here enter berkeley northumberland it is my lord of berkeley as i guess berkeley my lord of hereford my message is to you bolingbroke 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 berkeley 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 borne arms enter york attended bolingbroke i shall not need transport my words by you here comes his grace in person my noble uncle kneels york show me thy humble heart and not thy knee whose duty is deceivable and false bolingbroke my gracious uncle york tut tut grace me no grace nor uncle me no uncle i am no traitors uncle and that word grace in an ungracious mouth is but profane why have those banishd and forbidden legs dard once to touch a dust of englands ground but then more why why have they dard to march so many miles upon her peaceful bosom frighting her pale facd villages with war and ostentation of despised arms comst 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 lord of such hot youth as when brave gaunt thy father and myself rescued 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 the and minister correction to thy fault bolingbroke my gracious uncle let me know my fault on what condition stands it and wherein york even in condition of the worst degree in gross rebellion and detested treason thou art a banishd man and here art come before the expiration of thy time in braving arms against thy sovereign bolingbroke as i was banishd i was banishd 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 condemnd a wandering vagabond my rights and royalties pluckd from my arms perforce and given away to upstart unthrifts wherefore was i born if that my cousin king be king in england it must be granted i am duke of lancaster you have a son aumerle my noble cousin 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 patents give me leave my fathers goods are all distraind and sold and these and all are all amiss employd what would you have me do i am a subject and i challenge law attorneys are denied me and therefore personally i lay my claim to my inheritance of free descent northumberland the noble duke hath been too much abused ross it stands your grace upon to do him right willoughby base men by his endowments are made great york my lords of england let me tell you this i have had feeling of my cousins wrongs and labourd 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 northumberland 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 never see joy that breaks that oath york 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 unto 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 bolingbroke an offer uncle that we will accept but we must win your grace to go with us to bristow 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 york it may be i will go with you but yet ill pause for i am loath to break our countrys laws nor friends nor foes to me welcome you are things past redress are now with me past care exeunt scene a camp in wales enter earl of salisbury and a welsh captain captain my lord of salisbury we have stayd ten days and hardly kept our countrymen together and yet we hear no tidings from the king therefore we will disperse ourselves farewell salisbury stay yet another day thou trusty welshman the king reposeth all his confidence in thee captain tis thought the king is dead we will not stay the bay trees in our country are all witherd and meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven the pale facd moon looks bloody on the earth and lean lookd 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 assurd richard their king is dead exit salisbury ah richard with the eyes of heavy mind i see thy glory like a shooting star fall to the base earth from the firmament the 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 exit act iii scene i bolingbrokes camp at bristol enter bolingbroke york northumberland percy ross willoughby bushy and green prisoners bolingbroke 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 disfigured 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 staind the beauty of a fair queens 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 stoopd my neck under your injuries and sighd my english breath in foreign clouds eating the bitter bread of banishment whilst you have fed upon my signories disparkd my parks and felld my forest woods from my own windows torn my household coat razd out my imprese leaving me no sign save mens 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 delivered over to execution and the hand of death bushy more welcome is the stroke of death to me than bolingbroke to england lords farewell green my comfort is that heaven will take our souls and plague injustice with the pains of hell bolingbroke my lord northumberland see them dispatchd exeunt northumberland and others with the prisoners uncle you say the queen is at your house for gods sake fairly let her be entreated tell her i send to her my kind commends take special care my greetings be delivered york a gentleman of mine i have dispatchd with letters of your love to her at large bolingbroke thanks gentle uncle come lords away to fight with glendower and his complices awhile to work and after holiday exeunt scene the coast of wales a castle in view drums flourish and colours enter the king the bishop of carlisle aumerle and soldiers king richard barkloughly castle can they this at hand aumerle yea my lord how brooks your grace the air after your late tossing on the breaking seas king richard 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 favours with my royal hands feed not thy sovereigns foe my gentle earth nor with thy sweets comfort his ravenous 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 sovereigns 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 rebellions arms carlisle 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 embracd and not neglected else if heaven would and we will not heavens offer we refuse the proffered means of succour and redress aumerle he means my lord that we are too remiss whilst bolingbroke through our security grows strong and great in substance and in power king richard discomfortable cousin knowst thou not that when the searching eye of heaven is hid behind the globe that lights the lower world then thieves and robbers range abroad unseen in murders and in outrage boldly 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 pluckd from off their backs stand bare and naked trembling at themselves so when this thief this traitor bolingbroke who all this while hath revelld in the night whilst we were wandring 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 off from an anointed king the breath of worldly men cannot depose the deputy elected by the lord for every man that bolingbroke hath pressd 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 enter salisbury welcome my lord how far off lies your power salisbury nor near nor farther 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 oerthrows thy joys friends fortune and thy state for all the welshmen hearing thou wert dead are gone to bolingbroke dispersd and fled aumerle comfort my liege why looks your grace so pale king richard 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 aumerle comfort my liege remember who you are king richard i had forgot myself am i not king awake thou coward majesty thou sleepest is not the kings 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 enter scroop scroop more health and happiness betide my liege than can my care tund tongue deliver him king richard mine ear is open and my heart prepard 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 well 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 and decay the worst is death and death will have his day scroop glad am i that your highness is so armd 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 dissolvd 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 armd their thin and hairless scalps against thy majesty boys with womens 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 king richard too well too well thou tellst a tale so in 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 scroop peace have they made with him indeed my lord king richard o villains vipers damnd without redemption dogs easily won to fawn on any man snakes in my heart blood warmd 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 scroop 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 deaths destroying wound and lie full low gravd in the hollow ground aumerle is bushy green and the earl of wiltshire dead scroop ay all of them at bristow lost their heads aumerle where is the duke my father with his power king richard no matter where of comfort no man speak lets talk of graves of worms and epitaphs make dust our paper and with rainy eyes write sorrow on the bosom of the earth lets 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 an are bolingbrokes and nothing can we can our own but death and that small model of the barren earth which serves as paste and cover to our bones for gods sake let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings how some have been deposd some slain in war some haunted by the ghosts they have deposd some poisond by their wives some sleeping killd all murderd for within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king keeps death his court and there the antic sits scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp allowing him a breath a little scene to monarchize be feard and kill with looks infusing him with self and vain conceit as if this flesh which walls about our life were brass impregnable and humourd 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 carlisle my lord wise men neer 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 aumerle my father hath a power inquire of him and learn to make a body of a limb king richard thou chidst me well proud bolingbroke 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 scroop men judge by the complexion of the sky the state in 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 joind with bolingbroke and all your northern castles yielded up and all your southern gentlemen in arms upon his party king richard thou hast said enough to aumerle 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 ill hate him everlastingly that bids me be of comfort any more go to flint castle there ill pine away a king woes 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 aumerle my liege one word king richard he does me double wrong that wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue discharge my followers let them hence away from richards night to bolingbrokes fair day exeunt scene wales before flint castle enter with drum and colours bolingbroke york northumberland and forces bolingbroke so that by this intelligence we learn the welshmen are dispersd and salisbury is gone to meet the king who lately landed with some few private friends upon this coast northumberland the news is very fair and good my lord richard not far from hence hath hid his head york it would beseem the lord northumberland to say king richard alack the heavy day when such a sacred king should hide his head northumberland your grace mistakes only to be brief left i his title out york 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 heads length bolingbroke mistake not uncle further than you should york take not good cousin further than you should lest you mistake the heavens are over our heads bolingbroke i know it uncle and oppose not myself against their will but who comes here enter percy welcome harry what will not this castle yield piercy the castle royally is mannd my lord against thy entrance bolingbroke royally why it contains no king percy 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 northumberland o belike it is the bishop of carlisle bolingbroke to northumberland noble lord go to the rude ribs of that ancient castle through brazen trumpet send the breath of parley into his ruind ears and thus deliver henry bolingbroke on both his knees doth kiss king richards 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 repeald and lands restord again be freely granted if not ill use the advantage of my power and lay the summers dust with showers of blood raind from the wounds of slaughtered 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 richards land my stooping duty tenderly shall show go signify as much while here we march upon the grassy carpet of this plain northumberland advances to the castle with a trumpet lets march without the noise of threatning drum that from this castles tottered battlements our fair appointments may be well perusd methinks king richard and myself should meet with no less terror than the elements of fire and water when their thundring shock at meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven be he the fire ill be the yielding water the rage be his whilst on the earth i rain my waters on the earth and not on him march on and mark king richard how he looks parle without and answer within then a flourish enter on the walls the king the bishop of carlisle aumerle scroop and salisbury 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 york yet he looks like a king behold his eye as bright as is the eagles lightens forth controlling majesty alack alack for woe that any harm should stain so fair a show king richard to northumberland we are amazd 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 dismissd 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 yon methinks he stands 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 englands face change the complexion of her maid pale peace to scarlet indignation and bedew her pastures grass with faithful english blood northumberland the king of heaven forbid our lord the king should so with civil and uncivil arms be rushd upon thy thrice noble cousin harry bolingbroke doth humbly kiss thy hand and by the honourable tomb he swears that stands upon your royal grandsires bones and by the royalties of both your bloods currents that spring from one most gracious head and by the buried hand of warlike 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 king richard northumberland say thus the king returns his noble cousin is right welcome hither and all the number of his fair demands shall be accomplishd without contradiction with all the gracious utterance thou hast speak to his gentle hearing kind commends to aumerle we do debase ourselves 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 aumerle no good my lord lets fight with gentle words till time lend friends and friends their helpful swords king richard o god o god that eer this tongue of mine that laid the sentence of dread banishment on yon 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 swellst thou proud heart ill give thee scope to beat since foes have scope to beat both thee and me aumerle northumberland comes back from bolingbroke king richard what must the king do now must he submit the king shall do it must he be deposd the king shall be contented must he lose the name of king a gods name let it go ill give my jewels for a set of beads my gorgeous palace for a hermitage my gay apparel for an almsmans gown my figurd goblets for a dish of wood my sceptre for a palmers 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 ill be buried in the kings high way some way of common trade where subjects feet may hourly trample on their sovereigns head for on my heart they tread now whilst i live and buried once why not upon my head aumerle thou weepst my tender hearted cousin well 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 therein laid there lies two kinsmen diggd 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 northumberland my lord in the base court he doth attend to speak with you may it please you to come down king richard down down i come like glistring 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 exeunt from above bolingbroke what says his majesty northumberland sorrow and grief of heart makes him speak fondly like a frantic man yet he is come enter the king and his attendants below bolingbroke stand all apart and show fair duty to his majesty he kneels down my gracious lord king richard 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 unpleasd eye see your courtesy up cousin up your heart is up i know touching his own head thus high at least although your knee be low bolingbroke my gracious lord i come but for mine own king richard your own is yours and i am yours and all bolingbroke so far be mine my most redoubted lord as my true service shall deserve your love king richard well you deserve they well deserve to have that know the strongst and surest way to get uncle give me your hands 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 ill give and willing too for do we must what force will have us do set on towards london cousin is it so bolingbroke yea my good lord king richard then i must not say no flourish exeunt scene the duke of yorks garden enter the queen and two ladies queen what sport shall we devise here in this garden to drive away the heavy thought of care lady madam well play at bowls queen twill make me think the world is full of rubs and that my fortune runs against the bias lady madam well dance queen my legs can keep no measure in delight when my poor heart no measure keeps in grief therefore no dancing girl some other sport lady madam well tell tales queen of sorrow or of joy lady of either madam queen 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 lady madam ill sing queen tis well that thou hast cause but thou shouldst please me better wouldst thou weep lady i could weep madam would it do you good queen and i could sing would weeping do me good and never borrow any tear of thee enter a gardener and two servants but stay here come the gardeners lets step into the shadow of these trees my wretchedness unto a row of pins they will talk of state for every one doth so against a change woe is forerun with woe queen and ladies retire gardener 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 eke 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 employd i will go root away the noisome weeds which without profit suck the soils fertility from wholesome flowers servant 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 chokd up her fruit trees all unprund her hedges ruind her knots disordered and her wholesome herbs swarming with caterpillars gardener hold thy peace he that hath sufferd this disorderd spring hath now himself met with the fall of leaf the weeds which his broad spreading leaves did shelter that seemd in eating him to hold him up are pluckd up root and all by bolingbroke i mean the earl of wiltshire bushy green servant what are they dead gardener they are and bolingbroke hath seizd the wasteful king o what pity is it that he had not so trimmd and dressd 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 in sap and blood with too much riches it confound itself had he done so to great and growing men they might have evd 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 home the crown which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down servant what think you the king shall be deposed gardener depressd he is already and deposd tis doubt he will be letters came last night to a dear friend of the good duke of yorks that tell black tidings queen o i am pressd to death through want of speaking coming forward thou old adams likeness set to dress this garden how dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news what eve what serpent hath suggested the to make a second fall of cursed man why dost thou say king richard is deposd darst thou thou little better thing than earth divine his downfall say where when and how camst thou by this ill tidings speak thou wretch gardener pardon me madam little joy have to breathe this news yet what i say is true king richard he is in the mighty hold of bolingbroke their fortunes both are weighd in your lords 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 will find it so i speak no more than every one doth know queen nimble mischance that art so light of foot doth not thy embassage belong to me and am i last that knows it o thou thinkest to serve me last that i may longest keep thy sorrow in my breast come ladies go to meet at london londons king in woe what was i born to this that my sad look should grace the triumph of great bolingbroke gardner for telling me these news of woe pray god the plants thou graftst may never grow exeunt queen and ladies gardener 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 ill 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 exeunt act iv scene westminster hall enter as to the parliament bolingbroke aumerle northumberland percy fitzwater surrey the bishop of carlisle the abbot of westminster and others herald officers and bagot bolingbroke call forth bagot now bagot freely speak thy mind what thou dost know of noble gloucesters death who wrought it with the king and who performd the bloody office of his timeless end bagot then set before my face the lord aumerle bolingbroke cousin stand forth and look upon that man bagot my lord aumerle i know your daring tongue scorns to unsay what once it hath deliverd in that dead time when gloucesters 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 mine uncles head amongst much other talk that very time i heard you say that you had rather refuse the offer of an hundred thousand crowns than bolingbrokes return to england adding withal how blest this land would be in this your cousins death aumerle 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 soild 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 through being all too base to stain the temper of my knightly sword bolingbroke bagot forbear thou shalt not take it up aumerle excepting one i would he were the best in all this presence that hath movd me so fitzwater if that thy valour stand on sympathy there is my gage aumerle in gage to thine by that fair sun which shows me where thou standst i heard thee say and vauntingly thou spakst it that thou wert cause of noble gloucesters death if thou deniest it twenty times thou liest and i will turn thy falsehood to thy heart where it was forged with my rapiers point aumerle thou darst not coward live to see that day fitzwater now by my soul i would it were this hour aumerle fitzwater thou art damnd to hell for this percy aumerle thou liest his honour is as true in this appeal as thou art an 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 darst aumerle an if i do not may my hands rot of and never brandish more revengeful steel over the glittering helmet of my foe another lord i task the earth to the like forsworn aumerle and spur thee on with fun as many lies as may be halload in thy treacherous ear from sun to sun there is my honours pawn engage it to the trial if thou darest aumerle who sets me else by heaven ill throw at all i have a thousand spirits in one breast to answer twenty thousand such as you surrey my lord fitzwater i do remember well the very time aumerle and you did talk fitzwater tis very true you were in presence then and you can witness with me this is true surrey as false by heaven as heaven itself is true fitzwater surrey thou liest surrey dishonourable boy that lie shall lie so heavy on my sword that it shall render vengeance and revenge till thou the lie giver and that lie do he in earth as quiet as thy fathers skull in proof whereof there is my honours pawn engage it to the trial if thou darst fitzwater 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 banishd norfolk say that thou aumerle didst send two of thy men to execute the noble duke at calais aumerle some honest christian trust me with a gage that norfolk lies here do i throw down this if he may be repeald to try his honour bolingbroke these differences shall all rest under gage till norfolk be repeald repeald he shall be and though mine enemy restord again to all his lands and signories when he is returnd against aumerle we will enforce his trial carlisle that honourable day shall never be seen many a time hath banishd norfolk fought for jesu christ in glorious christian field streaming the ensign of the christian cross against black pagans turks and saracens and toild with works of war retird himself to italy and there at venice gave his body to that pleasant countrys earth and his pure soul unto his captain christ under whose colours he had fought so long bolingbroke why bishop is norfolk dead carlisle as surely as i live my lord bolingbroke 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 enter york attended york great duke of lancaster i come to the from plume pluckd 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 fourth of that name bolingbroke in gods name ill ascend the regal throne carlisle 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 richards subject thieves are not judgd but they are by to hear although apparent guilt be seen in them and shall the figure of gods majesty his captain steward deputy elect anointed crowned planted many years be judgd by subject and inferior breath and he himself not present o forfend it god that in a christian climate souls refind should show so heinous black obscene a deed i speak to subjects and a subject speaks stirrd up by god thus boldly for his king my lord of hereford here whom you call king is a foul traitor to proud herefords 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 calld the field of golgotha and dead mens skulls o if you raise 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 childs children cry against you woe northumberland well have you argued 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 bolingbroke fetch hither richard that in common view he may surrender so we shall proceed without suspicion york i will be his conduct exit bolingbroke 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 lookd for at your helping hands re enter york with king richard and officers bearing the regalia king richard alack why am i sent for to a king before i have shook off the regal thoughts wherewith i reignd i hardly yet have learnd to insinuate flatter bow and bend my knee 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 hail 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 york 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 king richard 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 fun of tears am i drinking my griefs whilst you mount up on high bolingbroke i thought you had been willing to resign king richard 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 bolingbroke part of your cares you give me with your crown king richard 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 bolingbroke are you contented to resign the crown king richard 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 oaths all pomp and majesty i do forswear my manors rents revenues i forgo 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 grievd and thou with all pleasd that hast an achievd long mayst thou live in richards seat to sit and soon lie richard in an earthly pit god save king henry unkingd richard says and send him many years of sunshine days what more remains northumberland 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 deposd king richard must i do so and must i ravel out my weavd 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 markd with a blot damnd 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 deliverd me to my sour cross and water cannot wash away your sin northumberland my lord dispatch read oer these articles king richard 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 souls consent tundeck the pompous body of a king made glory base and sovereignty a slave proud majesty a subject state a peasant northumberland my lord king richard no lord of thine thou haught insulting man nor no mans lord i have no name no tide no not that name was given me at the font but tis usurpd 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 bolingbroke go some of you and fetch a looking glass exit an attendant northumberland read oer this paper while the glass doth come king richard fiend thou torments me ere i come to hell bolingbroke urge it no more my lord northumberland northumberland the commons will not then be satisfied king richard they shall be satisfied ill read enough when i do see the very book indeed where all my sins are writ and thats myself re enter attendant with glass give me that 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 flattring 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 is this the face which facd so many follies that was at last out facd by bolingbroke a brittle glory shineth in this face as brittle as the glory is the face dashes the glass against the ground for there it is crackd in a hundred shivers mark silent king the moral of this sport how soon my sorrow hath destroyd my face bolingbroke the shadow of your sorrow hath destroyd the shadow of your face king richard say that again the shadow of my sorrow ha lets see tis very true my grief lies all within and these external manner of laments are merely shadows to the unseen grief that swells with silence in the torturd soul there lies the substance and i thank thee king for thy great bounty that not only givst me cause to wail but teachest me the way how to lament the cause ill beg one boon and then be gone and trouble you no more shall i obtain it bolingbroke name it fair cousin king richard 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 bolingbroke yet ask king richard and shall i have bolingbroke you shall king richard then give me leave to go bolingbroke whither king richard whither you will so i were from your sights bolingbroke go some of you convey him to the tower king richard o good convey conveyers are you all that rise thus nimbly by a true kings fall exeunt king richard some lords and a guard bolingbroke on wednesday next we solemnly set down our coronation lords prepare yourselves exeunt all but the abbot of westminster the bishop of carlisle and aumerle abbot a woeful pageant have we here beheld carlisle the woes to come the children yet unborn shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn aumerle you holy clergymen is there no plot to rid the realm of this pernicious blot abbot 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 exeunt act v scene london a street leading to the tower enter the queen with her attendants queen this way the king will come this is the way to julius caesars ill erected tower to whose flint bosom my condemned lord is doomd a prisoner by proud bolingbroke here let us rest if this rebellious earth have any resting for her true kings queen enter king richard and guard 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 richards tomb and not king richard thou most beauteous inn why should hard favourd grief be lodgd in thee when triumph is become an alehouse guest king richard 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 awakd the truth of what we are shows us but this i am sworn brother sweet to grim necessity and he and will keep a league till death hie thee to france and cloister thee in some religious house our holy lives must win a new worlds crown which our profane hours here have thrown down queen what is my richard both in shape and mind transformd and weakned hath bolingbroke deposd 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 oerpowrd and wilt thou pupil like take the correction mildly kiss the rod and fawn on rage with base humility which art a lion and the king of beasts king richard a king of beasts indeed if aught but beasts i had been still a happy king of men good sometimes queen prepare thee hence for france think i am dead and that even here thou takest as from my death bed thy last living leave in winters 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 griefs 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 enter northumberland attended northumberland my lord the mind of bolingbroke is changd you must to pomfret not unto the tower and madam there is order taen for you with all swift speed you must away to france king richard 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 knowest the way to plant unrightful kings wilt know again being neer so little urgd another way to pluck him headlong from the usurped throne the love of wicked men converts to fear that fear to hate and hate turns one or both to worthy danger and deserved death northumberland my guilt be on my head and there an end take leave and part for you must part forthwith king richard doubly divorcd bad men you violate a twofold 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 shortst of day queen and must we be divided must we part king richard ay hand from hand my love and heart from heart queen banish us both and send the king with me northumberland that were some love but little policy queen then whither he goes thither let me go king richard so two together weeping make one woe weep thou for me in france i for thee here better far off than near be neer the near go count thy way with sighs i mine with groans queen so longest way shall have the longest moans king richard twice for one step ill groan the way being short and piece the way out with a heavy heart come come in wooing sorrow lets be brief since wedding it there is such length in grief one kiss shall stop our mouths and dumbly part thus give i mine and thus take i thy heart queen 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 king richard we make woe wanton with this fond delay once more adieu the rest let sorrow say exeunt scene the duke of yorks palace enter the duke of york and the duchess duchess 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 york where did i leave duchess at that sad stop my lord where rude misgoverned hands from windows tops threw dust and rubbish on king richards head york then as i said the duke great bolingbroke mounted upon a hot and fiery steed which his aspiring rider seemd to know with slow but stately pace kept on his course whilst 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 the one side to the other turning bareheaded lower than his proud steeds neck bespake them thus i thank you countrymen and thus still doing thus he passd along duchess alack poor richard where rode he the whilst york as in a theatre the eyes of men after a well gracd 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 mens eyes did scowl on gentle 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 steeld 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 duchess here comes my son aumerle york aumerle that was but that is lost for being richards friend and madam you must call him rudand now i am in parliament pledge for his truth and lasting fealty to the new made king enter aumerle duchess welcome my son who are the violets now that strew the green lap of the new come spring aumerle madam i know not nor i greatly care not god knows i had as lief be none as one york well bear you well in this new spring of time lest you be croppd before you come to prime what news from oxford do these justs and triumphs hold aumerle for aught i know my lord they do york you will be there i know aumerle if god prevent not i purpose so york what seal is that that without thy bosom yea lookst thou pale let me see the writing aumerle my lord tis nothing york no matter then who see it i will be satisfied let me see the writing aumerle i do beseech your grace to pardon me it is a matter of small consequence which for some reasons i would not have seen york which for some reasons sir i mean to see i fear i fear duchess what should you fear tis nothing but some bond that he is entred into for gay apparel gainst the triumph day york 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 aumerle i do beseech you pardon me i may not show it york i will be satisfied let me see it i say he plucks it out of his bosom and reads it treason foul treason villain traitor slave duchess what is the matter my lord york ho who is within there enter a servant saddle my horse god for his mercy what treachery is here duchess why york what is it my lord york give me my boots i say saddle my horse exit servant now by mine honour by my life my troth i will appeach the villain duchess what is the matter york peace foolish woman duchess i will not peace what is the matter aumerle aumerle good mother be content it is no more than my poor life must answer duchess thy life answer york bring me my boots i will unto the king his man enters with his boots duchess strike him aumerle poor boy thou art amazd hence villain never more come in my sight york give me my boots i say duchess 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 mothers name is he not like thee is he not thine own york thou fond mad woman wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy a dozen of them here have taen the sacrament and interchangeably set down their hands to kill the king at oxford duchess he shall be none well keep him here then what is that to him york away fond woman were he twenty times my son i would appeach him duchess hadst thou groand for him as i have done thou wouldst 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 or any of my kin and yet i love him york make way unruly woman exit duchess 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 ill 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 pardond thee away be gone exeunt scene windsor castle enter bolingbroke as king percy and other lords bolingbroke can no man tell me 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 which he young wanton and effeminate boy takes on the point of honour to support so dissolute a crew percy my lord some two days since i saw the prince and told him of those triumphs held at oxford bolingbroke and what said the gallant percy his answer was he would unto the stews and from the commonst creature pluck a glove and wear it as a favour and with that he would unhorse the lustiest challenger bolingbroke as dissolute as desperate yet through both i see some sparks of better hope which elder years may happily bring forth but who comes here enter aumerle amazed aumerle where is the king bolingbroke what means our cousin that he stares and looks so wildly aumerle god save your grace i do beseech your majesty to have some conference with your grace alone bolingbroke withdraw yourselves and leave us here alone exeunt percy and lords what is the matter with our cousin now aumerle for ever may my knees grow to the earth kneels my tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth unless a pardon ere i rise or speak bolingbroke intended or committed was this fault if on the first how heinous eer it be to win thy after love i pardon thee aumerle then give me leave that i may turn the key that no man enter till my tale be done bolingbroke have thy desire the duke of york knocks at the door and crieth york within my liege beware look to thyself thou hast a traitor in thy presence there bolingbroke drawing villain ill make thee safe aumerle stay thy revengeful hand thou hast no cause to fear york within open the door secure foolhardy king shall i for love speak treason to thy face open the door or i will break it open enter york bolingbroke what is the matter uncle speak recover breath tell us how near is danger that we may arm us to encounter it york peruse this writing here and thou shalt know the treason that my haste forbids me show aumerle remember as thou readst thy promise passd i do repent me read not my name there my heart is not confederate with my hand york it was villain ere thy hand did set it down i tore it from the traitors 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 bolingbroke 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 defild himself thy overflow of good converts to bad and thy abundant goodness shall excuse this deadly blot in thy digressing son york so shall my virtue be his vices 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 shamd life in his dishonour lies thou killst me in his life giving him breath the traitor lives the true mans put to death duchess within i what ho my liege for gods sake let me in bolingbroke what shrill voicd suppliant makes this eager cry duchess within a woman and thine aunt great king tis i speak with me pity me open the door a beggar begs that never beggd before bolingbroke our scene is altred from a serious thing and now changd to the beggar and the king my dangerous cousin let your mother in i know she is come to pray for your foul sin york if thou do pardon whosoever pray more sins for this forgiveness prosper may this festred joint cut off the rest rest sound this let alone will all the rest confound enter duchess duchess o king believe not this hard hearted man love loving not itself none other can york thou frantic woman what dost thou make here shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear duchess sweet york be patient hear me gentle liege kneels bolingbroke rise up good aunt duchess 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 aumerle unto my mothers prayers i bend my knee kneels york against them both my true joints bended be kneels ill mayst thou thrive if thou grant any grace duchess 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 still 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 bolingbroke good aunt stand up duchess do not say stand up say 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 longd 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 york speak it in french king say pardonne moy duchess dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy ah my sour husband my hard hearted lord that sets 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 plaints and prayers do pierce pity may move thee pardon to rehearse bolingbroke good aunt stand up duchess i do not sue to stand pardon is all the suit i have in hand bolingbroke i pardon him as god shall pardon me duchess 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 bolingbroke with all my heart i pardon him duchess a god on earth thou art bolingbroke 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 whereer 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 adieu your mother well hath prayd and prove you true duchess come my old son i pray god make thee new exeunt scene windsor castle enter sir pierce of exton and a servant exton 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 servant these were his very words exton have i no friend quoth he he spake it twice and urgd it twice together did he not servant he did exton and speaking it he wishtly lookd 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 lets go i am the kings friend and will rid his foe exeunt scene pomfret castle the dungeon of the castle enter king richard king richard 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 ill hammer it out my brain ill 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 intermixd 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 small needles 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 fortunes 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 misfortunes on the back of such as have before endurd the like thus play i in one person many people and none contented sometimes am i king then treasons make me wish myself a beggar and so i am then crushing penury persuades me i was better when a king then am i kingd again and by and by think that i am unkingd by bolingbroke and straight am nothing but whateer i be nor i nor any man that but man is with nothing shall be pleasd till he be easd with being nothing the music plays 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 mens lives and here have i the daintiness of ear to check time broke in a disorderd 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 numbring clock my thoughts are minutes and with sighs they jar their watches on unto mine eyes the outward watch whereto my finger like a dials point is pointing still in cleansing them from tears now sir the sound that tells what hour it is are clamorous groans which 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 bolingbrokes proud joy while i stand fooling here his jack of 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 enter a groom of the stable groom hail royal prince king richard thanks noble peer the cheapest of us is ten groats too dear what art thou and how comest thou hither where no man never comes but that sad dog that brings me food to make misfortune live groom 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 masters face o how it ernd 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 dressd king richard rode he on barbary tell me gentle friend how went he under him groom so proudly as if he disdaind the ground king richard 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 awd by man wast born to bear i was not made a horse and yet i bear a burden like an ass spurrd galld and tird by jauncing bolingbroke enter keeper with meat keeper fellow give place here is no longer stay king richard if thou love me tis time thou wert away groom my tongue dares not that my heart shall say exit keeper my lord willt please you to fall to king richard taste of it first as thou art wont to do keeper my lord i dare not sir pierce of exton who lately came from the king commands the contrary king richard the devil take henry of lancaster and thee patience is stale and i am weary of it beats the keeper keeper help help help the murderers exton and servants rush in armed king richard how now what means death in this rude assault villain thy own hand yields thy deaths instrument snatching a weapon and killing one go thou and fill another room in hell he kills another then exton strikes him down that hand shall burn in never quenching fire that staggers thus my person exton thy fierce hand hath with the kings blood staind the kings own land mount mount my soul thy seat is up on high whilst my gross flesh sinks downward here to die dies exton as full of valour as of royal blood both have i spilld 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 ill bear take hence the rest and give them burial here exeunt scene windsor castle flourish enter bolingbroke the duke of york with other lords and attendants bolingbroke kind uncle york the latest news we hear is that the rebels have consumd with fire our town of ciceter in gloucestershire but whether they be taen or slain we hear not enter northumberland welcome my lord what is the news northumberland 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 bolingbroke we thank thee gentle percy for thy pains and to thy worth will add right worthy gains enter fitzwater fitzwater 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 bolingbroke thy pains fitzwater shall not be forgot right noble is thy merit well i wot enter percy with the bishop of carlisle percy 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 bolingbroke 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 livst in peace die free from strife for though mine enemy thou hast ever been high sparks of honour in thee have i seen enter exton with attendants hearing a coffin exton 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 bolingbroke 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 exton from your own mouth my lord did i this deed bolingbroke 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 thorough shades 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 what i do lament and put on sullen black incontinent ill 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 exeunt the end king richard the third dramatis personae edward the fourth sons to the king edward prince of wales afterwards king edward v richard duke of york brothers to the king george duke of clarence richard duke of gloucester afterwards king richard iii a young son of clarence edward earl of warwick henry earl of richmond afterwards king henry vii cardinal bourchier archbishop of canterbury thomas rotherham archbishop of york john morton bishop of ely duke of buckingham duke of norfolk earl of surrey his son earl rivers brother to king edwards queen marquis of dorset and lord grey her sons earl of oxford lord hastings lord lovel lord stanley called also earl of derby sir thomas vaughan sir richard ratcliff sir william catesby sir james tyrrel sir james blount sir walter herbert sir william brandon sir robert brakenbury lieutenant of the tower christopher urswick a priest lord mayor of london sheriff of wiltshire hastings a pursuivant tressel and berkeley gentlemen attending on lady anne elizabeth queen to king edward iv margaret widow of king henry vi duchess of york mother to king edward iv lady anne widow of edward prince of wales son to king henry vi afterwards married to the duke of gloucester a young daughter of clarence margaret plantagenet countess of salisbury ghosts of richards victims lords gentlemen and attendants priest scrivener page bishops aldermen citizens soldiers messengers murderers keeper scene england king richard the third act i scene london a street enter richard duke of gloucester solus gloucester now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of york and all the clouds that lourd 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 changd to merry meetings our dreadful marches to delightful measures grim visagd war hath smoothd his wrinkled front and now instead of mounting barbed steeds to fright the souls of fearful adversaries he capers nimbly in a ladys chamber to the lascivious pleasing of a lute but i that am not shapd for sportive tricks nor made to court an amorous looking glass i that am rudely stampd and want loves majesty to strut before a wanton ambling nymph i that am curtaild of this fair proportion cheated of feature by dissembling nature deformd unfinishd 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 spy 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 mewd up about a prophecy which says that g of edwards heirs the murderer shall be dive thoughts down to my soul here clarence comes enter clarence guarded and brakenbury brother good day what means this armed guard that waits upon your grace clarence his majesty tendring my persons safety hath appointed this conduct to convey me to th tower gloucester upon what cause clarence because my name is george gloucester 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 christned in the tower but whats the matter clarence may i know clarence 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 hath movd his highness to commit me now gloucester why this it is when men are ruld 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 delivered we are not safe clarence we are not safe clarence by heaven i think there is no man is secure but the queens kindred and night walking heralds that trudge betwixt the king and mistress shore heard you not what an humble suppliant lord hastings was for her delivery gloucester humbly complaining to her deity got my lord chamberlain his liberty ill 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 oer worn widow and herself since that our brother dubbd them gentlewomen are mighty gossips in our monarchy brakenbury 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 gloucester even so ant please your worship brakenbury you may partake of any thing 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 shores wife hath a pretty foot a cherry lip a bonny eye a passing pleasing tongue and that the queens kindred are made gentlefolks how say you sir can you deny all this brakenbury with this my lord myself have naught to do gloucester 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 brakenbury what one my lord gloucester her husband knave wouldst thou betray me brakenbury i do beseech your grace to pardon me and withal forbear your conference with the noble duke clarence we know thy charge brakenbury and will obey gloucester we are the queens abjects and must obey brother farewell i will unto the king and whatsoeer you will employ me in were it to call king edwards widow sister i will perform it to enfranchise you meantime this deep disgrace in brotherhood touches me deeper than you can imagine clarence i know it pleaseth neither of us well gloucester well your imprisonment shall not be long i will deliver or else lie for you meantime have patience clarence i must perforce farewell exeunt clarence brakenbury and guard gloucester go tread the path that thou shalt neer 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 delivered hastings enter lord hastings hastings good time of day unto my gracious lord gloucester as much unto my good lord chamberlain well are you welcome to the open air how hath your lordship brookd imprisonment hastings with patience noble lord as prisoners must but i shall live my lord to give them thanks that were the cause of my imprisonment gloucester no doubt no doubt and so shall clarence too for they that were your enemies are his and have prevaild as much on him as you hastings more pity that the eagles should be mewd whiles kites and buzzards prey at liberty gloucester what news abroad hastings no news so bad abroad as this at home the king is sickly weak and melancholy and his physicians fear him mightily gloucester now by saint john that news is bad indeed o he hath kept an evil diet long and overmuch consumd his royal person tis very grievous to be thought upon where is he in his bed hastings he is gloucester go you before and i will follow you exit hastings he cannot live i hope and must not die till george be packd with posthorse up to heaven ill in to urge his hatred more to clarence with lies well steeld 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 ill marry warwicks youngest daughter what though i killd 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 exit scene london another street enter corpse of king henry the sixth with halberds to guard it lady anne being the mourner attended by tressel and berkeley anne set down set down your honourable load if honour may be shrouded in a hearse whilst i awhile obsequiously lament th 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 slaughtered son stabbd 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 venomd 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 towards chertsey with your holy load taken from pauls to be interred there and still as you are weary of this weight rest you whiles i lament king henrys corse the bearers take up the coffin enter gloucester gloucester stay you that bear the corse and set it down anne what black magician conjures up this fiend to stop devoted charitable deeds gloucester villains set down the corse or by saint paul ill make a corse of him that disobeys first gentleman my lord stand back and let the coffin pass gloucester unmannerd dog stand thou when i command advance thy halberd higher than my breast or by saint paul ill strike thee to my foot and spurn upon thee beggar for thy boldness the bearers set down the coffin anne 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 gloucester sweet saint for charity be not so curst anne foul devil for gods sake hence and trouble us not for thou hast made the happy earth thy hell filld 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 henrys wounds open their congeald 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 deeds inhuman and unnatural provokes this deluge most unnatural o god which this blood madst revenge his death o earth which this blood drinkst revenge his death either heavn with lightning strike the murdrer dead or earth gape open wide and eat him quick as thou dost swallow up this good kings blood which his hell governd arm hath butchered gloucester lady you know no rules of charity which renders good for bad blessings for curses anne villain thou knowest nor law of god nor man no beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity gloucester but i know none and therefore am no beast anne o wonderful when devils tell the truth gloucester more wonderful when angels are so angry vouchsafe divine perfection of a woman of these supposed crimes to give me leave by circumstance but to acquit myself anne vouchsafe diffusd infection of a man of these known evils but to give me leave by circumstance to accuse thy cursed self gloucester fairer than tongue can name thee let me have some patient leisure to excuse myself anne fouler than heart can think thee thou canst make no excuse current but to hang thyself gloucester by such despair i should accuse myself anne and by despairing shalt thou stand excused for doing worthy vengeance on thyself that didst unworthy slaughter upon others gloucester say that i slew them not anne then say they were not slain but dead they are and devilish slave by thee gloucester i did not kill your husband anne why then he is alive gloucester nay he is dead and slain by edwards hands anne in thy foul throat thou liest queen margaret saw thy murdrous falchion smoking in his blood the which thou once didst bend against her breast but that thy brothers beat aside the point gloucester i was provoked by her slandrous tongue that laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders anne thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind that never dreamst on aught but butcheries didst thou not kill this king gloucester i grant ye anne dost grant me hedgehog then god grant me to thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed o he was gentle mild and virtuous gloucester the better for the king of heaven that hath him anne he is in heaven where thou shalt never come gloucester let him thank me that holp to send him thither for he was fitter for that place than earth anne and thou unfit for any place but hell gloucester yes one place else if you will hear me name it anne some dungeon gloucester your bed chamber anne ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest gloucester so will it madam till i lie with you anne i hope so gloucester i know so but gentle lady anne to leave this keen encounter of our wits and fall something into a slower method is not the causer of the timeless deaths of these plantagenets henry and edward as blameful as the executioner anne thou wast the cause and most accursd effect gloucester 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 i might live one hour in your sweet bosom anne if i thought that i tell thee homicide these nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks gloucester these eyes could not endure that beautys wreck 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 anne black night oershade thy day and death thy life gloucester curse not thyself fair creature thou art both anne i would i were to be revengd on thee gloucester it is a quarrel most unnatural to be revengd on him that loveth thee anne it is a quarrel just and reasonable to be revengd on him that killd my husband gloucester he that bereft thee lady of thy husband did it to help thee to a better husband anne his better doth not breathe upon the earth gloucester he lives that loves thee better than he could anne name him gloucester plantagenet anne why that was he gloucester the self same name but one of better nature anne where is he gloucester here she spits at him why dost thou spit at me anne would it were mortal poison for thy sake gloucester never came poison from so sweet a place anne never hung poison on a fouler toad out of my sight thou dost infect mine eyes gloucester thine eyes sweet lady have infected mine anne would they were basilisks to strike thee dead gloucester 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 shamd 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 facd clifford shook his sword at him nor when thy warlike father like a child told the sad story of my fathers death and twenty times made pause to sob and weep that all the standers by had wet their cheeks like trees bedashd 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 sued to friend nor enemy my tongue could never learn sweet smoothing word but now thy beauty is proposd my fee my proud heart sues and prompts my tongue to speak she looks scornfully at him 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 naked to the deadly stroke and humbly beg the death upon my knee he lays his breast open she offers at it with his sword nay do not pause for i did kill king henry but twas thy beauty that provoked me nay now dispatch twas i that stabbd young edward but twas thy heavenly face that set me on she falls the sword take up the sword again or take up me anne arise dissembler though i wish thy death i will not be thy executioner gloucester then bid me kill myself and i will do it anne i have already gloucester 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 anne i would i knew thy heart gloucester tis figurd in my tongue anne i fear me both are false gloucester then never was man true anne well put up your sword gloucester say then my peace is made anne that shalt thou know hereafter gloucester but shall i live in hope anne all men i hope live so gloucester vouchsafe to wear this ring anne to take is not to give puts on the ring gloucester 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 anne what is it gloucester that it may please you leave these sad designs to him that hath most cause to be a mourner and presently repair to crosby house where after i have solemnly interrd at chertsey monastry 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 anne with all my heart and much it joys me too to see you are become so penitent tressel and berkeley go along with me gloucester bid me farewell anne tis more than you deserve but since you teach me how to flatter you imagine i have said farewell already exeunt two gentlemen with lady anne gloucester sirs take up the corse gentlemen towards chertsey noble lord gloucester no to white friars there attend my coming exeunt all but gloucester was ever woman in this humour wood was ever woman in this humour won ill have her but i will not keep her long what i that killd her husband and his father to take her in her hearts extremest hate with curses in her mouth tears in her eyes the bleeding witness of my hatred by having god her conscience and these bars against me and i no friends to back my suit at all 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 stabbd in my angry mood at tewksbury a sweeter and a lovelier gentleman framd 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 croppd the golden prime of this sweet prince and made her widow to a woeful bed on me whose all not equals edwards moiety on me that halts 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 marvllous proper man ill 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 ill 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 exit scene london the palace enter queen elizabeth lord rivers and lord grey rivers have patience madam theres no doubt his majesty will soon recover his accustomd health grey in that you brook it ill it makes him worse therefore for gods sake entertain good comfort and cheer his grace with quick and merry eyes queen elizabeth if he were dead what would betide on me grey no other harm but loss of such a lord queen elizabeth the loss of such a lord includes all harms grey the heavens have blessd you with a goodly son to be your comforter when he is gone queen elizabeth ah he is young and his minority is put unto the trust of richard gloucester a man that loves not me nor none of you river is it concluded he shall be protector queen elizabeth it is determind not concluded yet but so it must be if the king miscarry enter buckingham and derby grey here come the lords of buckingham and derby buckingham good time of day unto your royal grace derby god make your majesty joyful as you have been queen elizabeth the countess richmond good my lord of derby to your good prayer will scarcely say amen yet derby notwithstanding shes your wife and loves not me be you good lord assurd i hate not you for her proud arrogance derby i do beseech you either not believe the envious slanders of her false accusers or if she be accusd on true report bear with her weakness which i think proceeds from wayward sickness and no grounded malice queen elizabeth saw you the king to day my lord of derby derby but now the duke of buckingham and i are come from visiting his majesty queen elizabeth what likelihood of his amendment lords buckingham madam good hope his grace speaks cheerfully queen elizabeth god grant him health did you confer with him buckingham 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 queen elizabeth would all were well but that will never be i fear our happiness is at the height enter gloucester hastings and dorset gloucester they do me wrong and i will not endure it who is it that complains 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 look fair smile in mens 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 abusd with silken sly insinuating jacks grey to who in all this presence speaks your grace gloucester to thee that hast nor honesty nor grace when have i injurd thee when done thee wrong or thee or thee or any of your faction a plague upon you all his royal grace whom god preserve better than you would wish cannot be quiet searce a breathing while but you must trouble him with lewd complaints queen elizabeth brother of gloucester you mistake the matter the king on his own royal disposition and not provokd 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 he may learn the ground gloucester i cannot tell the world is grown so bad that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch since every jack became a gentleman theres many a gentle person made a jack queen elizabeth come come we know your meaning brother gloucester you envy my advancement and my friends god grant we never may have need of you gloucester meantime god grants that i have need of you our brother is imprisond by your means myself disgracd 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 queen elizabeth by him that raisd me to this careful height from that contented hap which i enjoyd 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 gloucester you may deny that you were not the mean of my lord hastings late imprisonment rivers she may my lord for gloucester 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 desert what may she not she may ay marry may she rivers what marry may she gloucester what marry may she marry with a king a bachelor and a handsome stripling too iwis your grandam had a worser match queen elizabeth 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 endurd i had rather be a country servant maid than a great queen with this condition to be so baited scornd and stormed at enter old queen margaret behind small joy have i in being englands queen queen margaret and lessned be that small god i beseech him thy honour state and seat is due to me gloucester what threat you me with telling of the king tell him and spare not look what i have said i will avoucht in presence of the king i dare adventure to be sent to th towr tis time to speak my pains are quite forgot queen margaret out devil i do remember them to well thou killdst my husband henry in the tower and edward my poor son at tewksbury gloucester 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 spent mine own queen margaret ay and much better blood than his or thine gloucester 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 margarets battle at saint albans slain let me put in your minds if you forget what you have been ere this and what you are withal what i have been and what i am queen margaret a murdrous villain and so still thou art gloucester poor clarence did forsake his father warwick ay and forswore himself which jesu pardon queen margaret which god revenge gloucester to fight on edwards party for the crown and for his meed poor lord he is mewed up i would to god my heart were flint like edwards or edwards soft and pitiful like mine i am too childish foolish for this world queen margaret hie thee to hell for shame and leave this world thou cacodemon there thy kingdom is rivers my lord of gloucester in those busy days which here you urge to prove us enemies we followd then our lord our sovereign king so should we you if you should be our king gloucester if i should be i had rather be a pedlar far be it from my heart the thought thereof queen elizabeth as little joy my lord as you suppose you should enjoy were you this countrys king as little joy you may suppose in me that i enjoy being the queen thereof queen margaret as little joy enjoys the queen thereof for i am she and altogether joyless i can no longer hold me patient advancing hear me you wrangling pirates that fall out in sharing that which you have pilld from me which of you trembles not that looks on me if not that i am queen you bow like subjects yet that by you deposd you quake like rebels ah gentle villain do not turn away gloucester foul wrinkled witch what makst thou in my sight queen margaret but repetition of what thou hast marrd that will i make before i let thee go gloucester wert thou not banished on pain of death queen margaret 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 owst 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 gloucester the curse my noble father laid on thee when thou didst crown his warlike brows with paper and with thy scorns drewst rivers from his eyes and then to dry them gavst the duke a clout steepd in the faultless blood of pretty rutland his curses then from bitterness of soul denouncd against thee are all falln upon thee and god not we hath plagud thy bloody deed queen elizabeth so just is god to right the innocent hastings o twas the foulest deed to slay that babe and the most merciless that eer was heard of rivers tyrants themselves wept when it was reported dorset no man but prophesied revenge for it buckingham northumberland then present wept to see it queen margaret 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 yorks dread curse prevail so much with heaven that henrys death my lovely edwards death their kingdoms 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 our son that 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 mayest thou live to wail thy childrens death and see another as i see thee now deckd in thy rights as thou art stalld in mine long die thy happy days before thy death and after many lengthned hours of grief die neither mother wife nor englands queen rivers and dorset you were standers by and so wast thou lord hastings when my son was stabbd with bloody daggers god i pray him that none of you may live his natural age but by some unlookd accident cut off gloucester have done thy charm thou hateful witherd hag queen margaret 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 worlds peace the worm of conscience still be gnaw thy soul thy friends suspect for traitors while thou livst 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 markd abortive rooting hog thou that wast seald in thy nativity the slave of nature and the son of hell thou slander of thy heavy mothers womb thou loathed issue of thy fathers loins thou rag of honour thou detested gloucester margaret queen margaret richard gloucester ha queen margaret i call thee not gloucester i cry thee mercy then for i did think that thou hadst calld me all these bitter names queen margaret why so i did but lookd for no reply o let me make the period to my curse gloucester tis done by me and ends in margaret queen elizabeth thus have you breathd your curse against yourself queen margaret poor painted queen vain flourish of my fortune why strewst thou sugar on that bottled spider whose deadly web ensnareth thee about fool fool thou whetst a knife to kill thyself the day will come that thou shalt wish for me to help thee curse this poisonous bunch backd toad hastings false boding woman end thy frantic curse lest to thy harm thou move our patience queen margaret foul shame upon you you have all movd mine rivers were you well servd you would be taught your duty queen margaret 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 dorset dispute not with her she is lunatic queen margaret peace master marquis 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 gloucester good counsel marry learn it learn it marquis dorset it touches you my lord as much as me gloucester ay and much more but i was born so high our aery buildeth in the cedars top and dallies with the wind and scorns the sun queen margaret 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 aerys nest o god that seest it do not suffer it as it is won with blood lost be it so buckingham peace peace for shame if not for charity queen margaret urge neither charity nor shame to me uncharitably with me have you dealt and shamefully my hopes by you are butcherd my charity is outrage life my shame and in that shame still live my sorrows rage buckingham have done have done queen margaret o princely buckingham ill 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 buckingham nor no one here for curses never pass the lips of those that breathe them in the air queen margaret i will not think but they ascend the sky and there awake gods 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 gloucester what doth she say my lord of buckingham buckingham nothing that i respect my gracious lord queen margaret 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 subjects to his hate and he to yours and all of you to gods exit buckingham my hair doth stand an end to hear her curses rivers and so doth mine i muse why shes at liberty gloucester i cannot blame her by gods holy mother she hath had too much wrong and i repent my part thereof that i have done to her queen elizabeth i never did her any to my knowledge gloucester 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 frankd up to fatting for his pains god pardon them that are the cause thereof rivers a virtuous and a christian like conclusion to pray for them that have done scathe to us gloucester so do i ever aside being well advisd for had i cursd now i had cursd myself enter catesby catesby madam his majesty doth can for you and for your grace and you my gracious lords queen elizabeth catesby i come lords will you go with me rivers we wait upon your grace exeunt all but gloucester gloucester 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 who i indeed have cast in darkness i do beweep to many simple gulls namely to derby 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 revengd on rivers dorset 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 villainy with odd old ends stoln forth of holy writ and seem a saint when most i play the devil enter two murderers but soft here come my executioners how now my hardy stout resolved mates are you now going to dispatch this thing first murderer we are my lord and come to have the warrant that we may be admitted where he is gloucester well thought upon i have it here about me gives the warrant 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 first murderer tut tut my lord we will not stand to prate talkers are no good doers be assurd we go to use our hands and not our tongues gloucester your eyes drop millstones when fools eyes fall tears i like you lads about your business straight go go dispatch first murderer we will my noble lord exeunt scene london the tower enter clarence and keeper keeper why looks your grace so heavily to day clarence o i have passd a miserable night so full of fearful dreams of ugly sights 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 keeper what was your dream my lord i pray you tell me clarence methoughts that i had broken from the tower and was embarkd to cross to burgundy and in my company my brother gloucester who from my cabin tempted me to walk upon the hatches thence we lookd toward england and cited up a thousand heavy times during the wars of york and lancaster that had befalln us as we pacd 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 o lord methought what pain it was to drown what dreadful noise of waters in my ears what sights of ugly death within my eyes methoughts i saw a thousand fearful wrecks a thousand men that fishes gnawd upon wedges of gold great anchors heaps of pearl inestimable stones unvalued jewels all scattred in the bottom of the sea some lay in dead mens skulls and in the holes where eyes did once inhabit there were crept as twere in scorn of eyes reflecting gems that wood the slimy bottom of the deep and mockd the dead bones that lay scattred by keeper had you such leisure in the time of death to gaze upon these secrets of the deep clarence methought i had and often did i strive to yield the ghost but still the envious flood stoppd in my soul and would not let it forth to find the empty vast and wandring air but smotherd it within my panting bulk who almost burst to belch it in the sea keeper awakd you not in this sore agony clarence no no my dream was lengthend after life o then began the tempest to my soul i passd methought the melancholy flood with that sour 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 spake aloud what scourge for perjury can this dark monarchy afford false clarence and so he vanishd then came wandring by a shadow like an angel with bright hair dabbled in blood and he shriekd out aloud clarence is come false fleeting perjurd clarence that stabbd me in the field by tewksbury seize on him furies take him unto torment with that methoughts a legion of foul fiends environd me and howled in mine ears such hideous cries that with the very noise i trembling wakd and for a season after could not believe but that i was in hell such terrible impression made my dream keeper no marvel lord though it affrighted you i am afraid methinks to hear you tell it clarence ah keeper keeper i have done these things that now give evidence against my soul for edwards sake and see how he requites me o god if my deep prayers cannot appease thee but thou wilt be avengd on my misdeeds yet execute thy wrath in me alone o spare my guiltless wife and my poor children keeper i prithee sit by me awhile my soul is heavy and i fain would sleep keeper i will my lord god give your grace good rest clarence sleeps enter brakenbury the lieutenant brakenbury sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours makes the night morning and the noontide 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 tides and low name theres nothing differs but the outward fame enter the two murderers first murderer ho whos here brakenbury what wouldst thou fellow and how camst thou hither first murderer i would speak with clarence and i came hither on my legs brakenbury what so brief second murderer tis better sir than to be tedious let him see our commission and talk no more brakenbury reads it brakenbury 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 from the meaning there lies the duke asleep and there the keys ill to the king and signify to him that thus i have resignd to you my charge first murderer you may sir tis a point of wisdom fare you well exeunt brakenbury and keeper second murderer what shall i stab him as he sleeps first murderer no hell say twas done cowardly when he wakes second murderer why he shall never wake until the great judgment day first murderer why then hell say we stabbd him sleeping second murderer the urging of that word judgment hath bred a kind of remorse in me first murderer what art thou afraid second murderer not to kill him having a warrant but to be damnd for killing him from the which no warrant can defend me first murderer i thought thou hadst been resolute second murderer so i am to let him live first murderer ill back to the duke of gloucester and tell him so second murderer nay i prithee stay a little i hope this passionate humour of mine will change it was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty first murderer how dost thou feel thyself now second murderer faith some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me first murderer remember our reward when the deeds done second murderer zounds he dies i had forgot the reward first murderer wheres thy conscience now second murderer o in the duke of gloucesters purse first murderer when he opens his purse to give us our reward thy conscience flies out second murderer tis no matter let it go theres few or none will entertain it first murderer what if it come to thee again second murderer ill not meddle with it it makes a man coward a man cannot steal but it accuseth him a man cannot swear but it checks him a man cannot lie with his neighbours wife but it detects him tis a blushing shame facd spirit that mutinies in a mans bosom it fills a man full of obstacles it made me once restore a purse of gold that by chance i found it beggars any man that keeps it it is turnd out of towns and cities for a dangerous thing and every man that means to live well endeavours to trust to himself and live without it first murderer zounds tis even now at my elbow persuading me not to kill the duke second murderer take the devil in thy mind and believe him not he would insinuate with thee but to make the sigh first murderer i am strong framd he cannot prevail with me second murderer spoke like a tall man that respects thy reputation come shall we fall to work first murderer take him on the costard with the hilts of thy sword and then chop him in the malmsey butt in the next room second murderer o excellent device and make a sop of him first murderer soft he wakes second murderer strike first murderer no well reason with him clarence where art thou keeper give me a cup of wine second murderer you shall have wine enough my lord anon clarence in gods name what art thou first murderer a man as you are clarence but not as i am royal second murderer nor you as we are loyal clarence thy voice is thunder but thy looks are humble first murderer my voice is now the kings my looks mine own clarence 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 second murderer to to to clarence to murder me both murderers ay ay clarence 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 first murderer offended us you have not but the king clarence i shall be reconcild to him again second murderer never my lord therefore prepare to die clarence are you drawn forth among 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 pronouncd 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 christs dear blood shed for our grievous sins that you depart and lay no hands on me the deed you undertake is damnable first murderer what we will do we do upon command second murderer and he that hath commanded is our king clarence erroneous vassals the great king of kings hath in the tables of his law commanded that thou shalt do no murder will you then spurn at his edict and fulfil a mans take heed for he holds vengeance in his hand to hurl upon their heads that break his law second murderer 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 first murderer and like a traitor to the name of god didst break that vow and with thy treacherous blade unrippdst the bowels of thy sovreigns son second murderer whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend first murderer how canst thou urge gods dreadful law to us when thou hast broke it in such dear degree clarence 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 powrful arm he needs no indirect or lawless course to cut off those that have offended him first murderer who made thee then a bloody minister when gallant springing brave plantagenet that princely novice was struck dead by thee clarence my brothers love the devil and my rage first murderer thy brothers love our duty and thy faults provoke us hither now to slaughter thee clarence if you do love my brother hate not me i am his brother and i love him well if you are hird 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 second murderer you are deceivd your brother gloucester hates you clarence o no he loves me and he holds me dear go you to him from me first murderer ay so we will clarence tell him when that our princely father york blessd his three sons with his victorious arm and chargd us from his soul to love each other he little thought of this divided friendship bid gloucester think of this and he will weep first murderer ay millstones as he lessond us to weep clarence o do not slander him for he is kind first murderer right as snow in harvest come you deceive yourself tis he that sends us to destroy you here clarence it cannot be for he bewept my fortune and huggd me in his arms and swore with sobs that he would labour my delivery first murderer why so he doth when he delivers you from this earths thraldom to the joys of heaven second murderer make peace with god for you must die my lord clarence have you that holy feeling in your souls to counsel me to make my peace with god and are you yet to your own souls so blind that you will war with god by murdring me o sirs consider they that set you on to do this deed will hate you for the deed second murderer what shall we do clarence relent and save your souls first murderer relent no tis cowardly and womanish clarence not to relent is beastly savage devilish which of you if you were a princes son being pent from liberty as i am now if two such murderers 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 second murderer look behind you my lord first murderer stabbing him take that and that if all this will not do ill drown you in the malmsey butt within exit with the body second murderer a bloody deed and desperately dispatchd how fain like pilate would i wash my hands of this most grievous murder re enter first murderer first murderer how now what meanst thou that thou helpst me not by heavens the duke shall know how slack you have been second murderer i would he knew that i had savd his brother take thou the fee and tell him what i say for i repent me that the duke is slain exit first murderer so do not i go coward as thou art well ill 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 then i must not stay exit act ii scene london the palace flourish enter king edward sick queen elizabeth dorset rivers hastings buckingham grey and others king edward why so now have i done a good days work you peers continue this united league i every day expect an embassage from my redeemer to redeem me hence and more at peace my soul shall part to heaven since i have made my friends at peace on earth hastings and rivers take each others hand dissemble not your hatred swear your love rivers by heaven my soul is purgd from grudging hate and with my hand i seal my true hearts love hastings so thrive i as i truly swear the like king edward 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 others end hastings so prosper i as i swear perfect love rivers and i as i love hastings with my heart king edward madam yourself is not exempt from 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 queen elizabeth there hastings i will never more remember our former hatred so thrive i and mine king edward dorset embrace him hastings love lord marquis dorset this interchange of love i here protest upon my part shall be inviolable hastings and so swear i they embrace king edward now princely buckingham seal thou this league with thy embracements to my wifes allies and make me happy in your unity buckingham to the queen 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 they embrace king edward 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 buckingham and in good time here comes sir richard ratcliff and the duke enter gloucester and ratcliff gloucester good morrow to my sovereign king and queen and princely peers a happy time of day king edward 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 gloucester 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 to 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 mens 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 lodgd between us of you and you lord rivers and of dorset that all without desert have frownd on me of you lord woodville 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 queen elizabeth a holy day shall this be kept hereafter i would to god all strifes were well compounded my sovereign lord i do beseech your highness to take our brother clarence to your grace gloucester why madam have i offred love for this to be so flouted in this royal presence who knows not that the gentle duke is dead they all start you do him injury to scorn his corse king edward who knows not he is dead who knows he is queen elizabeth all seeing heaven what a world is this buckingham look i so pale lord dorset as the rest dorset ay my good lord and no man in the presence but his red colour hath forsook his cheeks king edward is clarence dead the order was reversd gloucester but he poor man by your first order died and that a winged mercury did bear some tardy cripple bare the countermand that came too lag to see him buried god grant that some less noble and less loyal nearer in bloody thoughts an not in blood deserve not worse than wretched clarence did and yet go current from suspicion enter derby derby a boon my sovereign for my service done king edward i prithee peace my soul is full of sorrow derby i will not rise unless your highness hear me king edward then say at once what is it thou requests derby the forfeit sovereign of my servants life who slew to day a riotous gentleman lately attendant on the duke of norfolk king edward have i a tongue to doom my brothers death and shall that tongue give pardon to a slave my brother killed no man his fault was thought and yet his punishment was bitter death who sued to me for him who in my wrath kneeld at my feet and bid me be advisd 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 rescued 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 pluckd and not a man of you had so much race to put it in my mind but when your carters or your waiting vassals have done a drunken slaughter and defacd the precious image of our dear redeemer you straight are on your knees for pardon pardon and i unjustly too must grant it you derby rises 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 ah poor clarence exeunt some with king and queen gloucester this is the fruits of rashness markd you not how that the guilty kindred of the queen lookd 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 buckingham we wait upon your grace exeunt scene london the palace enter the old duchess of york with the son and daughter of clarence son good grandam tell us is our father dead duchess no boy daughter why do you weep so oft and beat your breast and cry o clarence my unhappy son son why do you look on us and shake your head and call us orphans wretches castaways if that our noble father were alive duchess my pretty cousins you mistake me both i do lament the sickness of the king as loath to lose him not your fathers death it were lost sorrow to wail one thats lost son then you conclude my grandam 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 daughter and so will i duchess peace children peace the king doth love you well incapable and shallow innocents you cannot guess who causd your fathers death son grandam we can for my good uncle gloucester told me the king provokd to it by the queen devisd impeachments to imprison him and when my uncle told me so he wept and pitied me and kindly kissd my cheek bade me rely on him as on my father and he would love me dearly as a child duchess ah that deceit should steal such gentle shape and with a virtuous vizor hide deep vice he is my son ay and therein my shame yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit son think you my uncle did dissemble grandam duchess ay boy son i cannot think it hark what noise is this enter queen elizabeth with her hair about her ears rivers and dorset after her queen elizabeth ah who shall hinder me to wail and weep to chide my fortune and torment myself ill join with black despair against my soul and to myself become an enemy duchess what means this scene of rude impatience queen elizabeth to make an act of tragic violence edward my lord thy son our king is dead why grow the branches when the root is gone 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 kings or like obedient subjects follow him to his new kingdom of neer changing night duchess ah so much interest have i in thy sorrow as i had title in thy noble husband i have bewept a worthy husbands death and livd with looking on his images but now two mirrors of his princely semblance are crackd 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 but death hath snatchd my husband from mine arms and pluckd two crutches from my feeble hands clarence and edward o what cause have i thine being but a moiety of my moan to overgo thy woes and drown thy cries son ah aunt you wept not for our fathers death how can we aid you with our kindred tears daughter our fatherless distress was left unmoand your widow dolour likewise be unwept queen elizabeth 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 governd by the watery moon may send forth plenteous tears to drown the world ah for my husband for my dear lord edward children ah for our father for our dear lord clarence duchess alas for both both mine edward and clarence queen elizabeth what stay had i but edward and hes gone children what stay had we but clarence and hes gone duchess what stays had i but they and they are gone queen elizabeth was never widow had so dear a loss children were never orphans had so dear a loss duchess was never mother had so dear a loss alas i am the mother of these griefs their woes are parcelld mine is 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 distressd pour all your tears i am your sorrows nurse and i will pamper it with lamentation dorset comfort dear mother god is much displeasd that you take with unthankfulness his doing in common worldly things tis called 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 rivers madam bethink you like a careful mother of the young prince your son send straight for him let him be crownd in him your comfort lives drown desperate sorrow in dead edwards grave and plant your joys in living edwards throne enter gloucester buckingham derby hastings and ratcliff gloucester sister have comfort all of us have cause to wail the dimming of our shining star but none can help our 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 duchess god bless thee and put meekness in thy breast love charity obedience and true duty gloucester amen aside and make me die a good old man that is the butt end of a mothers blessing i marvel that her grace did leave it out buckingham you cloudy princes and heart sorrowing peers that bear this heavy mutual load of moan now cheer each other in each others 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 splinterd knit and joind together must gently be preservd cherishd and kept me seemeth good that with some little train forthwith from ludlow the young prince be fet hither to london to be crownd our king rivers why with some little train my lord of buckingham buckingham marry my lord lest by a multitude the new heald wound of malice should break out which would be so much the more dangerous by how much the estate is green and yet ungovernd 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 gloucester i hope the king made peace with all of us and the compact is firm and true in me rivers and so in me and so i think in an yet since it is but green it should be put to no apparent likelihood of breach which haply by much company might be urgd therefore i say with noble buckingham that it is meet so few should fetch the prince hastings and so say i gloucester then be it so and go we to determine who they shall be that straight shall post to ludlow madam and you my sister will you go to give your censures in this business exeunt all but buckingham and gloucester buckingham my lord whoever journeys to the prince for god sake let not us two stay at home for by the way ill sort occasion as index to the story we late talkd of to part the queens proud kindred from the prince gloucester my other self my counsels consistory my oracle my prophet my dear cousin i as a child will go by thy direction toward ludlow then for well not stay behind exeunt scene london a street enter one citizen at one door and another at the other first citizen good morrow neighbour whither away so fast second citizen i promise you i scarcely know myself hear you the news abroad first citizen yes that the king is dead second citizen ill news byr lady seldom comes the better i fear i fear twill prove a giddy world enter another citizen third citizen neighbours god speed first citizen give you good morrow sir third citizen doth the news hold of good king edwards death second citizen ay sir it is too true god help the while third citizen then masters look to see a troublous world first citizen no no by gods good grace his son shall reign third citizen woe to that land thats governd by a child second citizen in him there is a hope of government which in his nonage council under him and in his full and ripened years himself no doubt shall then and till then govern well first citizen so stood the state when henry the sixth was crownd in paris but at nine months old third citizen stood the state so no no good friends god wot for then this land was famously enrichd with politic grave counsel then the king had virtuous uncles to protect his grace first citizen why so hath this both by his father and mother third citizen 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 queens sons and brothers haught and proud and were they to be ruld and not to rule this sickly land might solace as before first citizen come come we fear the worst all will be well third citizen 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 second citizen truly the hearts of men are fun of fear you cannot reason almost with a man that looks not heavily and fun of dread third citizen before the days of change still is it so by a divine instinct mens minds mistrust ensuing danger as by proof we see the water swell before a boistrous storm but leave it all to god whither away second citizen marry we were sent for to the justices third citizen and so was i ill bear you company exeunt scene london the palace enter the archbishop of york the young duke of york queen elizabeth and the duchess of york archbishop last night i hear they lay at stony stratford and at northampton they do rest to night to morrow or next day they will be here duchess i long with all my heart to see the prince i hope he is much grown since last i saw him queen elizabeth but i hear no they say my son of york has almost overtaen him in his growth york ay mother but i would not have it so duchess why my good cousin it is good to grow york grandam one night as we did sit at supper my uncle rivers talkd 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 flowrs are slow and weeds make haste duchess good faith good faith the saying did not hold in him that did object the same to thee he was the wretchedst thing when he was young so long a growing and so leisurely that if his rule were true he should be gracious archbishop and so no doubt he is my gracious madam duchess i hope he is but yet let mothers doubt york now by my troth if i had been remembred i could have given my uncles grace a flout to touch his growth nearer than he touchd mine duchess how my young york i prithee let me hear it york 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 duchess i prithee pretty york who told thee this york grandam his nurse duchess his nurse why she was dead ere thou wast born york if twere not she i cannot tell who told me queen elizabeth a parlous boy go to you are too shrewd archbishop good madam be not angry with the child queen elizabeth pitchers have ears enter a messenger archbishop here comes a messenger what news messenger such news my lord as grieves me to report queen elizabeth how doth the prince messenger well madam and in health duchess what is thy news messenger lord rivers and lord grey are sent to pomfret and with them sir thomas vaughan prisoners duchess who hath committed them messenger the mighty dukes gloucester and buckingham archbishop for what offence messenger the sum of all i can i have disclosd why or for what the nobles were committed is all unknown to me my gracious lord queen elizabeth ay me i see the ruin of my house the tiger now hath seizd the gentle hind insulting tyranny begins to jet upon the innocent and aweless throne welcome destruction blood and massacre i see as in a map the end of all duchess 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 tossd 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 queen elizabeth come come my boy we will to sanctuary madam farewell duchess stay i will go with you queen elizabeth you have no cause archbishop to the queen my gracious lady go and thither bear your treasure and your goods for my part ill resign unto your grace the seal i keep and so betide to me as well i tender you and all of yours go ill conduct you to the sanctuary exeunt act iii scene london a street the trumpets sound enter the prince of wales gloucester buckingham catesby cardinal bourchier and others buckingham welcome sweet prince to london to your chamber gloucester welcome dear cousin my thoughts sovereign the weary way hath made you melancholy prince no uncle but our crosses on the way have made it tedious wearisome and heavy i want more uncles here to welcome me gloucester sweet prince the untainted virtue of your years hath not yet divd into the worlds deceit nor 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 sugred words but lookd not on the poison of their hearts god keep you from them and from such false friends prince god keep me from false friends but they were none gloucester my lord the mayor of london comes to greet you enter the lord mayor and his train mayor god bless your grace with health and happy days prince 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 enter lord hastings buckingham and in good time here comes the sweating lord prince welcome my lord what will our mother come hastings 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 buckingham 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 cardinal 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 deep a sin buckingham 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 deservd the place and those who have the wit to claim the place this prince hath neither claimd it nor deservd 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 never till now cardinal my lord you shall oerrule my mind for once come on lord hastings will you go with me hastings i go my lord prince good lords make all the speedy haste you may exeunt cardinal and hastings say uncle gloucester if our brother come where shall we sojourn till our coronation gloucester 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 prince i do not like the tower of any place did julius caesar build that place my lord buckingham he did my gracious lord begin that place which since succeeding ages have re edified prince is it upon record or else reported successively from age to age he built it buckingham upon record my gracious lord prince but say my lord it were not registred methinks the truth should eve from age to age as twere retaild to all posterity even to the general all ending day gloucester aside so wise so young they say do never live long prince what say you uncle gloucester i say without characters fame lives long aside thus like the formal vice iniquity i moralize two meanings in one word prince that julius caesar 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 ill tell you what my cousin buckingham buckingham what my gracious lord prince an if i live until i be a man ill win our ancient right in france again or die a soldier as i livd a king gloucester aside short summers lightly have a forward spring enter hastings young york and the cardinal buckingham now in good time here comes the duke of york prince richard of york how fares our loving brother york well my dread lord so must i can you now prince 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 gloucester how fares our cousin noble lord of york 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 gloucester he hath my lord york and therefore is he idle gloucester o my fair cousin i must not say so york then he is more beholding to you than i gloucester he may command me as my sovereign but you have power in me as in a kinsman york i pray you uncle give me this dagger gloucester my dagger little cousin with all my heart prince a beggar brother york of my kind uncle that i know will give and being but a toy which is no grief to give gloucester a greater gift than that ill give my cousin york a greater gift o thats the sword to it gloucester ay gentle cousin were it light enough york o then i see you will part but with light gifts in weightier things youll say a beggar nay gloucester it is too heavy for your grace to wear york i weigh it lightly were it heavier gloucester what would you have my weapon little lord york i would that i might thank you as you call me gloucester how york little prince my lord of york will still be cross in talk uncle your grace knows how to bear with him york 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 buckingham with what a sharp provided wit he reasons to mitigate the scorn he gives his uncle he prettily and aptly taunts himself so cunning and so young is wonderful gloucester my lord willt 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 york what will you go unto the tower my lord prince my lord protector needs will have it so york i shall not sleep in quiet at the tower gloucester why what should you fear york marry my uncle clarence angry ghost my grandam told me he was murderd there prince i fear no uncles dead gloucester nor none that live i hope prince 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 a sennet exeunt all but gloucester buckingham and catesby buckingham think you my lord this little prating york was not incensed by his subtle mother to taunt and scorn you thus opprobriously gloucester no doubt no doubt o tis a perilous boy bold quick ingenious forward capable he is all the mothers from the top to toe buckingham 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 knowst our reasons urgd upon the way what thinkst 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 catesby he for his fathers sake so loves the prince that he will not be won to aught against him buckingham what thinkst thou then of stanley will not he catesby he will do all in all as hastings doth buckingham 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 employd gloucester 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 buckingham good catesby go effect this business soundly catesby my good lords both with all the heed i can gloucester shall we hear from you catesby ere we sleep catesby you shall my lord gloucester at crosby house there shall you find us both exit catesby buckingham now my lord what shall we do if we perceive lord hastings will not yield to our complots gloucester 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 movables whereof the king my brother was possessd buckingham ill claim that promise at your graces hand gloucester and look to have it yielded with all kindness come let us sup betimes that afterwards we may digest our complots in some form exeunt scene before lord hastings house enter a messenger to the door of hastings messenger my lord my lord knocking hastings within who knocks messenger one from the lord stanley hastings within what ist oclock messenger upon the stroke of four enter lord hastings hastings cannot my lord stanley sleep these tedious nights messenger so it appears by that i have to say first he commends him to your noble self hastings what then messenger then certifies your lordship that this night he dreamt the boar had razed off his helm besides he says there are two councils kept and that may be determind at the one which may make you and him to rue at th other therefore he sends to know your lordships pleasure if you will presently take horse with him and with all speed post with him toward the north to shun the danger that his soul divines hastings go fellow go return unto thy lord bid him not fear the separated council 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 without instance and for his dreams i wonder hes so simple to trust the mockry 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 messenger ill go my lord and tell him what you say exit enter catesby catesby many good morrows to my noble lord hastings good morrow catesby you are early stirring what news what news in this our tottring state catesby it is a reeling world indeed my lord and i believe will never stand upright till richard wear the garland of the realm hastings how wear the garland dost thou mean the crown catesby ay my good lord hastings ill have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders before ill see the crown so foul misplacd but canst thou guess that he doth aim at it catesby 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 hastings indeed i am no mourner for that news because they have been still my adversaries but that ill give my voice on richards side to bar my masters heirs in true descent god knows i will not do it to the death catesby god keep your lordship in that gracious mind hastings but i shall laugh at this a twelve month hence that they which brought me in my masters hate i live to look upon their tragedy well catesby ere a fortnight make me older ill send some packing that yet think not ont catesby tis a vile thing to die my gracious lord when men are unprepard and look not for it hastings o monstrous monstrous and so falls it out with rivers vaughan grey and so twill do with some men else that think themselves as safe as thou and i who as thou knowest are dear to princely richard and to buckingham catesby the princes both make high account of you aside for they account his head upon the bridge hastings i know they do and i have well deservd it enter lord stanley come on come on where is your boar spear man fear you the boar and go so unprovided stanley my lord good morrow good morrow catesby you may jest on but by the holy rood i do not like these several councils i hastings my lord i hold my life as dear as 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 stanley the lords at pomfret when they rode from london were jocund and supposd their states were sure and they indeed had no cause to mistrust but yet you see how soon the day oercast 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 hastings come come have with you wot you what my lord to day the lords you talkd of are beheaded stanley they for their truth might better wear their heads than some that have accusd them wear their hats but come my lord lets away enter hastings a pursuivant hastings go on before ill talk with this good fellow exeunt stanley and catesby how now hastings how goes the world with thee pursuivant the better that your lordship please to ask hastings i tell thee man tis better with me now than when thou metst me last where now we meet then was i going prisoner to the tower by the suggestion of the queens allies but now i tell thee keep it to thyself this day those enernies are put to death and i in better state than eer i was pursuivant god hold it to your honours good content hastings gramercy hastings there drink that for me throws him his purse pursuivant i thank your honour exit enter a priest priest well met my lord i am glad to see your honour hastings 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 he whispers in his ear priest ill wait upon your lordship enter buckingham buckingham what talking with a priest lord chamberlain your friends at pomfret they do need the priest your honour hath no shriving work in hand hastings good faith and when i met this holy man the men you talk of came into my mind what go you toward the tower buckingham i do my lord but long i cannot stay there i shall return before your lordship thence hastings nay like enough for i stay dinner there buckingham aside and supper too although thou knowest it not come will you go hastings ill wait upon your lordship exeunt scene pomfret castle enter sir richard ratcliff with halberds carrying the nobles rivers grey and vaughan to death rivers sir richard ratcliff let me tell thee this to day shalt thou behold a subject die for truth for duty and for loyalty grey god bless the prince from all the pack of you a knot you are of damned blood suckers vaughan you live that shall cry woe for this hereafter ratcliff dispatch the limit of your lives is out rivers 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 hackd to death and for more slander to thy dismal seat we give to thee our guiltless blood to drink grey now margarets curse is falln upon our heads when she exclaimd on hastings you and i for standing by when richard stabbd her son rivers then cursd she richard then cursd she buckingham then cursd 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 knowst unjustly must be spilt ratcliff make haste the hour of death is expiate rivers come grey come vaughan let us here embrace farewell until we meet again in heaven exeunt scene london the tower enter buckingham derby hastings the bishop of ely ratcliff lovel with others and seat themselves at a table hastings now noble peers the cause why we are met is to determine of the coronation in gods name speak when is the royal day buckingham is all things ready for the royal time derby it is and wants but nomination bishop of ely to morrow then i judge a happy day buckingham who knows the lord protectors mind herein who is most inward with the noble duke bishop of ely your grace we think should soonest know his mind buckingham we know each others faces for our hearts he knows no more of mine than i of yours or i of his my lord than you of mine lord hastings you and he are near in love hastings i thank his grace i know he loves me well but for his purpose in the coronation i have not sounded him nor he deliverd his gracious pleasure any way therein but you my honourable lords may name the time and in the dukes behalf ill give my voice which i presume hell take in gentle part enter gloucester bishop of ely in happy time here comes the duke himself gloucester my noble lords and cousins an 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 buckingham had you not come upon your cue my lord william lord hastings had pronouncd your part i mean your voice for crowning of the king gloucester 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 bishop of ely marry and will my lord with all my heart exit gloucester cousin of buckingham a word with you takes him aside catesby hath sounded hastings in our business and finds the testy gentleman so hot that he will lose his head ere give consent his masters child as worshipfully he terms it shall lose the royalty of englands throne buckingham withdraw yourself awhile ill go with you exeunt gloucester and buckingham derby 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 prolongd re enter the bishop of ely bishop of ely where is my lord the duke of gloucester i have sent for these strawberries hastings his grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning theres some conceit or other likes him well when that he bids good morrow with such spirit i think theres never a man in christendom can lesser hide his love or hate than he for by his face straight shall you know his heart derby what of his heart perceive you in his face by any livelihood he showd to day hastings marry that with no man here he is offended for were he he had shown it in his looks re enter gloucester and buckingham gloucester i pray you all tell me what they deserve that do conspire my death with devilish plots of damned witchcraft and that have prevaild upon my body with their hellish charms hastings the tender love i bear your grace my lord makes me most forward in this princely presence to doom th offenders whosoeer they be i say my lord they have deserved death gloucester then be your eyes the witness of their evil look how i am bewitchd behold mine arm is like a blasted sapling witherd up and this is edwards wife that monstrous witch consorted with that harlot strumpet shore that by their witchcraft thus have marked me hastings if they have done this deed my noble lord gloucester if thou protector of this damned strumpet talkst 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 exeunt all but hastings lovel and ratcliff hastings woe woe for england not a whit for me for i too fond might have prevented this stanley did dream the boar did raze our helms and i did scorn it and disdain to fly three times to day my foot cloth horse did stumble and started when he lookd 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 butcherd and i myself secure in grace and favour o margaret margaret now thy heavy curse is lighted on poor hastings wretched head ratcliff come come dispatch the duke would be at dinner make a short shrift he longs to see your head hastings o momentary grace of mortal men 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 lovel come come dispatch tis bootless to exclaim hastings o bloody richard miserable england i prophesy the fearfullst time to thee that ever wretched age hath lookd upon come lead me to the block bear him my head they smile at me who shortly shall be dead exeunt scene london the tower walls enter gloucester and buckingham in rotten armour marvellous ill favoured gloucester 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 were distraught and mad with terror buckingham 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 gloucester he is and see he brings the mayor along enter the lord mayor and catesby buckingham lord mayor gloucester look to the drawbridge there buckingham hark a drum gloucester catesby oerlook the walls buckingham lord mayor the reason we have sent gloucester look back defend thee here are enemies buckingham god and our innocence defend and guard us enter lovel and ratcliff with hastings head gloucester be patient they are friends ratcliff and lovel lovel here is the head of that ignoble traitor the dangerous and unsuspected hastings gloucester so dear i lovd the man that i must weep i took him for the plainest harmless creature that breathd upon the earth a christian made him my book wherein my soul recorded the history of all her secret thoughts so smooth he daubd his vice with show of virtue that his apparent open guilt omitted i mean his conversation with shores wife he livd from all attainder of suspects buckingham well well he was the covertst sheltred traitor that ever livd would you imagine or almost believe weret 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 mayor had he done so gloucester what think you we are turks or infidels or that we would against the form of law proceed thus rashly in the villains death but that the extreme peril of the case the peace of england and our persons safety enforcd us to this execution mayor now fair befall you he deservd his death and your good graces both have well proceeded to warn false traitors from the like attempts i never lookd for better at his hands after he once fell in with mistress shore buckingham yet had we not determind he should die until your lordship came to see his end which now the loving haste of these our friends something against our meanings have prevented because my lord i would have had you heard the traitor speak and timorously confess the manner and the purpose of his treasons that you might well have signified the same unto the citizens who haply may misconster us in him and wail his death mayor but my good lord your graces words shall serve as well as i had seen and heard him speak and do not doubt right noble princes both but ill acquaint our duteous citizens with all your just proceedings in this cause gloucester and to that end we wishd your lordship here t avoid the the the censures of the carping world buckingham which 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 exit lord mayor gloucester go after after cousin buckingham the mayor towards guildhall hies him in an post there at your meetst advantage of the time infer the bastardy of edwards 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 stretchd 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 buckingham doubt not my lord ill play the orator as if the golden fee for which i plead were for myself and so my lord adieu gloucester if you thrive well bring them to baynards castle where you shall find me well accompanied with reverend fathers and well learned bishops buckingham i go and towards three or four oclock look for the news that the guildhall affords exit gloucester go lovel with all speed to doctor shaw to catesby go thou to friar penker bid them both meet me within this hour at baynards castle exeunt all but gloucester now will i go to take some privy order to draw the brats of clarence out of sight and to give order that no manner person have any time recourse unto the princes exit scene london a street enter a scrivener scrivener here is the indictment of the good lord hastings which in a set hand fairly is engrossd that it may be to day read oer in pauls 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 livd untainted unexamind free at liberty heres a good world the while who is so gros that cannot see this palpable device yet whos so bold but says he sees it not bad is the world and all will come to nought when such ill dealing must be seen in thought exit scene london baynards castle enter gloucester and buckingham at several doors gloucester how now how now what say the citizens buckingham now by the holy mother of our lord the citizens are mum say not a word gloucester touchd you the bastardy of edwards children buckingham i did with his contract with lady lucy and his contract by deputy in france th insatiate greediness of his desire 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 untouchd or slightly handled in discourse and when mine oratory drew toward end i bid them that did love their countrys good cry god save richard englands royal king gloucester and did they so buckingham no so god help me they spake not a word but like dumb statues or breathing stones stard each on other and lookd deadly pale which when i saw i reprehended them and askd the mayor what meant this wilfull silence his answer was the people were not used to be spoke to but by the recorder then he was urgd to tell my tale again thus saith the duke thus hath the duke inferrd but nothing spoke in warrant from himself when he had done some followers of mine own at lower end of the hall hurld 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 wisdoms and your love to richard and even here brake off and came away gloucester what tongueless blocks were they would they not speak will not the mayor then and his brethren come buckingham 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 ill make a holy descant and be not easily won to our requests play the maids part still answer nay and take it gloucester 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 buckingham go go up to the leads the lord mayor knocks exit gloucester enter the lord mayor aldermen and citizens welcome my lord i dance attendance here i think the duke will not be spoke withal enter catesby now catesby what says your lord to my request catesby 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 suits would he be movd to draw him from his holy exercise buckingham 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 catesby ill signify so much unto him straight exit buckingham ah ha my lord this prince is not an edward he is not lolling on a lewd love 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 sure i fear we shall not win him to it mayor marry god defend his grace should say us nay buckingham i fear he will here catesby comes again re enter catesby now catesby what says his grace catesby my lord he wonders to what end you have assembled such troops of citizens to come to him his grace not being warnd thereof before he fears my lord you mean no good to him buckingham 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 exit catesby when holy and devout religious men are at their beads tis much to draw them thence so sweet is zealous contemplation enter gloucester aloft between two bishops catesby returns mayor see where his grace stands tween two clergymen buckingham 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 ornaments 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 gloucester my lord there needs no such apology i do beseech your grace to pardon me who earnest in the service of my god deferrd the visitation of my friends but leaving this what is your graces pleasure buckingham even that i hope which pleaseth god above and all good men of this ungovernd isle gloucester i do suspect i have done some offence that seems disgracious in the citys eye and that you come to reprehend my ignorance buckingham you have my lord would it might please your grace on our entreaties to amend your fault gloucester else wherefore breathe i in a christian land buckingham 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 blemishd stock whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts which here we waken to our countrys good the noble isle doth want her proper limbs her face defacd with scars of infamy her royal stock graft with ignoble plants and almost shouldred 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 anothers 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 gloucester 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 sovereignty which fondly you would here impose on me if to reprove you for this suit of yours so seasond with your faithful love to me then on the other side i checkd 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 smotherd but god be thankd 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 mellowd 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 buckingham 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 brothers son so say we too but not by edwards wife for first was he contract to lady lucy your mother lives a witness to his vow and afterward by substitute betrothd to bona sister to the king of france these both put off a poor petitioner a care crazd 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 seducd the pitch and height of his degree to base declension and loathd 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 profferd 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 mayor do good my lord your citizens entreat you buckingham refuse not mighty lord this profferd love catesby o make them joyful grant their lawful suit gloucester alas why would you heap this care 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 buckingham if you refuse it as in love and zeal loath to depose the child your brothers 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 know wheer you accept our suit or no your brothers 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 zounds ill entreat no more gloucester o do not swear my lord of buckingham exeunt buckingham mayor and citizens catesby call him again sweet prince accept their suit if you deny them all the land will rue it gloucester will you enforce me to a world of cares call them again i am not made of stones but penetrable to your kind entreaties albeit against my conscience and my soul re enter buckingham and the rest cousin of buckingham and sage grave men since you will buckle fortune on my back to bear her burden wheer i will or no i must have patience to endure the load but if black scandal or foul facd 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 mayor god bless your grace we see it and will say it gloucester in saying so you shall but say the truth buckingham then i salute you with this royal title long live king richard englands worthy king all amen buckingham to morrow may it please you to be crownd gloucester even when you please for you will have it so buckingham to morrow then we will attend your grace and so most joyfully we take our leave gloucester to the bishops come let us to our holy work again farewell my cousin farewell gentle friends exeunt act iv scene london before the tower enter queen elizabeth duchess of york and marquis of dorset at one door anne duchess of gloucester leading lady margaret plantagenet clarences young daughter at another door duchess who meets us here my niece plantagenet led in the hand of her kind aunt of gloucester now for my life shes wandring to the tower on pure hearts love to greet the tender princes daughter well met anne god give your graces both a happy and a joyful time of day queen elizabeth as much to you good sister whither away anne no farther than the tower and as i guess upon the like devotion as yourselves to gratulate the gentle princes there queen elizabeth kind sister thanks well enter all together enter brakenbury 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 brakenbury right well dear madam by your patience i may not suffer you to visit them the king hath strictly chargd the contrary queen elizabeth the king whos that brakenbury i mean the lord protector queen elizabeth 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 duchess i am their fathers mother i will see them anne their aunt i am in law in love their mother then bring me to their sights ill bear thy blame and take thy office from thee on my peril brakenbury no madam no i may not leave it so i am bound by oath and therefore pardon me exit enter stanley stanley let me but meet you ladies one hour hence and ill salute your grace of york as mother and reverend looker on of two fair queens to anne come madam you must straight to westminster there to be crowned richards royal queen queen elizabeth ah cut my lace asunder that my pent heart may have some scope to beat or else i swoon with this dead killing news anne despiteful tidings o unpleasing news dorset be of good cheer mother how fares your grace queen elizabeth o dorset speak not to me get thee gone death and destruction dogs thee at thy heels thy mothers 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 margarets curse nor mother wife nor englands counted queen stanley 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 taen tardy by unwise delay duchess o ill dispersing wind of misery o my accursed womb the bed of death a cockatrice hast thou hatchd to the world whose unavoided eye is murderous stanley come madam come i in all haste was sent anne 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 brains anointed let me be with deadly venom and die ere men can say god save the queen queen elizabeth go go poor soul i envy not thy glory to feed my humour wish thyself no harm anne no why when he that is my husband now came to me as i followd henrys corse when scarce the blood was well washd from his hands which issued from my other angel husband and that dear saint which then i weeping followd o when i say i lookd on richards face this was my wish be thou quoth i accursd for making me so young so old a widow and when thou wedst 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 lords death lo ere i can repeat this curse again within so small a time my womans heart grossly grew captive to his honey words and provd the subject of mine own souls curse which hitherto hath held my 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 awakd besides he hates me for my father warwick and will no doubt shortly be rid of me queen elizabeth poor heart adieu i pity thy complaining anne no more than with my soul i mourn for yours dorset farewell thou woeful welcomer of glory anne adieu poor soul that takst thy leave of it duchess to dorset go thou to richmond and good fortune guide thee to anne go thou to richard and good angels tend thee to queen elizabeth 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 hours joy wreckd with a week of teen queen elizabeth stay yet look back with me unto the tower pity you ancient stones those tender babes whom envy hath immurd 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 sorrows bids your stones farewell exeunt scene london the palace sound a sennet enter richard in pomp as king buckingham catesby ratcliff lovel a page and others king richard stand all apart cousin of buckingham buckingham my gracious sovereign king richard give me thy hand here he ascendeth the throne sound 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 buckingham still live they and for ever let them last king richard 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 buckingham say on my loving lord king richard why buckingham i say i would be king buckingham why so you are my thrice renowned lord king richard ha am i king tis so but edward lives buckingham true noble prince king richard 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 performd what sayst thou now speak suddenly be brief buckingham your grace may do your pleasure king richard tut tut thou art all ice thy kindness freezes say have i thy consent that they shall die buckingham give me some little breath some pause dear lord before i positively speak in this i will resolve you herein presently exit catesby aside to another the king is angry see he gnaws his lip king richard i will converse with iron witted fools descends from the throne and unrespective boys none are for me that look into me with considerate eyes high reaching buckingham grows circumspect boy page my lord king richard knowst thou not any whom corrupting gold will tempt unto a close exploit of death page 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 king richard what is his name page his name my lord is tyrrel king richard i partly know the man go call him hither boy exit page the deep revolving witty buckingham no more shall be the neighbour to my counsels hath he so long held out with me untird and stops he now for breath well be it so enter stanley how now lord stanley whats the news stanley know my loving lord the marquis dorset as i hear is fled to richmond in the parts where he abides stands apart king richard 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 dreamst 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 exit catesby i must be married to my brothers 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 re enter page with tyrrel is thy name tyrrel tyrrel james tyrrel and your most obedient subject king richard art thou indeed tyrrel prove me my gracious lord king richard darstthou resolve to kill a friend of mine tyrrel please you but i had rather kill two enemies king richard why then thou hast it two deep enemies foes to my rest and my sweet sleeps disturbers are they that i would have thee deal upon tyrrel i mean those bastards in the tower tyrrel let me have open means to come to them and soon ill rid you from the fear of them king richard thou singst sweet music hark come hither tyrrel go by this token rise and lend thine ear whispers there is no more but so say it is done and i will love thee and prefer thee for it tyrrel i will dispatch it straight exit re enter buckingham buckingham my lord i have considerd in my mind the late request that you did sound me in king richard well let that rest dorset is fled to richmond buckingham i hear the news my lord king richard stanley he is your wifes son well look unto it buckingham my lord i claim the gift my due by promise for which your honour and your faith is pawnd th earldom of hereford and the movables which you have promised i shall possess king richard stanley look to your wife if she convey letters to richmond you shall answer it buckingham what says your highness to my just request king richard i do remember me henry the sixth did prophesy that richmond should be king when richmond was a little peevish boy a king perhaps buckingham my lord king richard how chance the prophet could not at that time have told me i being by that i should kill him buckingham my lord your promise for the earldom king richard richmond when last i was at exeter the mayor in courtesy showd me the castle and calld it rugemount at which name i started because a bard of ireland told me once i should not live long after i saw richmond buckingham my lord king richard ay whats oclock buckingham i am thus bold to put your grace in mind of what you promisd me king richard well but oclock buckingham upon the stroke of ten king richard well let it strike buckingham why let it strike king richard because that like a jack thou keepst the stroke betwixt thy begging and my meditation i am not in the giving vein to day buckingham may it please you to resolve me in my suit king richard thou troublest me i am not in the vein exeunt all but buckingham buckingham 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 exit scene london the palace enter tyrrel tyrrel 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 who i did suborn to do this piece of ruthless butchery albeit they were fleshd villains bloody dogs melted with tenderness and mild compassion wept like two children in their deaths sad story o 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 and in their summer beauty kissd each other a book of prayers on their pillow lay which once quoth forrest almost changd my mind but o the devil there the villain stoppd when dighton thus told on we smothered the most replenished sweet work of nature that from the prime creation eer she framed 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 enter king richard and here he comes all health my sovereign lord king richard kind tyrrel am i happy in thy news tyrrel if to have done the thing you gave in charge beget your happiness be happy then for it is done king richard but didst thou see them dead tyrrel i did my lord king richard and buried gentle tyrrel tyrrel the chaplain of the tower hath buried them but where to say the truth i do not know king richard come to me tyrrel 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 tyrrel i humbly take my leave exit king richard the son of clarence have i pent up close his daughter meanly have i matchd in marriage the sons of edward sleep in abrahams bosom and anne my wife hath bid this world good night now for i know the britaine richmond aims at young elizabeth my brothers daughter and by that knot looks proudly on the crown to her go i a jolly thriving wooer enter ratcliff ratcliff my lord king richard good or bad news that thou comst in so bluntly ratcliff bad news my lord morton is fled to richmond and buckingham backd with the hardy welshmen is in the field and still his power increaseth king richard ely with richmond troubles me more near than buckingham and his rash levied strength come i have learnd that fearful commenting is leaden servitor to dull delay delay leads impotent and snail pacd beggary then fiery expedition be my wing joves mercury and herald for a king go muster men my counsel is my shield we must be brief when traitors brave the field exeunt scene london before the palace enter old queen margaret queen margaret so now prosperity begins to mellow and drop into the rotten mouth of death here in these confines slily have i lurkd 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 retires enter queen elizabeth and the duchess of york queen elizabeth 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 fixd in doom perpetual hover about me with your airy wings and hear your mothers lamentation queen margaret hover about her say that right for right hath dimmd your infant morn to aged night duchess so many miseries have crazd my voice that my woe wearied tongue is still and mute edward plantagenet why art thou dead queen margaret plantagenet doth quit plantagenet edward for edward pays a dying debt queen elizabeth 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 queen margaret when holy harry died and my sweet son duchess dead life blind sight poor mortal living ghost woes scene worlds shame graves due by life usurpd brief abstract and record of tedious days rest thy unrest on englands lawful earth sitting down unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood queen elizabeth 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 we sitting down by her queen margaret coming forward 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 sitting down with them tell oer your woes again by viewing mine i had an edward till a richard killd him i had a husband till a richard killd him thou hadst an edward till a richard killd him thou hadst a richard till a richard killd him duchess i had a richard too and thou didst kill him i had a rutland too thou holpst to kill him queen margaret thou hadst a clarence too and richard killd him from forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept a hell hound 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 gods 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 mothers body and makes her pew fellow with others moan duchess o harrys wife triumph not in my woes god witness with me i have wept for thine queen margaret bear with me i am hungry for revenge and now i cloy me with beholding it thy edward he is dead that killd my edward the other edward dead to quit my edward young york he is but boot because both they matchd not the high perfection of my loss thy clarence he is dead that stabbd my edward and the beholders of this frantic play th adulterate hastings rivers vaughan grey untimely smotherd in their dusky graves richard yet lives hells black intelligencer only reservd 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 conveyd from hence cancel his bond of life dear god i pray that i may live and say the dog is dead queen elizabeth o thou didst prophesy the time would come that i should wish for thee to help me curse that bottled spider that foul bunch backd toad queen margaret i calld thee then vain flourish of my fortune i calld thee then poor shadow painted queen the presentation of but what i was the flattering index of a direful pageant one heavd a high to be hurld down below a mother only mockd with two fair babes a dream of what thou wast a garish flag to be the aim of every dangerous shot a sign of dignity a breath a bubble a queen in jest only to fill the scene where is thy husband now where be thy brothers where be thy two sons wherein dost thou joy who sues and kneels and says god save the queen where be the bending peers that flattered thee where be the thronging troops that followed thee decline an 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 sud to one that humbly sues for queen a very caitiff crownd with care for she that scornd at me now scornd of me for she being feard of all now fearing one for she commanding all obeyd of none thus hath the course of justice whirld about and left thee but a very prey to time having no more but thought of what thou wast 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 burdend yoke from which even here i slip my weary head and leave the burden of it all on thee farewell yorks wife and queen of sad mischance these english woes shall make me smile in france queen elizabeth o thou well skilld in curses stay awhile and teach me how to curse mine enemies queen margaret forbear to sleep the nights and fast the days compare dead happiness with living woe think that thy babes were sweeter than they were and he that slew them fouler than he is bettring thy loss makes the bad causer worse revolving this will teach thee how to curse queen elizabeth my words are dull o quicken them with thine queen margaret thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine exit duchess why should calamity be fun of words queen elizabeth windy attorneys to their client woes airy succeeders of intestate joys poor breathing orators of miseries let them have scope though what they will impart help nothing else yet do they case the heart duchess if so then be not tongue tied go with me and in the breath of bitter words lets smother my damned son that thy two sweet sons smotherd the trumpet sounds be copious in exclaims enter king richard and his train marching with drums and trumpets king richard who intercepts me in my expedition duchess o she that might have intercepted thee by strangling thee in her accursed womb from all the slaughters wretch that thou hast done queen elizabeth hidest thou that forehead with a golden crown wheret should be branded if that right were right the slaughter of the prince that owd that crown and the dire death of my poor sons and brothers tell me thou villain slave where are my children duchess thou toad thou toad where is thy brother clarence and little ned plantagenet his son queen elizabeth where is the gentle rivers vaughan grey duchess where is kind hastings king richard a flourish trumpets strike alarum drums let not the heavens hear these tell tale women rail on the lords anointed strike i say flourish alarums either be patient and entreat me fair or with the clamorous report of war thus will i drown your exclamations duchess art thou my son king richard ay i thank god my father and yourself duchess then patiently hear my impatience king richard madam i have a touch of your condition that cannot brook the accent of reproof duchess o let me speak king richard do then but ill not hear duchess i will be mild and gentle in my words king richard and brief good mother for i am in haste duchess art thou so hasty i have stayd for thee god knows in torment and in agony king richard and came i not at last to comfort you duchess no by the holy rood thou knowst it well thou camst 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 desprate wild and furious thy prime of manhood daring bold and venturous thy age confirmd proud subtle sly and bloody more mild but yet more harmful kind in hatred what comfortable hour canst thou name that ever gracd me with thy company king richard faith none but humphrey hour that calld 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 duchess i prithee hear me speak king richard you speak too bitterly duchess hear me a word for i shall never speak to thee again king richard so duchess either thou wilt die by gods just ordinance ere from this war thou turn a conqueror or i with grief and extreme age shall perish and never more behold 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 wearst my prayers on the adverse party fight and there the little souls of edwards 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 exit queen elizabeth though far more cause yet much less spirit to curse abides in me i say amen to her king richard stay madam i must talk a word with you queen elizabeth 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 king richard you have a daughter calld elizabeth virtuous and fair royal and gracious queen elizabeth and must she die for this o let her live and ill corrupt her manners stain her beauty slander myself as false to edwards bed throw over her the veil of infamy so she may live unscarrd of bleeding slaughter i will confess she was not edwards daughter king richard wrong not her birth she is a royal princess queen elizabeth to save her life ill say she is not so king richard her life is safest only in her birth queen elizabeth and only in that safety died her brothers king richard lo at their birth good stars were opposite queen elizabeth no to their lives ill friends were contrary king richard all unavoided is the doom of destiny queen elizabeth true when avoided grace makes destiny my babes were destind to a fairer death if grace had blessd thee with a fairer life king richard you speak as if that i had slain my cousins queen elizabeth cousins indeed and by their uncle cozend of comfort kingdom kindred freedom life whose hand soever lancd their tender hearts thy head an indirectly gave direction no doubt the murdrous knife was dull and blunt till it was whetted on thy stone hard heart to revel in the entrails of my lambs but that stiff use of grief makes wild grief tame my tongue should to thy ears not name my boys till that my nails were anchord in thine eyes and i in such a desprate bay of death like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom king richard 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 harmd queen elizabeth what good is coverd with the face of heaven to be discoverd that can do me good king richard advancement of your children gentle lady queen elizabeth up to some scaffold there to lose their heads king richard unto the dignity and height of fortune the high imperial type of this earths glory queen elizabeth flatter my sorrow with report of it tell me what state what dignity what honour canst thou demise to any child of mine king richard 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 queen elizabeth be brief lest that the process of thy kindness last longer telling than thy kindness date king richard then know that from my soul i love thy daughter queen elizabeth my daughters mother thinks it with her soul king richard what do you think queen elizabeth that thou dost love my daughter from thy soul so from thy souls love didst thou love her brothers and from my hearts love i do thank thee for it king richard be not so hasty to confound my meaning i mean that with my soul i love thy daughter and do intend to make her queen of england queen elizabeth well then who dost thou mean shall be her king king richard even he that makes her queen who else should be queen elizabeth what thou king richard even so how think you of it queen elizabeth how canst thou woo her king richard that would i learn of you as one being best acquainted with her humour queen elizabeth and wilt thou learn of me king richard madam with all my heart queen elizabeth 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 sometimes margaret did to thy father steepd in rutlands blood a handkerchief which say to her did drain the purple sap from her sweet brothers 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 madst away her uncle clarence her uncle rivers ay and for her sake madst quick conveyance with her good aunt anne king richard you mock me madam this is not the way to win your daughter queen elizabeth there is no other way unless thou couldst put on some other shape and not be richard that hath done all this king richard say that i did all this for love of her queen elizabeth nay then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee having bought love with such a bloody spoil king richard look what is done cannot be now amended men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes which after hours gives leisure to repent if i did take the kingdom from your sons to make amends ill give it to your daughter if i have killd the issue of your womb to quicken your increase i will beget mine issue of your blood upon your daughter a grandams name is little less in love than is the doating title of a mother they are as children but one step below even of your metal of your very blood of all one pain save for a night of groans endurd 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 can 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 repaird 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 transformd 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 wooers tale put in her tender heart th aspiring flame of golden sovereignty acquaint the princes with the sweet silent hours of marriage joys and when this arm of mine hath chastised the petty rebel dull braind buckingham bound with triumphant garlands will i come and lead thy daughter to a conquerors bed to whom i will retail my conquest won and she shall be sole victoress caesars caesar queen elizabeth what were i best to say her fathers 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 king richard infer fair englands peace by this alliance queen elizabeth which she shall purchase with still lasting war king richard tell her the king that may command entreats queen elizabeth that at her hands which the kings king forbids king richard say she shall be a high and mighty queen queen elizabeth to wail the title as her mother doth king richard say i will love her everlastingly queen elizabeth but how long shall that title ever last king richard sweetly in force unto her fair lifes end queen elizabeth but how long fairly shall her sweet life last king richard as long as heaven and nature lengthens it queen elizabeth as long as hell and richard likes of it king richard say i her sovereign am her subject low queen elizabeth but she your subject loathes such sovereignty king richard be eloquent in my behalf to her queen elizabeth an honest tale speeds best being plainly told king richard then plainly to her tell my loving tale queen elizabeth plain and not honest is too harsh a style king richard your reasons are too shallow and too quick queen elizabeth o no my reasons are too deep and dead too deep and dead poor infants in their graves king richard harp not on that string madam that is past queen elizabeth harp on it still shall i till heartstrings break king richard now by my george my garter and my crown queen elizabeth profand dishonourd and the third usurpd king richard i swear queen elizabeth by nothing for this is no oath thy george profand hath lost his lordly honour thy garter blemishd pawnd his knightly virtue thy crown usurpd disgracd his kingly glory if something thou wouldst swear to be believd swear then by something that thou hast not wrongd king richard then by my self queen elizabeth thy self is self misusd king richard now by the world queen elizabeth tis full of thy foul wrongs king richard my fathers death queen elizabeth thy life hath it dishonourd king richard why then by god queen elizabeth gods wrong is most of all if thou didst fear to break an oath with him the unity the king my husband made thou hadst not broken nor my brothers died if thou hadst feard to break an oath by him th imperial metal circling now thy head had gracd the tender temples of my child and both the princes had been breathing here which now two tender bedfellows for dust thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms what canst thou swear by now king richard the time to come queen elizabeth that thou hast wronged in the time oerpast for i myself have many tears to wash hereafter time for time past wrongd by thee the children live whose fathers thou hast slaughterd ungovernd youth to wail it in their age the parents live whose children thou hast butcheed old barren plants to wail it with their age swear not by time to come for that thou hast misusd ere usd by times ill usd oerpast king richard 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 dear hearts 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 queen elizabeth shall i be tempted of the devil thus king richard ay if the devil tempt you to do good queen elizabeth shall i forget myself to be myself king richard ay if your selfs remembrance wrong yourself queen elizabeth yet thou didst kill my children king richard but in your daughters womb i bury them where in that nest of spicery they will breed selves of themselves to your recomforture queen elizabeth shall i go win my daughter to thy will king richard and be a happy mother by the deed queen elizabeth i go write to me very shortly and you shall understand from me her mind king richard bear her my true loves kiss and so farewell kissing her exit queen elizabeth relenting fool and shallow changing woman enter ratcliff catesby following how now what news ratcliff most mighty sovereign on the western coast rideth a puissant navy to our shores throng many doubtful hollow hearted friends unarmd and unresolvd 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 king richard some light foot friend post to the duke of norfolk ratcliff thyself or catesby where is he catesby here my good lord king richard catesby fly to the duke catesby i will my lord with all convenient haste king richard ratcliff come hither post to salisbury when thou comst thither to catesby dull unmindfull villain why stayst thou here and gost not to the duke catesby first mighty liege tell me your highness pleasure what from your grace i shall deliver to him king richard o true good catesby bid him levy straight the greatest strength and power that he can make and meet me suddenly at salisbury catesby i go exit ratcliff what may it please you shall i do at salisbury king richard why what wouldst thou do there before i go ratcliff your highness told me i should post before king richard my mind is changd enter lord stanley stanley what news with you stanley none good my liege to please you with the hearing nor none so bad but well may be reported king richard hoyday a riddle neither good nor bad what needst thou run so many miles about when thou mayest tell thy tale the nearest way once more what news stanley richmond is on the seas king richard there let him sink and be the seas on him white liverd runagate what doth he there stanley i know not mighty sovereign but by guess king richard well as you guess stanley stirrd up by dorset buckingham and morton he makes for england here to claim the crown king richard is the chair empty is the sword unswayd is the king dead the empire unpossessd what heir of york is there alive but we and who is englands king but great yorks heir then tell me what makes he upon the seas stanley unless for that my liege i cannot guess king richard 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 stanley no my good lord therefore mistrust me not king richard 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 stanley no my good lord my friends are in the north king richard cold friends to me what do they in the north when they should serve their sovereign in the west stanley they have not been commanded mighty king pleaseth your majesty to give me leave ill muster up my friends and meet your grace where and what time your majesty shall please king richard ay ay thou wouldst be gone to join with richmond but ill not trust thee stanley most mighty sovereign you have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful i never was nor never will be false king richard go then and muster men but leave behind your son george stanley look your heart be firm or else his heads assurance is but frail stanley so deal with him as i prove true to you exit enter a messenger messenger my gracious sovereign now in devonshire as i by friends am well advertised sir edward courtney and the haughty prelate bishop of exeter his elder brother with many moe confederates are in arms enter another messenger second messenger in kent my liege the guilfords are in arms and every hour more competitors flock to the rebels and their power grows strong enter another messenger third messenger my lord the army of great buckingham king richard out on you owls nothing but songs of death he strikes him there take thou that till thou bring better news third messenger the news i have to tell your majesty is that by sudden floods and fall of waters buckinghams army is dispersd and scatterd and he himself wandred away alone no man knows whither king richard i cry thee mercy there is my purse to cure that blow of thine hath any well advised friend proclaimd reward to him that brings the traitor in third messenger such proclamation hath been made my lord enter another messenger fourth messenger sir thomas lovel and lord marquis dorset tis said my liege in yorkshire are in arms but this good comfort bring i to your highness the britaine navy is dispersd 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 answerd him they came from buckingham upon his party he mistrusting them hoisd sail and made his course again for britaine king richard 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 re enter catesby catesby 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 tidings yet they must be told king richard 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 flourish exeunt scene lord derbys house enter stanley and sir christopher urswick stanley sir christopher tell richmond this from me that in the sty of the most deadly boar my son george stanley is frankd up in hold if i revolt off goes young georges 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 christopher at pembroke or at harford west in wales stanley what men of name resort to him christopher 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 stanley well hie thee to thy lord i kiss his hand my letter will resolve him of my mind farewell exeunt act v scene salisbury an open place enter the sheriff and guard with buckingham led to execution buckingham will not king richard let me speak with him sheriff no my good lord therefore be patient buckingham hastings and edwards 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 fellow is it not sheriff it is my lord buckingham why then all souls day is my bodys doomsday this is the day which in king edwards time i wishd might fall on me when i was found false to his children and his wifes allies this is the day wherein i wishd to fall by the false faith of him whom most i trusted this this all souls day to my fearful soul is the determind respite of my wrongs that high all seer which i dallied with hath turnd my feigned prayer on my head and given in earnest what i beggd in jest thus doth he force the swords of wicked men to turn their own points in their masters bosoms thus margarets 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 exeunt scene camp near tamworth enter richmond oxford sir james blunt sir walter herbert and others with drum and colours richmond fellows in arms and my most loving friends bruisd underneath the yoke of tyranny thus far into the bowels of the land have we marchd on without impediment and here receive we from our father stanley lines of fair comfort and encouragement the wretched bloody and usurping boar that spoild your summer fields and fruitful vines swills your warm blood like wash and makes his trough in your embowelld 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 days march in gods name cheerly on courageous friends to reap the harvest of perpetual peace by this one bloody trial of sharp war oxford every mans conscience is a thousand men to fight against this guilty homicide herbert i doubt not but his friends will turn to us blunt he hath no friends but what are friends for fear which in his dearest need will fly from him richmond all for our vantage then in gods name march true hope is swift and flies with swallows wings kings it makes gods and meaner creatures kings exeunt scene bosworth field enter king richard in arms with norfolk ratcliff the earl of surreys and others king richard here pitch our tent even here in bosworth field my lord of surrey why look you so sad surrey my heart is ten times lighter than my looks king richard my lord of norfolk norfolk here most gracious liege king richard norfolk we must have knocks ha must we not norfolk we must both give and take my loving lord king richard up with my tent here will i lie to night soldiers begin to set up the kings tent but where to morrow well alls one for that who hath descried the number of the traitors norfolk six or seven thousand is their utmost power king richard why our battalia trebles that account besides the kings 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 lets lack no discipline make no delay for lords to morrow is a busy day exeunt enter on the other side of the field richmond sir william brandon oxford dorset and others some pitch richmonds tent richmond the weary sun hath made a golden set and by the bright tract 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 ill 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 quarterd do you know blunt unless i have mistaen his colours much which well i am assurd i have not done his regiment lies half a mile at least south from the mighty power of the king richmond if without peril it be possible sweet blunt make some good means to speak with him and give him from me this most needful note blunt upon my life my lord ill undertake it and so god give you quiet rest to night richmond good night good captain blunt come gentlemen let us consult upon to morrows business in to my tent the dew is raw and cold they withdraw into the tent enter to his tent king richard norfolk ratcliff and catesby king richard what ist oclock catesby its supper time my lord its nine oclock king richard 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 catesby it is my liege and all things are in readiness king richard good norfolk hie thee to thy charge use careful watch choose trusty sentinels norfolk i go my lord king richard stir with the lark to morrow gentle norfolk norfolk i warrant you my lord exit king richard catesby catesby my lord king richard send out a pursuivant at arms to stanleys regiment bid him bring his power before sunrising lest his son george fall into the blind cave of eternal night exit catesby 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 ratcliff my lord king richard sawst thou the melancholy lord northumberland ratcliff thomas the earl of surrey and himself much about cock shut time from troop to troop went through the army cheering up the soldiers king richard 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 ratcliff it is my lord king richard 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 exit ratcliff richard sleeps enter derby to richmond in his tent lords attending derby fortune and victory sit on thy helm richmond all comfort that the dark night can afford be to thy person noble father in law tell me how fares our loving mother derby i by attorney bless thee from thy mother who prays continually for richmonds 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 fathers sight farewell the leisure and the fearful time cuts off the ceremonious vows of love and ample interchange of sweet discourse which so long sundred friends should dwell upon god give us leisure for these rites of love once more adieu be valiant and speed well richmond good lords conduct him to his regiment ill 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 exeunt all but richmond 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 the 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 sleeps enter the ghost of young prince edward son to henry the sixth ghost to richard let me sit heavy on thy soul to morrow think how thou stabbdst me in my prime of youth at tewksbury despair therefore and die to richmond be cheerful richmond for the wronged souls of butcherd princes fight in thy behalf king henrys issue richmond comforts thee enter the ghost of henry the sixth ghost to richard when i was mortal my anointed body by thee was punched full of deadly holes think on the tower and me despair and die harry the sixth bids thee despair and die to richmond virtuous and holy be thou conqueror harry that prophesied thou shouldst be king doth comfort thee in thy sleep live and flourish enter the ghost of clarence ghost to richard let me sit heavy in thy soul to morrow i that was washd to death with fulsome wine poor clarence by thy guile betrayd to death to morrow in the battle think on me and fall thy edgeless sword despair and die to richmond thou offspring of the house of lancaster the wronged heirs of york do pray for thee good angels guard thy battle live and flourish enter the ghosts of rivers grey and vaughan ghost of rivers to richard let me sit heavy in thy soul to morrow rivers that died at pomfret despair and die ghost of grey to richard think upon grey and let thy soul despair ghost of vaughan to richard think upon vaughan and with guilty fear let fall thy lance despair and die all to richmond awake and think our wrongs in richards bosom will conquer him awake and win the day enter the ghost of hastings ghost to richard bloody and guilty guiltily awake and in a bloody battle end thy days think on lord hastings despair and die to richmond quiet untroubled soul awake awake arm fight and conquer for fair englands sake enter the ghosts of the two young princes ghosts to richard dream on thy cousins smothered 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 to richmond sleep richmond sleep in peace and wake in joy good angels guard thee from the boars annoy live and beget a happy race of kings edwards unhappy sons do bid thee flourish enter the ghost of lady anne his wife ghost to richard 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 to richmond thou quiet soul sleep thou a quiet sleep dream of success and happy victory thy adversarys wife doth pray for thee enter the ghost of buckingham ghost to richard the first was i that helpd 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 to richmond i died for hope ere i could lend thee aid but cheer thy heart and be thou not dismayd god and good angels fight on richmonds side and richard falls in height of all his pride the ghosts vanish richard starts out of his dream king richard 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 theres 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 highst degree murder stern murder in the dirst degree all several sins all usd 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 and wherefore should they since that i myself find in myself no pity to myself methought the souls of all that i had murderd came to my tent and every one did threat to morrows vengeance on the head of richard enter ratcliff ratcliff my lord king richard zounds who is there ratcliff 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 king richard o ratcliff i have dreamd a fearful dream what thinkst thou will our friends prove all true ratcliff no doubt my lord king richard o ratcliff i fear i fear ratcliff nay good my lord be not afraid of shadows king richard by the apostle paul shadows to night have stuck more terror to the soul of richard than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers armed in proof and led by shallow richmond tis not yet near day come go with me under our tents ill play the eaves dropper to see if any mean to shrink from me exeunt enter the lords to richmond sitting in his tent lords good morrow richmond richmond cry mercy lords and watchful gentlemen that you have taen a tardy sluggard here lords how have you slept my lord richmond the sweetest sleep and fairest boding dreams that ever entred in a drowsy head have i since your departure had my lords methought their souls whose bodies richard murderd came to my tent and cried on victory i promise you my soul is very jocund in the remembrance of so fair a dream how far into the morning is it lords lords upon the stroke of four richmond 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 upon yet remember this god and our good cause fight upon our side the prayers of holy saints and wronged souls like high reard 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 raisd in blood and one in blood establishd one that made means to come by what he hath and slaughtered those that were the means to help him a base foul stone made precious by the foil of englands chair where he is falsely set one that hath ever been gods enemy then if you fight against gods 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 countrys foes your countrys foes 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 childrens children quits 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 corpse on the earths cold face but if i thrive the gain of my attempt the least of you shall share his part thereof sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully god and saint george richmond and victory exeunt re enter king richard ratcliff attendants and forces king richard what said northumberland as touching richmond ratcliff that he was never trained up in arms king richard he said the truth and what said surrey then ratcliff he smild and said the better for our purpose king he was in the right and so indeed it is clock strikes tell the clock there give me a calendar who saw the sun to day ratcliff not i my lord king richard then he disdains to shine for by the book he should have bravd the east an hour ago a black day will it be to somebody ratcliff ratcliff my lord king richard the sun will not be seen to day the sky doth frown and lour 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 selfsame heaven that frowns on me looks sadly upon him enter norfolk norfolk arm arm my lord the foe vaunts in the field king richard 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 thinkst thou norfolk norfolk a good direction warlike sovereign this found i on my tent this morning he sheweth him a paper king richard reads jockey of norfolk be not so bold for dickon thy master is bought and sold a thing devised by the enemy go gentlemen every man unto his charge let not our babbling dreams affright our souls conscience is but a word that cowards use devisd at first to keep the strong in awe our strong arms be our conscience swords our law march on join bravely let us to it 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 inferrd remember whom you are to cope withal a sort of vagabonds rascals and runaways a scum of britaines and base lackey peasants whom their oer cloyed country vomits forth to desperate adventures and assurd destruction you sleeping safe they bring to you unrest you having lands and blessd 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 mothers cost a milk sop one that never in his life felt so much cold as over shoes in snow lets whip these stragglers oer the seas again lash hence these over weening rags of france these famishd beggars weary of their lives who but for dreaming on this fond exploit for want of means poor rats had hangd themselves if we be conquered let men conquer us and not these bastard britaines whom our fathers have in their own land beaten bobbd and thumpd and in record left them the heirs of shame shall these enjoy our lands lie with our wives ravish our daughters drum afar off 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 enter a messenger what says lord stanley will he bring his power messenger my lord he doth deny to come king richard off with his son georges head norfolk my lord the enemy is passd the marsh after the battle let george stanley die king richard 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 on our helms exeunt scene another part of the field alarum excursions enter norfolk and forces to him catesby catesby 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 alarums enter king richard king richard a horse a horse my kingdom for a horse catesby withdraw my lord ill help you to a horse king richard 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 exeunt scene another part of the field alarum enter richard and richmond they fight richard is slain retreat and flourish enter richmond derby bearing the crown with other lords richmond god and your arms be praisd victorious friends the day is ours the bloody dog is dead derby courageous richmond well hast thou acquit thee lo here this long usurped royalty from the dead temples of this bloody wretch have i pluckd off to grace thy brows withal wear it enjoy it and make much of it richmond great god of heaven say amen to all but tell me is young george stanley living derby he is my lord and safe in leicester town whither if it please you we may now withdraw us richmond what men of name are slain on either side derby john duke of norfolk walter lord ferrers sir robert brakenbury and sir william brandon richmond inter their bodies as becomes their births proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled that in submission will return to us and then as we have taen the sacrament we will unite the white rose and the red smile heaven upon this fair conjunction that long have frownd upon their emnity what traitor hears me and says not amen england hath long been mad and scarrd herself the brother blindly shed the brothers blood the father rashly slaughterd his own son the son compelld 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 gods fair ordinance conjoin together and let their heirs god if thy will be so enrich the time to come with smooth facd 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 lands increase that would with treason wound this fair lands peace now civil wounds are stoppd peace lives again that she may long live here god say amen exeunt the end the tragedy of romeo and juliet by william shakespeare contents the prologue act i scene i a public place scene ii a street scene iii room in capulets house scene iv a street scene v a hall in capulets house act ii chorus scene i an open place adjoining capulets garden scene ii capulets garden scene iii friar lawrences cell scene iv a street scene v capulets garden scene vi friar lawrences cell act iii scene i a public place scene ii a room in capulets house scene iii friar lawrences cell scene iv a room in capulets house scene v an open gallery to juliets chamber overlooking the garden act iv scene i friar lawrences cell scene ii hall in capulets house scene iii juliets chamber scene iv hall in capulets house scene v juliets chamber juliet on the bed act v scene i mantua a street scene ii friar lawrences cell scene iii a churchyard in it a monument belonging to the capulets dramatis personae escalus prince of verona mercutio kinsman to the prince and friend to romeo paris a young nobleman kinsman to the prince page to paris montague head of a veronese family at feud with the capulets lady montague wife to montague romeo son to montague benvolio nephew to montague and friend to romeo abram servant to montague balthasar servant to romeo capulet head of a veronese family at feud with the montagues lady capulet wife to capulet juliet daughter to capulet tybalt nephew to lady capulet capulets cousin an old man nurse to juliet peter servant to juliets nurse sampson servant to capulet gregory servant to capulet servants friar lawrence a franciscan friar john of the same order an apothecary chorus three musicians an officer citizens of verona several men and women relations to both houses maskers guards watchmen and attendants scene during the greater part of the play in verona once in the fifth act at mantua the prologue enter chorus chorus 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 crossd lovers take their life whose misadventurd piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents strife the fearful passage of their death markd love and the continuance of their parents rage which but their childrens end nought could remove is now the two hours traffic of our stage the which if you with patient ears attend what here shall miss our toil shall strive to mend exit act i scene i a public place enter sampson and gregory armed with swords and bucklers sampson gregory on my word well not carry coals gregory no for then we should be colliers sampson i mean if we be in choler well draw gregory ay while you live draw your neck out o the collar sampson i strike quickly being moved gregory but thou art not quickly moved to strike sampson a dog of the house of montague moves me gregory to move is to stir and to be valiant is to stand therefore if thou art moved thou runnst away sampson a dog of that house shall move me to stand i will take the wall of any man or maid of montagues gregory that shows thee a weak slave for the weakest goes to the wall sampson true and therefore women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall therefore i will push montagues men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall gregory the quarrel is between our masters and us their men sampson tis all one i will show myself a tyrant when i have fought with the men i will be civil with the maids i will cut off their heads gregory the heads of the maids sampson ay the heads of the maids or their maidenheads take it in what sense thou wilt gregory they must take it in sense that feel it sampson me they shall feel while i am able to stand and tis known i am a pretty piece of flesh gregory tis well thou art not fish if thou hadst thou hadst been poor john draw thy tool here comes of the house of montagues enter abram and balthasar sampson my naked weapon is out quarrel i will back thee gregory how turn thy back and run sampson fear me not gregory no marry i fear thee sampson let us take the law of our sides let them begin gregory i will frown as i pass by and let them take it as they list sampson nay as they dare i will bite my thumb at them which is disgrace to them if they bear it abram do you bite your thumb at us sir sampson i do bite my thumb sir abram do you bite your thumb at us sir sampson is the law of our side if i say ay gregory no sampson no sir i do not bite my thumb at you sir but i bite my thumb sir gregory do you quarrel sir abram quarrel sir no sir sampson but if you do sir am for you i serve as good a man as you abram no better sampson well sir enter benvolio gregory say better here comes one of my masters kinsmen sampson yes better sir abram you lie sampson draw if you be men gregory remember thy washing blow they fight benvolio part fools put up your swords you know not what you do beats down their swords enter tybalt tybalt what art thou drawn among these heartless hinds turn thee benvolio look upon thy death benvolio i do but keep the peace put up thy sword or manage it to part these men with me tybalt what drawn and talk of peace i hate the word as i hate hell all montagues and thee have at thee coward they fight enter three or four citizens with clubs first citizen clubs bills and partisans strike beat them down down with the capulets down with the montagues enter capulet in his gown and lady capulet capulet what noise is this give me my long sword ho lady capulet a crutch a crutch why call you for a sword capulet my sword i say old montague is come and flourishes his blade in spite of me enter montague and his lady montague montague thou villain capulet hold me not let me go lady montague thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe enter prince escalus with attendants prince 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 mistemperd 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 disturbd the quiet of our streets and made veronas ancient citizens cast by their grave beseeming ornaments to wield old partisans in hands as old cankerd with peace to part your cankerd 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 farther pleasure in this case to old free town our common judgement place once more on pain of death all men depart exeunt prince and attendants capulet lady capulet tybalt citizens and servants montague who set this ancient quarrel new abroach speak nephew were you by when it began benvolio 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 prepard which as he breathd defiance to my ears he swung about his head and cut the winds who nothing hurt withal hissd 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 lady montague o where is romeo saw you him today right glad i am he was not at this fray benvolio madam an hour before the worshippd sun peerd 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 this city 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 which then most sought where most might not be found being one too many by my weary self pursud my humour not pursuing his and gladly shunnd who gladly fled from me montague many a morning hath he there been seen with tears augmenting the fresh mornings dew adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs but all so soon as the all cheering sun should in the farthest east begin to draw the shady curtains from auroras 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 benvolio my noble uncle do you know the cause montague i neither know it nor can learn of him benvolio have you importund him by any means montague 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 enter romeo benvolio see where he comes so please you step aside ill know his grievance or be much denied montague i would thou wert so happy by thy stay to hear true shrift come madam lets away exeunt montague and lady montague benvolio good morrow cousin romeo is the day so young benvolio but new struck nine romeo ay me sad hours seem long was that my father that went hence so fast benvolio it was what sadness lengthens romeos hours romeo not having that which having makes them short benvolio in love romeo out benvolio of love romeo out of her favour where i am in love benvolio alas that love so gentle in his view should be so tyrannous and rough in proof romeo 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 heres much to do with hate but more with love why then o brawling love o loving hate o anything of nothing first create o heavy lightness serious vanity misshapen 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 benvolio no coz i rather weep romeo good heart at what benvolio at thy good hearts oppression romeo why such is loves transgression griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast which thou wilt propagate to have it prest with more of thine this love that thou hast shown doth add more grief to too much of mine own love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs being purgd a fire sparkling in lovers eyes being vexd a sea nourishd with lovers tears what is it else a madness most discreet a choking gall and a preserving sweet farewell my coz going benvolio soft i will go along and if you leave me so you do me wrong romeo tut i have lost myself i am not here this is not romeo hes some other where benvolio tell me in sadness who is that you love romeo what shall i groan and tell thee benvolio groan why no but sadly tell me who romeo bid a sick man in sadness make his will a word ill urgd to one that is so ill in sadness cousin i do love a woman benvolio i aimd so near when i supposd you lovd romeo a right good markman and shes fair i love benvolio a right fair mark fair coz is soonest hit romeo well in that hit you miss shell not be hit with cupids arrow she hath dians wit and in strong proof of chastity well armd from loves weak childish bow she lives uncharmd she will not stay the siege of loving terms nor bide thencounter of assailing eyes nor ope her lap to saint seducing gold o shes rich in beauty only poor that when she dies with beauty dies her store benvolio then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste romeo she hath and in that sparing makes huge waste for beauty starvd 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 benvolio be ruld by me forget to think of her romeo o teach me how i should forget to think benvolio by giving liberty unto thine eyes examine other beauties romeo tis the way to call hers exquisite in question more these happy masks that kiss fair ladies brows being black puts 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 passd that passing fair farewell thou canst not teach me to forget benvolio ill pay that doctrine or else die in debt exeunt scene ii a street enter capulet paris and servant capulet 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 paris of honourable reckoning are you both and pity tis you livd at odds so long but now my lord what say you to my suit capulet but saying oer 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 paris younger than she are happy mothers made capulet and too soon marrd are those so early made the earth hath swallowed 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 and she agree within her scope of choice lies my consent and fair according voice this night i hold an old accustomd 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 apparelld 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 gives a paper and to them say my house and welcome on their pleasure stay exeunt capulet and paris servant 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 enter benvolio and romeo benvolio tut man one fire burns out anothers burning one pain is lessend by anothers anguish turn giddy and be holp by backward turning one desperate grief cures with anothers languish take thou some new infection to thy eye and the rank poison of the old will die romeo your plantain leaf is excellent for that benvolio for what i pray thee romeo for your broken shin benvolio why romeo art thou mad romeo not mad but bound more than a madman is shut up in prison kept without my food whippd and tormented and god den good fellow servant god gi go den i pray sir can you read romeo ay mine own fortune in my misery servant perhaps you have learned it without book but i pray can you read anything you see romeo ay if i know the letters and the language servant ye say honestly rest you merry romeo stay fellow i can read he reads the letter signior martino and his wife and daughters county anselmo and his beauteous sisters the lady widow of utruvio signior placentio and his lovely nieces mercutio and his brother valentine mine uncle capulet his wife and daughters my fair niece rosaline and livia signior valentio and his cousin tybalt lucio and the lively helena a fair assembly gives back the paper whither should they come servant up romeo whither to supper servant to our house romeo whose house servant my masters romeo indeed i should have askd you that before servant now ill 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 exit benvolio at this same ancient feast of capulets sups the fair rosaline whom thou so lovst 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 romeo when the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood then turn tears to fire and these who often drownd could never die transparent heretics be burnt for liars one fairer than my love the all seeing sun neer saw her match since first the world begun benvolio tut you saw her fair none else being by herself poisd with herself in either eye but in that crystal scales let there be weighd your ladys love against some other maid that i will show you shining at this feast and she shall scant show well that now shows best romeo ill go along no such sight to be shown but to rejoice in splendour of my own exeunt scene iii room in capulets house enter lady capulet and nurse lady capulet nurse wheres my daughter call her forth to me nurse now by my maidenhead at twelve year old i bade her come what lamb what ladybird god forbid wheres this girl what juliet enter juliet juliet how now who calls nurse your mother juliet madam i am here what is your will lady capulet this is the matter nurse give leave awhile we must talk in secret nurse come back again i have rememberd me thous hear our counsel thou knowest my daughters of a pretty age nurse faith i can tell her age unto an hour lady capulet shes not fourteen nurse ill 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 lady capulet a fortnight and odd days nurse 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 weand 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 dovehouse 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 dovehouse twas no need i trow to bid me trudge and since that time it is eleven years for then she could stand alone nay by throod 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 holidame the pretty wretch left crying and said ay to see now how a jest shall come about i warrant and 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 lady capulet enough of this i pray thee hold thy peace nurse yes madam yet i cannot choose but laugh to think it should leave crying and say ay and yet i warrant it had upon it brow a bump as big as a young cockerels stone a perilous knock and it cried bitterly yea quoth my husband fallst upon thy face thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age wilt thou not jule it stinted and said ay juliet and stint thou too i pray thee nurse say i nurse peace i have done god mark thee to his grace thou wast the prettiest babe that eer i nursd and i might live to see thee married once i have my wish lady capulet marry that marry is the very theme i came to talk of tell me daughter juliet how stands your disposition to be married juliet it is an honour that i dream not of nurse an honour were not i thine only nurse i would say thou hadst suckd wisdom from thy teat lady capulet 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 nurse a man young lady lady such a man as all the world why hes a man of wax lady capulet veronas summer hath not such a flower nurse nay hes a flower in faith a very flower lady capulet what say you can you love the gentleman this night you shall behold him at our feast read oer the volume of young paris face and find delight writ there with beautys pen examine every married lineament and see how one another lends content and what obscurd 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 manys 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 nurse no less nay bigger women grow by men lady capulet speak briefly can you like of paris love juliet ill 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 enter a servant servant 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 lady capulet we follow thee exit servant juliet the county stays nurse go girl seek happy nights to happy days exeunt scene iv a street enter romeo mercutio benvolio with five or six maskers torch bearers and others romeo what shall this speech be spoke for our excuse or shall we on without apology benvolio the date is out of such prolixity well have no cupid hoodwinkd with a scarf bearing a tartars 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 well measure them a measure and be gone romeo give me a torch i am not for this ambling being but heavy i will bear the light mercutio nay gentle romeo we must have you dance romeo 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 mercutio you are a lover borrow cupids wings and soar with them above a common bound romeo 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 loves heavy burden do i sink mercutio and to sink in it should you burden love too great oppression for a tender thing romeo is love a tender thing it is too rough too rude too boisterous and it pricks like thorn mercutio 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 putting on a mask a visor for a visor what care i what curious eye doth quote deformities here are the beetle brows shall blush for me benvolio come knock and enter and no sooner in but every man betake him to his legs romeo a torch for me let wantons light of heart tickle the senseless rushes with their heels for i am proverbd with a grandsire phrase ill be a candle holder and look on the game was neer so fair and i am done mercutio tut duns the mouse the constables own word if thou art dun well draw thee from the mire or save your reverence love wherein thou stickest up to the ears come we burn daylight ho romeo nay thats not so mercutio i mean sir in delay we waste our lights in vain light lights by day take our good meaning for our judgment sits five times in that ere once in our five wits romeo and we mean well in going to this mask but tis no wit to go mercutio why may one ask romeo i dreamt a dream tonight mercutio and so did i romeo well what was yours mercutio that dreamers often lie romeo in bed asleep while they do dream things true mercutio o then i see queen mab hath been with you 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 over mens noses as they lie asleep her waggon spokes made of long spinners legs the cover of the wings of grasshoppers her traces of the smallest spiders web the collars of the moonshines watery beams her whip of crickets bone the lash of film her waggoner a small grey coated gnat not half so big as a round little worm prickd from the lazy finger of a maid her chariot is an empty hazelnut made by the joiner squirrel or old grub time out o mind the fairies coachmakers and in this state she gallops night by night through lovers brains and then they dream of love oer courtiers knees that dream on curtsies straight oer lawyers fingers who straight dream on fees oer ladies lips who straight on kisses dream which oft the angry mab with blisters plagues because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are sometime she gallops oer a courtiers nose and then dreams he of smelling out a suit and sometime comes she with a tithe pigs tail tickling a parsons nose as a lies asleep then dreams he of another benefice sometime she driveth oer a soldiers neck and then dreams he of cutting foreign throats of breaches ambuscados spanish blades 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 romeo peace peace mercutio peace thou talkst of nothing mercutio 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 wooes even now the frozen bosom of the north and being angerd puffs away from thence turning his side to the dew dropping south benvolio this wind you talk of blows us from ourselves supper is done and we shall come too late romeo i fear too early for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this nights revels and expire the term of a despised life closd in my breast by some vile forfeit of untimely death but he that hath the steerage of my course direct my suit on lusty gentlemen benvolio strike drum exeunt scene v a hall in capulets house musicians waiting enter servants first servant wheres potpan that he helps not to take away he shift a trencher he scrape a trencher second servant when good manners shall lie all in one or two mens hands and they unwashd too tis a foul thing first servant away with the join stools remove the court cupboard look to the plate good thou save me a piece of marchpane and as thou loves me let the porter let in susan grindstone and nell antony and potpan second servant ay boy ready first servant you are looked for and called for asked for and sought for in the great chamber second servant we cannot be here and there too cheerly boys be brisk awhile and the longer liver take all exeunt enter capulet etc with the guests and gentlewomen to the maskers capulet welcome gentlemen ladies that have their toes unplagud with corns will have a bout with you ah my mistresses which of you all will now deny to dance she that makes dainty she ill 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 ladys 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 music plays and they dance more light you knaves and turn the tables up and quench the fire the room is grown too hot ah sirrah this unlookd for sport comes well nay sit nay sit good cousin capulet for you and i are past our dancing days how long ist now since last yourself and i were in a mask capulets cousin byr lady thirty years capulet 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 maskd capulets cousin tis more tis more his son is elder sir his son is thirty capulet will you tell me that his son was but a ward two years ago romeo what lady is that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight servant i know not sir romeo o she doth teach the torches to burn bright it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night as a rich jewel in an ethiops ear beauty too rich for use for earth too dear so shows a snowy dove trooping with crows as yonder lady oer her fellows shows the measure done ill watch her place of stand and touching hers make blessed my rude hand did my heart love till now forswear it sight for i neer saw true beauty till this night tybalt this by his voice should be a montague fetch me my rapier boy what dares the slave come hither coverd with an antic 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 capulet why how now kinsman wherefore storm you so tybalt uncle this is a montague our foe a villain that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night capulet young romeo is it tybalt tis he that villain romeo capulet content thee gentle coz let him alone a bears him like a portly gentleman and to say truth verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well governd youth i would not for the wealth of all the 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 tybalt it fits when such a villain is a guest ill not endure him capulet he shall be endurd what goodman boy i say he shall go to am i the master here or you go to youll not endure him god shall mend my soul youll make a mutiny among my guests you will set cock a hoop youll be the man tybalt why uncle tis a shame capulet go to go to you are a saucy boy ist 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 ill make you quiet what cheerly my hearts tybalt 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 exit romeo to juliet 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 tender kiss juliet 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 romeo have not saints lips and holy palmers too juliet ay pilgrim lips that they must use in prayer romeo o then dear saint let lips do what hands do they pray grant thou lest faith turn to despair juliet saints do not move though grant for prayers sake romeo then move not while my prayers effect i take thus from my lips by thine my sin is purgd kissing her juliet then have my lips the sin that they have took romeo sin from my lips o trespass sweetly urgd give me my sin again juliet you kiss by the book nurse madam your mother craves a word with you romeo what is her mother nurse marry bachelor her mother is the lady of the house and a good lady and a wise and virtuous i nursd her daughter that you talkd withal i tell you he that can lay hold of her shall have the chinks romeo is she a capulet o dear account my life is my foes debt benvolio away be gone the sport is at the best romeo ay so i fear the more is my unrest capulet nay gentlemen prepare not to be gone we have a trifling foolish banquet towards is it een so why then i thank you all i thank you honest gentlemen good night more torches here come on then lets to bed ah sirrah by my fay it waxes late ill to my rest exeunt all but juliet and nurse juliet come hither nurse what is yond gentleman nurse the son and heir of old tiberio juliet whats he that now is going out of door nurse marry that i think be young petruchio juliet whats he that follows here that would not dance nurse i know not juliet go ask his name if he be married my grave is like to be my wedding bed nurse his name is romeo and a montague the only son of your great enemy juliet 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 nurse whats this whats this juliet a rhyme i learnd even now of one i dancd withal one calls within juliet nurse anon anon come lets away the strangers all are gone exeunt act ii enter chorus chorus now old desire doth in his deathbed lie and young affection gapes to be his heir that fair for which love groand for and would die with tender juliet matchd is now not fair now romeo is belovd and loves again alike bewitched by the charm of looks but to his foe supposd he must complain and she steal loves sweet bait from fearful hooks being held a foe he may not have access to breathe such vows as lovers use to swear and she as much in love her means much less to meet her new beloved anywhere but passion lends them power time means to meet tempering extremities with extreme sweet exit scene i an open place adjoining capulets garden enter romeo romeo can i go forward when my heart is here turn back dull earth and find thy centre out he climbs the wall and leaps down within it enter benvolio and mercutio benvolio romeo my cousin romeo romeo mercutio he is wise and on my life hath stoln him home to bed benvolio he ran this way and leapd this orchard wall call good mercutio mercutio nay ill conjure too romeo humours madman passion lover appear thou in the likeness of a sigh speak but one rhyme and i am satisfied cry but ah me pronounce but love and dove speak to my gossip venus one fair word one nickname for her purblind son and heir young abraham cupid he that shot so trim when king cophetua lovd 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 rosalines 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 benvolio an if he hear thee thou wilt anger him mercutio 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 conjurd 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 benvolio come he hath hid himself among these trees to be consorted with the humorous night blind is his love and best befits the dark mercutio 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 arse and thou a poperin pear romeo good night ill to my truckle bed this field bed is too cold for me to sleep come shall we go benvolio go then for tis in vain to seek him here that means not to be found exeunt scene ii capulets garden enter romeo romeo he jests at scars that never felt a wound juliet appears above at a window 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 juliet ay me romeo she speaks o speak again bright angel for thou art as glorious to this night being oer my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white upturned wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air juliet 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 ill no longer be a capulet romeo aside shall i hear more or shall i speak at this juliet tis but thy name that is my enemy thou art thyself though not a montague whats montague it is nor hand nor foot nor arm nor face nor any other part belonging to a man o be some other name whats in a name that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet so romeo would were he not romeo calld retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title romeo doff thy name and for thy name which is no part of thee take all myself romeo i take thee at thy word call me but love and ill be new baptisd henceforth i never will be romeo juliet what man art thou that thus bescreend in night so stumblest on my counsel romeo by a name i know not how to tell 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 juliet my ears have yet not drunk a hundred words of thy tongues utterance yet i know the sound art thou not romeo and a montague romeo neither fair maid if either thee dislike juliet how camst 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 romeo with loves light wings did i oerperch 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 juliet if they do see thee they will murder thee romeo alack there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords look thou but sweet and i am proof against their enmity juliet i would not for the world they saw thee here romeo i have nights 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 juliet by whose direction foundst thou out this place romeo by love that first did prompt me to enquire he lent me counsel and i lent him eyes i am no pilot yet wert thou as far as that vast shore washd with the farthest sea i should adventure for such merchandise juliet thou knowest the mask of night is on my face else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek for that which thou hast heard me speak tonight 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 swearst thou mayst prove false at lovers perjuries they say jove laughs o gentle romeo if thou dost love pronounce it faithfully or if thou thinkest i am too quickly won ill 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 ill prove more true than those that have more cunning to be strange i should have been more strange i must confess but that thou overheardst ere i was ware my true love passion therefore pardon me and not impute this yielding to light love which the dark night hath so discovered romeo lady by yonder blessed moon i vow that tips with silver all these fruit tree tops juliet o swear not by the moon thinconstant moon that monthly changes in her circled orb lest that thy love prove likewise variable romeo what shall i swear by juliet do not swear at all or if thou wilt swear by thy gracious self which is the god of my idolatry and ill believe thee romeo if my hearts dear love juliet well do not swear although i joy in thee i have no joy of this contract tonight it is too rash too unadvisd 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 summers 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 romeo o wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied juliet what satisfaction canst thou have tonight romeo thexchange of thy loves faithful vow for mine juliet i gave thee mine before thou didst request it and yet i would it were to give again romeo wouldst thou withdraw it for what purpose love juliet 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 nurse calls within anon good nurse sweet montague be true stay but a little i will come again exit romeo o blessed blessed night i am afeard being in night all this is but a dream too flattering sweet to be substantial enter juliet above juliet three words dear romeo and good night indeed if that thy bent of love be honourable thy purpose marriage send me word tomorrow by one that ill procure to come to thee where and what time thou wilt perform the rite and all my fortunes at thy foot ill lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world nurse within madam juliet i come anon but if thou meanest not well i do beseech thee nurse within madam juliet by and by i come to cease thy strife and leave me to my grief tomorrow will i send romeo so thrive my soul juliet a thousand times good night exit romeo a thousand times the worse to want thy light love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books but love from love towards school with heavy looks retiring slowly re enter juliet above juliet hist romeo hist o for a falconers 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 romeos name romeo it is my soul that calls upon my name how silver sweet sound lovers tongues by night like softest music to attending ears juliet romeo romeo my nyas juliet what oclock tomorrow shall i send to thee romeo by the hour of nine juliet i will not fail tis twenty years till then i have forgot why i did call thee back romeo let me stand here till thou remember it juliet i shall forget to have thee still stand there remembering how i love thy company romeo and ill still stay to have thee still forget forgetting any other home but this juliet tis almost morning i would have thee gone and yet no farther than a wantons bird that 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 romeo i would i were thy bird juliet 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 exit romeo sleep dwell upon thine eyes peace in thy breast would i were sleep and peace so sweet to rest the grey eyd morn smiles on the frowning night chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light and darkness fleckled like a drunkard reels from forth days pathway made by titans wheels hence will i to my ghostly sires cell his help to crave and my dear hap to tell exit scene iii friar lawrences cell enter friar lawrence with a basket friar lawrence now ere the sun advance his burning eye the day to cheer and nights dank dew to dry i must upfill this osier cage of ours with baleful weeds and precious juiced flowers the earth thats natures 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 plants herbs stones and their true qualities for naught so vile that on the earth doth live but to the earth some special good doth give nor aught so good but straind from that fair use revolts from true birth stumbling on abuse virtue itself turns vice being misapplied and vice sometimes by action dignified enter romeo 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 kings 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 romeo good morrow father friar lawrence benedicite what early tongue so sweet saluteth me young son it argues a distemperd head so soon to bid good morrow to thy bed care keeps his watch in every old mans eye and where care lodges sleep will never lie but where unbruised youth with unstuffd brain doth couch his limbs there golden sleep doth reign therefore thy earliness doth me assure thou art uprousd with some distemperature or if not so then here i hit it right our romeo hath not been in bed tonight romeo that last is true the sweeter rest was mine friar lawrence god pardon sin wast thou with rosaline romeo with rosaline my ghostly father no i have forgot that name and that names woe friar lawrence thats my good son but where hast thou been then romeo ill tell thee ere thou ask it me again i have been feasting with mine enemy where on a sudden one hath wounded me thats 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 friar lawrence be plain good son and homely in thy drift riddling confession finds but riddling shrift romeo then plainly know my hearts dear love is set on the fair daughter of rich capulet as mine on hers so hers is set on mine and all combind save what thou must combine by holy marriage when and where and how we met we wood and made exchange of vow ill tell thee as we pass but this i pray that thou consent to marry us today friar lawrence holy saint francis what a change is here is rosaline that thou didst love so dear so soon forsaken young mens love then lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes jesu maria what a deal of brine hath washd 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 yet ring in mine ancient ears lo here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit of an old tear that is not washd off yet if ere thou wast thyself and these woes thine thou and these woes were all for rosaline and art thou changd pronounce this sentence then women may fall when theres no strength in men romeo thou chiddst me oft for loving rosaline friar lawrence for doting not for loving pupil mine romeo and badst me bury love friar lawrence not in a grave to lay one in another out to have romeo i pray thee chide me not her i love now doth grace for grace and love for love allow the other did not so friar lawrence o she knew well thy love did read by rote that could not spell but come young waverer come go with me in one respect ill thy assistant be for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households rancour to pure love romeo o let us hence i stand on sudden haste friar lawrence wisely and slow they stumble that run fast exeunt scene iv a street enter benvolio and mercutio mercutio where the devil should this romeo be came he not home tonight benvolio not to his fathers i spoke with his man mercutio why that same pale hard hearted wench that rosaline torments him so that he will sure run mad benvolio tybalt the kinsman to old capulet hath sent a letter to his fathers house mercutio a challenge on my life benvolio romeo will answer it mercutio any man that can write may answer a letter benvolio nay he will answer the letters master how he dares being dared mercutio alas poor romeo he is already dead stabbed with a white wenchs black eye run through the ear with a love song the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow boys butt shaft and is he a man to encounter tybalt benvolio why what is tybalt mercutio more than prince of cats o hes the courageous captain of compliments he fights as you sing prick song keeps time distance and proportion he rests 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 benvolio the what mercutio the pox of such antic lisping affecting phantasies these new tuners of accent 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 pardon mes who stand so much on the new form that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench o their bones their bones enter romeo benvolio here comes romeo here comes romeo mercutio 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 berhyme her dido a dowdy cleopatra a gypsy helen and hero hildings and harlots thisbe a grey eye or so but not to the purpose signior romeo bonjour theres a french salutation to your french slop you gave us the counterfeit fairly last night romeo good morrow to you both what counterfeit did i give you mercutio the slip sir the slip can you not conceive romeo pardon good mercutio my business was great and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy mercutio thats as much as to say such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams romeo meaning to curtsy mercutio thou hast most kindly hit it romeo a most courteous exposition mercutio nay i am the very pink of courtesy romeo pink for flower mercutio right romeo why then is my pump well flowered mercutio sure wit follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out thy pump that when the single sole of it is worn the jest may remain after the wearing solely singular romeo o single soled jest solely singular for the singleness mercutio come between us good benvolio my wits faint romeo swits and spurs swits and spurs or ill cry a match mercutio nay if thy wits run the wild goose chase i am 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 romeo thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast not there for the goose mercutio i will bite thee by the ear for that jest romeo nay good goose bite not mercutio thy wit is a very bitter sweeting it is a most sharp sauce romeo and is it not then well served in to a sweet goose mercutio o heres a wit of cheveril that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad romeo i stretch it out for that word broad which added to the goose proves thee far and wide a broad goose mercutio why is not this better now than groaning for love now art thou sociable now art thou romeo not 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 benvolio stop there stop there mercutio thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair benvolio thou wouldst else have made thy tale large mercutio 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 enter nurse and peter romeo heres goodly gear a sail a sail mercutio two two a shirt and a smock nurse peter peter anon nurse my fan peter mercutio good peter to hide her face for her fans the fairer face nurse god ye good morrow gentlemen mercutio god ye good den fair gentlewoman nurse is it good den mercutio tis no less i tell ye for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon nurse out upon you what a man are you romeo one gentlewoman that god hath made for himself to mar nurse 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 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 nurse you say well mercutio yea is the worst well very well took ifaith wisely wisely nurse if you be he sir i desire some confidence with you benvolio she will endite him to some supper mercutio a bawd a bawd a bawd so ho romeo what hast thou found mercutio no hare sir unless a hare sir in a lenten pie that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent sings 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 fathers well to dinner thither romeo i will follow you mercutio farewell ancient lady farewell lady lady lady exeunt mercutio and benvolio nurse i pray you sir what saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery romeo a gentleman nurse that loves to hear himself talk and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month nurse and a speak anything against me ill take him down and a were lustier than he is and twenty such jacks and if i cannot ill find those that shall scurvy knave i am none of his flirt gills i am none of his skains mates and thou must stand by too and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure peter 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 nurse 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 bid me enquire you out what she bade me say i will keep to myself but first let me tell ye if ye should lead her in a fools 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 romeo nurse commend me to thy lady and mistress i protest unto thee nurse good heart and ifaith i will tell her as much lord lord she will be a joyful woman romeo what wilt thou tell her nurse thou dost not mark me nurse i will tell her sir that you do protest which as i take it is a gentlemanlike offer romeo bid her devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon and there she shall at friar lawrence cell be shrivd and married here is for thy pains nurse no truly sir not a penny romeo go to i say you shall nurse this afternoon sir well she shall be there romeo 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 topgallant of my joy must be my convoy in the secret night farewell be trusty and ill quit thy pains farewell commend me to thy mistress nurse now god in heaven bless thee hark you sir romeo what sayst thou my dear nurse nurse is your man secret did you neer hear say two may keep counsel putting one away romeo i warrant thee my mans as true as steel nurse well sir my mistress is the sweetest lady lord lord when twas a little prating thing o there is 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 ill 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 romeo ay nurse what of that both with an r nurse ah mocker thats the dogs name r is for the no i know it begins with some other letter and she hath the prettiest sententious of it of you and rosemary that it would do you good to hear it romeo commend me to thy lady nurse ay a thousand times peter exit romeo peter anon nurse before and apace exeunt scene v capulets garden enter juliet juliet the clock struck nine when i did send the nurse in half an hour she promised to return perchance she cannot meet him thats not so o she is lame loves heralds should be thoughts which ten times faster glides than the suns beams driving back shadows over lowering hills therefore do nimble piniond doves draw love and therefore hath the wind swift cupid wings now is the sun upon the highmost hill of this days journey and from nine till twelve is three long hours yet she is not come had she affections and warm youthful blood shed 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 enter nurse and peter o god she comes o honey nurse what news hast thou met with him send thy man away nurse peter stay at the gate exit peter juliet now good sweet nurse o lord why lookst thou sad though news be sad yet tell them merrily if good thou shamst the music of sweet news by playing it to me with so sour a face nurse i am aweary give me leave awhile fie how my bones ache what a jaunt have i had juliet i would thou hadst my bones and i thy news nay come i pray thee speak good good nurse speak nurse jesu what haste can you not stay a while do you not see that i am out of breath juliet 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 ill stay the circumstance let me be satisfied ist good or bad nurse 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 mans yet his leg excels all mens 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 ill warrant him as gentle as a lamb go thy ways wench serve god what have you dined at home juliet no no but all this did i know before what says he of our marriage what of that nurse lord how my head aches what a head have i it beats as it would fall in twenty pieces my back o tother side o my back my back beshrew your heart for sending me about to catch my death with jauncing up and down juliet ifaith i am sorry that thou art not well sweet sweet sweet nurse tell me what says my love nurse 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 juliet 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 nurse o gods lady dear are you so hot marry come up i trow is this the poultice for my aching bones henceforward do your messages yourself juliet heres such a coil come what says romeo nurse have you got leave to go to shrift today juliet i have nurse then hie you hence to friar lawrence cell there stays a husband to make you a wife now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks theyll 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 birds 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 ill to dinner hie you to the cell juliet hie to high fortune honest nurse farewell exeunt scene vi friar lawrences cell enter friar lawrence and romeo friar lawrence so smile the heavens upon this holy act that after hours with sorrow chide us not romeo 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 friar lawrence 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 enter juliet here comes the lady o so light a foot will neer wear out the everlasting flint a lover may bestride the gossamers that idles in the wanton summer air and yet not fall so light is vanity juliet good even to my ghostly confessor friar lawrence romeo shall thank thee daughter for us both juliet as much to him else is his thanks too much romeo ah juliet if the measure of thy joy be heapd like mine and that thy skill be more to blazon it then sweeten with thy breath this neighbour air and let rich musics tongue unfold the imagind happiness that both receive in either by this dear encounter juliet 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 sum of half my wealth friar lawrence 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 exeunt act iii scene i a public place enter mercutio benvolio page and servants benvolio i pray thee good mercutio lets 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 mercutio thou art like one of these 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 benvolio am i like such a fellow mercutio 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 benvolio and what to mercutio 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 an old riband and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling benvolio and 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 mercutio the fee simple o simple enter tybalt and others benvolio by my head here comes the capulets mercutio by my heel i care not tybalt follow me close for i will speak to them gentlemen good den a word with one of you mercutio and but one word with one of us couple it with something make it a word and a blow tybalt you shall find me apt enough to that sir and you will give me occasion mercutio could you not take some occasion without giving tybalt mercutio thou consortest with romeo mercutio consort what dost thou make us minstrels and thou make minstrels of us look to hear nothing but discords heres my fiddlestick heres that shall make you dance zounds consort benvolio we talk here in the public haunt of men either withdraw unto some private place and reason coldly of your grievances or else depart here all eyes gaze on us mercutio mens eyes were made to look and let them gaze i will not budge for no mans pleasure i enter romeo tybalt well peace be with you sir here comes my man mercutio but ill be hanged sir if he wear your livery marry go before to field hell be your follower your worship in that sense may call him man tybalt romeo the love i bear thee can afford no better term than this thou art a villain romeo 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 knowst me not tybalt boy this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me therefore turn and draw romeo i do protest i never injurd 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 mine own be satisfied mercutio o calm dishonourable vile submission draws alla stoccata carries it away tybalt you rat catcher will you walk tybalt what wouldst thou have with me mercutio 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 tybalt drawing i am for you romeo gentle mercutio put thy rapier up mercutio come sir your passado they fight romeo draw benvolio beat down their weapons gentlemen for shame forbear this outrage tybalt mercutio the prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in verona streets hold tybalt good mercutio exeunt tybalt with his partizans mercutio i am hurt a plague o both your houses i am sped is he gone and hath nothing benvolio what art thou hurt mercutio ay ay a scratch a scratch marry tis enough where is my page go villain fetch a surgeon exit page romeo courage man the hurt cannot be much mercutio no tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church door but tis enough twill serve ask for me tomorrow 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 romeo i thought all for the best mercutio 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 exeunt mercutio and benvolio romeo this gentleman the princes near ally my very friend hath got his mortal hurt in my behalf my reputation staind with tybalts slander tybalt that an hour hath been my cousin o sweet juliet thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softend valours steel re enter benvolio benvolio o romeo romeo brave mercutios dead that gallant spirit hath aspird the clouds which too untimely here did scorn the earth romeo this days black fate on mo days doth depend this but begins the woe others must end re enter tybalt benvolio here comes the furious tybalt back again romeo again in triumph and mercutio slain away to heaven respective lenity and fire eyd fury be my conduct now now tybalt take the villain back again that late thou gavst me for mercutios 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 tybalt thou wretched boy that didst consort him here shalt with him hence romeo this shall determine that they fight tybalt falls benvolio romeo away be gone the citizens are up and tybalt slain stand not amazd the prince will doom thee death if thou art taken hence be gone away romeo o i am fortunes fool benvolio why dost thou stay exit romeo enter citizens first citizen which way ran he that killd mercutio tybalt that murderer which way ran he benvolio there lies that tybalt first citizen up sir go with me i charge thee in the princes name obey enter prince attended montague capulet their wives and others prince where are the vile beginners of this fray benvolio 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 lady capulet tybalt my cousin o my brothers child o prince o husband o the blood is spilld of my dear kinsman prince as thou art true for blood of ours shed blood of montague o cousin cousin prince benvolio who began this bloody fray benvolio tybalt here slain whom romeos hand did slay romeo that spoke him fair bid him bethink how nice the quarrel was and urgd withal your high displeasure all this uttered with gentle breath calm look knees humbly bowd could not take truce with the unruly spleen of tybalt deaf to peace but that he tilts with piercing steel at bold mercutios 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 entertaind revenge and tot 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 lady capulet 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 prince romeo slew him he slew mercutio who now the price of his dear blood doth owe montague not romeo prince he was mercutios friend his fault concludes but what the law should end the life of tybalt prince and for that offence immediately we do exile him hence i have an interest in your hates proceeding my blood for your rude brawls doth lie a bleeding but ill 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 is found that hour is his last bear hence this body and attend our will mercy but murders pardoning those that kill exeunt scene ii a room in capulets house enter juliet juliet gallop apace you fiery footed steeds towards phoebus lodging such a waggoner as phaeton would whip you to the west and bring in cloudy night immediately spread thy close curtain love performing night that runaways eyes may wink and romeo leap to these arms untalkd 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 playd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods hood my unmannd blood bating in my cheeks with thy black mantle till strange love grow 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 upon a ravens back come gentle night come loving black browd night give me my romeo and when i 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 possessd it and though i am sold not yet enjoyd 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 romeos name speaks heavenly eloquence enter nurse with cords now nurse what news what hast thou there the cords that romeo bid thee fetch nurse ay ay the cords throws them down juliet ay me what news why dost thou wring thy hands nurse ah well a day hes dead hes dead hes dead we are undone lady we are undone alack the day hes gone hes killd hes dead juliet can heaven be so envious nurse romeo can though heaven cannot o romeo romeo who ever would have thought it romeo juliet what devil art thou that dost torment me thus this torture should be roard in dismal hell hath romeo slain himself say thou but ay 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 ay if he be slain say ay or if not no brief sounds determine of my weal or woe nurse 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 bedaubd in blood all in gore blood i swounded at the sight juliet o break my heart poor bankrout break at once to prison eyes neer look on liberty vile earth to earth resign end motion here and thou and romeo press one heavy bier nurse o tybalt tybalt the best friend i had o courteous tybalt honest gentleman that ever i should live to see thee dead juliet what storm is this that blows so contrary is romeo slaughterd 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 nurse tybalt is gone and romeo banished romeo that killd him he is banished juliet o god did romeos hand shed tybalts blood nurse it did it did alas the day it did juliet o serpent heart hid with a flowering face did ever dragon keep so fair a cave beautiful tyrant fiend angelical dove featherd raven wolvish ravening lamb despised substance of divinest show just opposite to what thou justly seemst 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 nurse theres no trust no faith no honesty in men all perjurd all forsworn all naught all dissemblers ah wheres my man give me some aqua vitae these griefs these woes these sorrows make me old shame come to romeo juliet blisterd be thy tongue for such a wish he was not born to shame upon his brow shame is ashamd to sit for tis a throne where honour may be crownd sole monarch of the universal earth o what a beast was i to chide at him nurse will you speak well of him that killd your cousin juliet 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 killd 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 tybalts dead that would have slain my husband all this is comfort wherefore weep i then some word there was worser than tybalts death that murderd 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 tybalts death was woe enough if it had ended there or if sour woe delights in fellowship and needly will be rankd with other griefs why followd not when she said tybalts dead thy father or thy mother nay or both which modern lamentation might have movd but with a rear ward following tybalts 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 words death no words can that woe sound where is my father and my mother nurse nurse weeping and wailing over tybalts corse will you go to them i will bring you thither juliet wash they his wounds with tears mine shall be spent when theirs are dry for romeos banishment take up those cords poor ropes you are beguild both you and i for romeo is exild he made you for a highway to my bed but i a maid die maiden widowed come cords come nurse ill to my wedding bed and death not romeo take my maidenhead nurse hie to your chamber ill find romeo to comfort you i wot well where he is hark ye your romeo will be here at night ill to him he is hid at lawrence cell juliet o find him give this ring to my true knight and bid him come to take his last farewell exeunt scene iii friar lawrences cell enter friar lawrence friar lawrence romeo come forth come forth thou fearful man affliction is enanmourd of thy parts and thou art wedded to calamity enter romeo romeo father what news what is the princes doom what sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand that i yet know not friar lawrence too familiar is my dear son with such sour company i bring thee tidings of the princes doom romeo what less than doomsday is the princes doom friar lawrence a gentler judgment vanishd from his lips not bodys death but bodys banishment romeo ha banishment be merciful say death for exile hath more terror in his look much more than death do not say banishment friar lawrence hence from verona art thou banished be patient for the world is broad and wide romeo there is no world without verona walls but purgatory torture hell itself hence banished is banishd from the world and worlds exile is death then banished is death mistermd calling death banished thou cuttst my head off with a golden axe and smilest upon the stroke that murders me friar lawrence o deadly sin o rude unthankfulness thy fault our law calls death but the kind prince taking thy part hath brushd aside the law and turnd that black word death to banishment this is dear mercy and thou seest it not romeo 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 juliets hand and steal immortal blessing from her lips who even in pure and vestal modesty still blush as thinking their own kisses sin but romeo may not he is banished this may flies do when 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 mixd no sharp ground knife no sudden mean of death though neer so mean but banished to kill me banished o friar the damned use that word in hell howlings attends it how hast thou the heart being a divine a ghostly confessor a sin absolver and my friend professd to mangle me with that word banished friar lawrence thou fond mad man hear me speak a little romeo o thou wilt speak again of banishment friar lawrence ill give thee armour to keep off that word adversitys sweet milk philosophy to comfort thee though thou art banished romeo yet banished hang up philosophy unless philosophy can make a juliet displant a town reverse a princes doom it helps not it prevails not talk no more friar lawrence o then i see that mad men have no ears romeo how should they when that wise men have no eyes friar lawrence let me dispute with thee of thy estate romeo 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 knocking within friar lawrence arise one knocks good romeo hide thyself romeo not i unless the breath of heartsick groans mist like infold me from the search of eyes knocking friar lawrence hark how they knock whos there romeo arise thou wilt be taken stay awhile stand up knocking run to my study by and by gods will what simpleness is this i come i come knocking who knocks so hard whence come you whats your will nurse within let me come in and you shall know my errand i come from lady juliet friar lawrence welcome then enter nurse nurse o holy friar o tell me holy friar where is my ladys lord wheres romeo friar lawrence there on the ground with his own tears made drunk nurse 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 and you be a man for juliets sake for her sake rise and stand why should you fall into so deep an o romeo nurse nurse ah sir ah sir deaths the end of all romeo spakest thou of juliet how is it with her doth not she think me an old murderer now i have staind the childhood of our joy with blood removd but little from her own where is she and how doth she and what says my conceald lady to our cancelld love nurse 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 romeo as if that name shot from the deadly level of a gun did murder her as that names cursed hand murderd 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 drawing his sword friar lawrence 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 and ill beseeming beast in seeming both thou hast amazd me by my holy order i thought thy disposition better temperd hast thou slain tybalt wilt thou slay thyself and slay thy lady that in thy life lives by doing damned hate upon thyself why railst thou on thy birth the heaven and earth since birth and heaven and earth all three do meet in thee at once which thou at once wouldst lose fie fie thou shamst thy shape thy love thy wit which like a usurer aboundst 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 vowd to cherish thy wit that ornament to shape and love misshapen in the conduct of them both like powder in a skilless soldiers flask is set afire by thine own ignorance and thou dismemberd 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 slewst tybalt there art thou happy the law that threatend 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 misshaped and sullen wench thou puttst up 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 wentst 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 nurse o lord i could have stayd here all the night to hear good counsel o what learning is my lord ill tell my lady you will come romeo do so and bid my sweet prepare to chide nurse here sir a ring she bid me give you sir hie you make haste for it grows very late exit romeo how well my comfort is revivd by this friar lawrence go hence good night and here stands all your state either be gone before the watch be set or by the break of day disguisd from hence sojourn in mantua ill 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 good night romeo but that a joy past joy calls out on me it were a grief so brief to part with thee farewell exeunt scene iv a room in capulets house enter capulet lady capulet and paris capulet things have fallen out sir so unluckily that we have had no time to move our daughter look you she lovd her kinsman tybalt dearly and so did i well we were born to die tis very late shell not come down tonight i promise you but for your company i would have been abed an hour ago paris these times of woe afford no tune to woo madam good night commend me to your daughter lady capulet i will and know her mind early tomorrow tonight shes mewd up to her heaviness capulet sir paris i will make a desperate tender of my childs love i think she will be ruld 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 paris monday my lord capulet monday ha ha well wednesday is too soon a thursday let it be a thursday tell her she shall be married to this noble earl will you be ready do you like this haste well 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 well have some half a dozen friends and there an end but what say you to thursday paris my lord i would that thursday were tomorrow capulet well get you gone a 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 exeunt scene v an open gallery to juliets chamber overlooking the garden enter romeo and juliet juliet wilt thou be gone it is not yet near day it was the nightingale and not the lark that piercd the fearful hollow of thine ear nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree believe me love it was the nightingale romeo it was the lark the herald of the morn no nightingale look love what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east nights candles are burnt out and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops i must be gone and live or stay and die juliet yond light is not daylight i know it i it is some meteor that the sun exhales to be to thee this night a torchbearer and light thee on thy way to mantua therefore stay yet thou needst not to be gone romeo let me be taen let me be put to death i am content so thou wilt have it so ill say yon grey is not the mornings eye tis but the pale reflex of cynthias 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 ist my soul lets talk it is not day juliet 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 changd 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 romeo more light and light more dark and dark our woes enter nurse nurse madam juliet nurse nurse your lady mother is coming to your chamber the day is broke be wary look about exit juliet then window let day in and let life out romeo farewell farewell one kiss and ill descend descends juliet art thou gone so love lord ay husband 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 romeo farewell i will omit no opportunity that may convey my greetings love to thee juliet o thinkest thou we shall ever meet again romeo i doubt it not and all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come juliet 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 lookst pale romeo and trust me love in my eye so do you dry sorrow drinks our blood adieu adieu exit below juliet o fortune fortune all men call thee fickle if thou art fickle what dost thou with him that is renownd for faith be fickle fortune for then i hope thou wilt not keep him long but send him back lady capulet within ho daughter are you up juliet who ist that calls is it my lady mother is she not down so late or up so early what unaccustomd cause procures her hither enter lady capulet lady capulet why how now juliet juliet madam i am not well lady capulet evermore weeping for your cousins 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 juliet yet let me weep for such a feeling loss lady capulet so shall you feel the loss but not the friend which you weep for juliet feeling so the loss i cannot choose but ever weep the friend lady capulet well girl thou weepst not so much for his death as that the villain lives which slaughterd him juliet what villain madam lady capulet that same villain romeo juliet 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 lady capulet that is because the traitor murderer lives juliet ay madam from the reach of these my hands would none but i might venge my cousins death lady capulet we will have vengeance for it fear thou not then weep no more ill send to one in mantua where that same banishd runagate doth live shall give him such an unaccustomd dram that he shall soon keep tybalt company and then i hope thou wilt be satisfied juliet indeed i never shall be satisfied with romeo till i behold him dead is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexd 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 namd and cannot come to him to wreak the love i bore my cousin upon his body that hath slaughterd him lady capulet find thou the means and ill find such a man but now ill tell thee joyful tidings girl juliet and joy comes well in such a needy time what are they i beseech your ladyship lady capulet 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 expects not nor i lookd not for juliet madam in happy time what day is that lady capulet marry my child early next thursday morn the gallant young and noble gentleman the county paris at saint peters church shall happily make thee there a joyful bride juliet now by saint peters 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 lady capulet here comes your father tell him so yourself and see how he will take it at your hands enter capulet and nurse capulet when the sun sets the air doth drizzle dew but for the sunset of my brothers son it rains downright how now a conduit girl what still in tears evermore showering in one little body thou counterfeits 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 deliverd to her our decree lady capulet ay sir but she will none she gives you thanks i would the fool were married to her grave capulet 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 blest unworthy as she is that we have wrought so worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom juliet 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 capulet how now how now choppd 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 peters church or i will drag thee on a hurdle thither out you green sickness carrion out you baggage you tallow face lady capulet fie fie what are you mad juliet good father i beseech you on my knees hear me with patience but to speak a word capulet hang thee young baggage disobedient wretch i tell thee what get thee to church a 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 blest 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 nurse god in heaven bless her you are to blame my lord to rate her so capulet and why my lady wisdom hold your tongue good prudence smatter with your gossips go nurse i speak no treason capulet o god ye good en nurse may not one speak capulet peace you mumbling fool utter your gravity oer a gossips bowl for here we need it not lady capulet you are too hot capulet gods bread it makes me mad day night hour ride time work play alone in company still my care hath been to have her matchd and having now provided a gentleman of noble parentage of fair demesnes youthful and nobly allied stuffd as they say with honourable parts proportiond as ones thought would wish a man and then to have a wretched puling fool a whining mammet in her fortunes tender to answer ill not wed i cannot love i am too young i pray you pardon me but and you will not wed ill pardon you graze where you will you shall not house with me look tot think ont i do not use to jest thursday is near lay hand on heart advise and you be mine ill give you to my friend and you be not hang beg starve die in the streets for by my soul ill neer acknowledge thee nor what is mine shall never do thee good trust tot bethink you ill not be forsworn exit juliet 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 lady capulet talk not to me for ill not speak a word do as thou wilt for i have done with thee exit juliet 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 nurse faith here it is romeo is banished and all the world to nothing that he dares neer 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 hes a lovely gentleman romeos 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 juliet speakest thou from thy heart nurse and from my soul too or else beshrew them both juliet amen nurse what juliet well thou hast comforted me marvellous much go in and tell my lady i am gone having displeasd my father to lawrence cell to make confession and to be absolvd nurse marry i will and this is wisely done exit juliet 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 praisd him with above compare so many thousand times go counsellor thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain ill to the friar to know his remedy if all else fail myself have power to die exit act iv scene i friar lawrences cell enter friar lawrence and paris friar lawrence on thursday sir the time is very short paris my father capulet will have it so and i am nothing slow to slack his haste friar lawrence you say you do not know the ladys mind uneven is the course i like it not paris immoderately she weeps for tybalts death and therefore have i little talkd of love for venus smiles not in a house of tears now sir her father counts it dangerous that she do 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 friar lawrence aside i would i knew not why it should be slowd look sir here comes the lady toward my cell enter juliet paris happily met my lady and my wife juliet that may be sir when i may be a wife paris that may be must be love on thursday next juliet what must be shall be friar lawrence thats a certain text paris come you to make confession to this father juliet to answer that i should confess to you paris do not deny to him that you love me juliet i will confess to you that i love him paris so will ye i am sure that you love me juliet if i do so it will be of more price being spoke behind your back than to your face paris poor soul thy face is much abusd with tears juliet the tears have got small victory by that for it was bad enough before their spite paris thou wrongst it more than tears with that report juliet that is no slander sir which is a truth and what i spake i spake it to my face paris thy face is mine and thou hast slanderd it juliet 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 friar lawrence my leisure serves me pensive daughter now my lord we must entreat the time alone paris god shield i should disturb devotion juliet on thursday early will i rouse ye till then adieu and keep this holy kiss exit juliet o shut the door and when thou hast done so come weep with me past hope past cure past help friar lawrence o 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 juliet tell me not friar that thou hearst 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 ill help it presently god joind my heart and romeos thou our hands and ere this hand by thee to romeos seald 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 experiencd time give me some present counsel or behold twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife shall play the empire 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 speakst speak not of remedy friar lawrence 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 copst with death himself to scape from it and if thou darst ill give thee remedy juliet 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 hide me nightly in a charnel house oer coverd quite with dead mens 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 unstaind wife to my sweet love friar lawrence hold then go home be merry give consent to marry paris wednesday is tomorrow tomorrow 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 livest 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 deprivd of supple government shall stiff and stark and cold appear like death and in this borrowd 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 uncoverd on the bier thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault where all the kindred of the capulets lie in the meantime 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 inconstant toy nor womanish fear abate thy valour in the acting it juliet give me give me o tell not me of fear friar lawrence hold get you gone be strong and prosperous in this resolve ill send a friar with speed to mantua with my letters to thy lord juliet love give me strength and strength shall help afford farewell dear father exeunt scene ii hall in capulets house enter capulet lady capulet nurse and servants capulet so many guests invite as here are writ exit first servant sirrah go hire me twenty cunning cooks second servant you shall have none ill sir for ill try if they can lick their fingers capulet how canst thou try them so second servant marry sir tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me capulet go begone exit second servant we shall be much unfurnishd for this time what is my daughter gone to friar lawrence nurse ay forsooth capulet well he may chance to do some good on her a peevish self willd harlotry it is enter juliet nurse see where she comes from shrift with merry look capulet how now my headstrong where have you been gadding juliet where i have learnt me to repent the sin of disobedient opposition to you and your behests and am enjoind by holy lawrence to fall prostrate here to beg your pardon pardon i beseech you henceforward i am ever ruld by you capulet send for the county go tell him of this ill have this knot knit up tomorrow morning juliet i met the youthful lord at lawrence cell and gave him what becomed love i might not stepping oer the bounds of modesty capulet why i am glad ont this is well stand up this is ast 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 juliet nurse will you go with me into my closet to help me sort such needful ornaments as you think fit to furnish me tomorrow lady capulet no not till thursday there is time enough capulet go nurse go with her well to church tomorrow exeunt juliet and nurse lady capulet we shall be short in our provision tis now near night capulet tush i will stir about and all things shall be well i warrant thee wife go thou to juliet help to deck up her ill not to bed tonight let me alone ill 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 tomorrow my heart is wondrous light since this same wayward girl is so reclaimd exeunt scene iii juliets chamber enter juliet and nurse juliet ay those attires are best but gentle nurse i pray thee leave me to myself tonight for i have need of many orisons to move the heavens to smile upon my state which well thou knowst is cross and full of sin enter lady capulet lady capulet what are you busy ho need you my help juliet no madam we have culld such necessaries as are behoveful for our state tomorrow 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 lady capulet good night get thee to bed and rest for thou hast need exeunt lady capulet and nurse juliet 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 ill 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 tomorrow morning no no this shall forbid it lie thou there laying down her dagger what if it be a poison which the friar subtly hath ministerd to have me dead lest in this marriage he should be dishonourd 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 how if when i am laid into the tomb i wake before the time that romeo come to redeem me theres 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 this many hundred years the bones of all my buried ancestors are packd 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 kinsmans bone as with a club dash out my desperate brains o look methinks i see my cousins ghost seeking out romeo that did spit his body upon a rapiers point stay tybalt stay romeo romeo romeo heres drink i drink to thee throws herself on the bed scene iv hall in capulets house enter lady capulet and nurse lady capulet hold take these keys and fetch more spices nurse nurse they call for dates and quinces in the pastry enter capulet capulet come stir stir stir the second cock hath crowd the curfew bell hath rung tis three oclock look to the bakd meats good angelica spare not for cost nurse go you cot quean go get you to bed faith youll be sick tomorrow for this nights watching capulet no not a whit what i have watchd ere now all night for lesser cause and neer been sick lady capulet ay you have been a mouse hunt in your time but i will watch you from such watching now exeunt lady capulet and nurse capulet a jealous hood a jealous hood enter servants with spits logs and baskets now fellow whats there first servant things for the cook sir but i know not what capulet make haste make haste exit first servant sirrah fetch drier logs call peter he will show thee where they are second servant i have a head sir that will find out logs and never trouble peter for the matter exit capulet mass and well said a merry whoreson ha thou shalt be loggerhead good faith tis day the county will be here with music straight for so he said he would i hear him near play music nurse wife what ho what nurse i say re enter nurse go waken juliet go and trim her up ill go and chat with paris hie make haste make haste the bridegroom he is come already make haste i say exeunt scene v juliets chamber juliet on the bed enter nurse nurse mistress what mistress juliet fast i warrant her she why lamb why lady fie you slug abed why love i say madam sweetheart 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 hell fright you up ifaith will it not be what dressd and in your clothes and down again i must needs wake you lady lady lady alas alas help help my ladys dead o well a day that ever i was born some aqua vitae ho my lord my lady enter lady capulet lady capulet what noise is here nurse o lamentable day lady capulet what is the matter nurse look look o heavy day lady capulet o me o me my child my only life revive look up or i will die with thee help help call help enter capulet capulet for shame bring juliet forth her lord is come nurse shes dead deceasd shes dead alack the day lady capulet alack the day shes dead shes dead shes dead capulet ha let me see her out alas shes 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 nurse o lamentable day lady capulet o woful time capulet death that hath taen her hence to make me wail ties up my tongue and will not let me speak enter friar lawrence and paris with musicians friar lawrence come is the bride ready to go to church capulet ready to go but never to return o son the night before thy wedding day hath death lain with thy bride 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 deaths paris have i thought long to see this mornings face and doth it give me such a sight as this lady capulet accursd unhappy wretched hateful day most miserable hour that eer 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 catchd it from my sight nurse 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 paris beguild divorced wronged spited slain most detestable death by thee beguild by cruel cruel thee quite overthrown o love o life not life but love in death capulet despisd distressed hated martyrd killd uncomfortable time why camst thou now to murder murder our solemnity o child o child my soul and not my child dead art thou alack my child is dead and with my child my joys are buried friar lawrence peace ho for shame confusions 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 advancd and weep ye now seeing she is advancd 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 shes not well married that lives married long but shes best married that dies married young dry up your tears and stick your rosemary on this fair corse and as the custom is and in her best array bear her to church for though fond nature bids us all lament yet natures tears are reasons merriment capulet 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 friar lawrence sir go you in and madam go with him and go sir paris everyone 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 exeunt capulet lady capulet paris and friar first musician faith we may put up our pipes and be gone nurse honest good fellows ah put up put up for well you know this is a pitiful case first musician ay by my troth the case may be amended exit nurse enter peter peter musicians o musicians hearts ease hearts ease o and you will have me live play hearts ease first musician why hearts ease peter o musicians because my heart itself plays my heart is full o play me some merry dump to comfort me first musician not a dump we tis no time to play now peter you will not then first musician no peter i will then give it you soundly first musician what will you give us peter no money on my faith but the gleek i will give you the minstrel first musician then will i give you the serving creature peter then will i lay the serving creatures dagger on your pate i will carry no crotchets ill re you ill fa you do you note me first musician and you re us and fa us you note us second musician pray you put up your dagger and put out your wit peter 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 griefs 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 first musician marry sir because silver hath a sweet sound peter prates what say you hugh rebeck second musician i say silver sound because musicians sound for silver peter prates too what say you james soundpost third musician faith i know not what to say peter 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 exit first musician what a pestilent knave is this same second musician hang him jack come well in here tarry for the mourners and stay dinner exeunt act v scene i mantua a street enter romeo romeo if i may trust the flattering eye of sleep my dreams presage some joyful news at hand my bosoms lord sits lightly in his throne and all this day an unaccustomd 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 breathd such life with kisses in my lips that i revivd and was an emperor ah me how sweet is love itself possessd when but loves shadows are so rich in joy enter balthasar 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 balthasar then she is well and nothing can be ill her body sleeps in capels monument and her immortal part with angels lives i saw her laid low in her kindreds 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 romeo is it even so then i defy you stars thou knowst my lodging get me ink and paper and hire post horses i will hence tonight balthasar i do beseech you sir have patience your looks are pale and wild and do import some misadventure romeo tush thou art deceivd leave me and do the thing i bid thee do hast thou no letters to me from the friar balthasar no my good lord romeo no matter get thee gone and hire those horses ill be with thee straight exit balthasar well juliet i will lie with thee tonight lets 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 tatterd 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 stuffd and other skins of ill shaped 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 scatterd to make up a show noting this penury to myself i said and 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 forerun my need and this same needy man must sell it me as i remember this should be the house being holiday the beggars shop is shut what ho apothecary enter apothecary apothecary who calls so loud romeo 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 dischargd of breath as violently as hasty powder fird doth hurry from the fatal cannons womb apothecary such mortal drugs i have but mantuas law is death to any he that utters them romeo art thou so bare and full of wretchedness and fearst to die famine is in thy cheeks need and oppression starveth in thine eyes contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back the world is not thy friend nor the worlds law the world affords no law to make thee rich then be not poor but break it and take this apothecary my poverty but not my will consents romeo i pay thy poverty and not thy will apothecary put this in any liquid thing you will and drink it off and if you had the strength of twenty men it would despatch you straight romeo there is thy gold worse poison to mens souls doing more murder 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 juliets grave for there must i use thee exeunt scene ii friar lawrences cell enter friar john friar john holy franciscan friar brother ho enter friar lawrence friar lawrence 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 friar john going to find a barefoot 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 seald up the doors and would not let us forth so that my speed to mantua there was stayd friar lawrence who bare my letter then to romeo friar john i could not send it here it is again nor get a messenger to bring it thee so fearful were they of infection friar lawrence 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 friar john brother ill go and bring it thee exit friar lawrence now must i to the monument alone within this 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 mantua and keep her at my cell till romeo come poor living corse closd in a dead mans tomb exit scene iii a churchyard in it a monument belonging to the capulets enter paris and his page bearing flowers and a torch paris give me thy torch boy hence and stand aloof yet put it out for i would not be seen under yond yew tree lay thee all along holding thy 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 hearst something approach give me those flowers do as i bid thee go page aside i am almost afraid to stand alone here in the churchyard yet i will adventure retires paris 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 distilld by moans the obsequies that i for thee will keep nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep the page whistles the boy gives warning something doth approach what cursed foot wanders this way tonight to cross my obsequies and true loves rite what with a torch muffle me night awhile retires enter romeo and balthasar with a torch mattock etc romeo 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 whateer thou hearst 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 ladys 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 balthasar i will be gone sir and not trouble you romeo so shalt thou show me friendship take thou that live and be prosperous and farewell good fellow balthasar for all this same ill hide me hereabout his looks i fear and his intents i doubt retires romeo thou detestable maw thou womb of death gorgd with the dearest morsel of the earth thus i enforce thy rotten jaws to open breaking open the door of the monument and in despite ill cram thee with more food paris this is that banishd haughty montague that murderd my loves 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 advances stop thy unhallowd toil vile montague can vengeance be pursud further than death condemned villain i do apprehend thee obey and go with me for thou must die romeo 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 armd against myself stay not be gone live and hereafter say a madmans mercy bid thee run away paris i do defy thy conjuration and apprehend thee for a felon here romeo wilt thou provoke me then have at thee boy they fight page o lord they fight i will go call the watch exit paris o i am slain falls if thou be merciful open the tomb lay me with juliet dies romeo in faith i will let me peruse this face mercutios 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 misfortunes book ill bury thee in a triumphant grave a grave o no a lantern slaughtred 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 interrd laying paris in the monument 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 suckd the honey of thy breath hath had no power yet upon thy beauty thou art not conquerd beautys ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks and deaths 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 heres to my love drinks o true apothecary thy drugs are quick thus with a kiss i die dies enter at the other end of the churchyard friar lawrence with a lantern crow and spade friar lawrence saint francis be my speed how oft tonight have my old feet stumbled at graves whos there who is it that consorts so late the dead balthasar heres one a friend and one that knows you well friar lawrence 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 capels monument balthasar it doth so holy sir and theres my master one that you love friar lawrence who is it balthasar romeo friar lawrence how long hath he been there balthasar full half an hour friar lawrence go with me to the vault balthasar 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 friar lawrence stay then ill go alone fear comes upon me o much i fear some ill unlucky thing balthasar as i did sleep under this yew tree here i dreamt my master and another fought and that my master slew him friar lawrence romeo advances alack alack what blood is this which stains the stony entrance of this sepulchre what mean these masterless and gory swords to lie discolourd by this place of peace enters the monument romeo o pale who else what paris too and steepd in blood ah what an unkind hour is guilty of this lamentable chance the lady stirs juliet wakes and stirs juliet o comfortable friar where is my lord i do remember well where i should be and there i am where is my romeo noise within friar lawrence 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 ill 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 juliet go get thee hence for i will not away exit friar lawrence whats here a cup closd in my true loves hand poison i see hath been his timeless end o churl drink 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 kisses him thy lips are warm first watch within lead boy which way juliet yea noise then ill be brief o happy dagger snatching romeos dagger this is thy sheath stabs herself there rest and let me die falls on romeos body and dies enter watch with the page of paris page this is the place there where the torch doth burn first watch the ground is bloody search about the churchyard go some of you whoeer you find attach exeunt some of the watch pitiful sight here lies the county slain and juliet bleeding warm and newly dead who here hath lain this two days buried go tell the prince run to the capulets raise up the montagues some others search exeunt others of the watch we see the ground whereon these woes do lie but the true ground of all these piteous woes we cannot without circumstance descry re enter some of the watch with balthasar second watch heres romeos man we found him in the churchyard first watch hold him in safety till the prince come hither re enter others of the watch with friar lawrence third watch 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 first watch a great suspicion stay the friar too enter the prince and attendants prince what misadventure is so early up that calls our person from our mornings rest enter capulet lady capulet and others capulet what should it be that they so shriek abroad lady capulet o the people in the street cry romeo some juliet and some paris and all run with open outcry toward our monument prince what fear is this which startles in our ears first watch sovereign here lies the county paris slain and romeo dead and juliet dead before warm and new killd prince search seek and know how this foul murder comes first watch here is a friar and slaughterd romeos man with instruments upon them fit to open these dead mens tombs capulet o heaven o wife look how our daughter bleeds this dagger hath mistaen for lo his house is empty on the back of montague and it mis sheathed in my daughters bosom lady capulet o me this sight of death is as a bell that warns my old age to a sepulchre enter montague and others prince come montague for thou art early up to see thy son and heir more early down montague alas my liege my wife is dead tonight grief of my sons exile hath stoppd her breath what further woe conspires against mine age prince look and thou shalt see montague o thou untaught what manners is in this to press before thy father to a grave prince 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 friar lawrence 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 excusd prince then say at once what thou dost know in this friar lawrence 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 romeos faithful wife i married them and their stoln marriage day was tybalts doomsday whose untimely death banishd the new made bridegroom from this city for whom and not for tybalt juliet pind you to remove that siege of grief from her betrothd and would have married her perforce to county paris then comes she to me and with wild looks bid me devise some means to rid her from this second marriage or in my cell there would she kill herself then gave i her so tutored 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 borrowd grave being the time the potions force should cease but he which bore my letter friar john was stayd by accident and yesternight returnd my letter back then all alone at the prefixed hour of her waking came i to take her from her kindreds 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 awaking 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 ought in this miscarried by my fault let my old life be sacrificd some hour before his time unto the rigour of severest law prince we still have known thee for a holy man wheres romeos man what can he say to this balthasar i brought my master news of juliets 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 threatend me with death going in the vault if i departed not and left him there prince give me the letter i will look on it where is the countys page that raisd the watch sirrah what made your master in this place page he came with flowers to strew his ladys 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 prince this letter doth make good the friars 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 punishd capulet o brother montague give me thy hand this is my daughters jointure for no more can i demand montague but i can give thee more for i will raise her statue in pure gold that whiles verona by that name is known there shall no figure at such rate be set as that of true and faithful juliet capulet as rich shall romeos by his ladys lie poor sacrifices of our enmity prince 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 pardond and some punished for never was a story of more woe than this of juliet and her romeo exeunt the taming of the shrew by william shakespeare contents induction scene i before an alehouse on a heath scene ii a bedchamber in the lords house act i scene i padua a public place scene ii padua before hortensios house act ii scene i padua a room in baptistas house act iii scene i padua a room in baptistas house scene ii the same before baptistas house act iv scene i a hall in petruchios country house scene ii padua before baptistas house scene iii a room in petruchios house scene iv before baptistas house scene v a public road act v scene i padua before lucentios house scene ii a room in lucentios house dramatis personae persons in the induction a lord christopher sly a tinker hostess page players huntsmen servants baptista minola a rich gentleman of padua vincentio an old gentleman of pisa lucentio son to vincentio in love with bianca petruchio a gentleman of verona suitor to katherina suitors to bianca gremio hortensio servants to lucentio tranio biondello servants to petruchio grumio curtis pedant set up to personate vincentio daughters to baptista katherina the shrew bianca widow tailor haberdasher and servants attending on baptista and petruchio scene sometimes in padua and sometimes in petruchios house in the country induction scene i before an alehouse on a heath enter hostess and sly sly ill pheeze you in faith hostess a pair of stocks you rogue sly yare 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 hostess you will not pay for the glasses you have burst sly no not a denier go by saint jeronimy go to thy cold bed and warm thee hostess i know my remedy i must go fetch the third borough exit sly third or fourth or fifth borough ill answer him by law ill not budge an inch boy let him come and kindly lies down on the ground and falls asleep horns winded enter a lord from hunting with huntsmen and servants lord huntsman i charge thee tender well my hounds brach merriman the poor cur is embossd and couple clowder with the deep mouthd brach sawst 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 first huntsman why bellman is as good as he my lord he cried upon it at the merest loss and twice today pickd out the dullest scent trust me i take him for the better dog lord 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 tomorrow i intend to hunt again first huntsman i will my lord lord sees sly whats here one dead or drunk see doth he breathe second huntsman he breathes my lord were he not warmd with ale this were a bed but cold to sleep so soundly lord 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 conveyd to bed wrappd 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 first huntsman believe me lord i think he cannot choose second huntsman it would seem strange unto him when he wakd lord 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 bestrewd with flowers another bear the ewer the third a diaper and say willt please your lordship cool your hands someone 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 first huntsman 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 lord take him up gently and to bed with him and each one to his office when he wakes sly is bourne out a trumpet sounds sirrah go see what trumpet tis that sounds exit servant belike some noble gentleman that means travelling some journey to repose him here re enter servant how now who is it servant an it please your honour players that offer service to your lordship lord bid them come near enter players now fellows you are welcome players we thank your honour lord do you intend to stay with me tonight player so please your lordship to accept our duty lord with all my heart this fellow i remember since once he playd a farmers eldest son twas where you wood the gentlewoman so well i have forgot your name but sure that part was aptly fitted and naturally performd player i think twas soto that your honour means lord 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 tonight but i am doubtful of your modesties lest over eying 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 player fear not my lord we can contain ourselves were he the veriest antick in the world lord go sirrah take them to the buttery and give them friendly welcome everyone let them want nothing that my house affords exit one with the players sirrah go you to bartholmew my page and see him dressd in all suits like a lady that done conduct him to the drunkards 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 observd 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 ist 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 overjoyd to see her noble lord restord 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 womans gift to rain a shower of commanded tears an onion will do well for such a shift which in a napkin being close conveyd shall in despite enforce a watery eye see this dispatchd with all the haste thou canst anon ill give thee more instructions exit servant 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 ill in to counsel them haply my presence may well abate the over merry spleen which otherwise would grow into extremes exeunt scene ii a bedchamber in the lords house sly is discovered in a rich nightgown with attendants some with apparel basin ewer and other appurtenances and lord dressed like a servant sly for gods sake a pot of small ale first servant willt please your lordship drink a cup of sack second servant willt please your honour taste of these conserves third servant what raiment will your honour wear today sly i am christophero sly call not me honour nor lordship i neer drank sack in my life and if you give me any conserves give me conserves of beef neer ask me what raiment ill 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 over leather lord 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 sly what would you make me mad am not i christopher sly old slys son of burton heath 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 heres third servant o this it is that makes your lady mourn second servant o this is it that makes your servants droop lord 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 music and twenty caged nightingales do sing or wilt thou sleep well have thee to a couch softer and sweeter than the lustful bed on purpose trimmd up for semiramis say thou wilt walk we will bestrew the ground or wilt thou ride thy horses shall be trappd 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 first servant say thou wilt course thy greyhounds are as swift as breathed stags ay fleeter than the roe second servant 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 lord well show thee io as she was a maid and how she was beguiled and surprisd as lively painted as the deed was done third servant 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 lord thou art a lord and nothing but a lord thou hast a lady far more beautiful than any woman in this waning age first servant and till the tears that she hath shed for thee like envious floods oer run her lovely face she was the fairest creature in the world and yet she is inferior to none sly am i a lord and have i such a lady or do i dream or have i dreamd 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 second servant willt please your mightiness to wash your hands servants present a ewer basin and napkin o how we joy to see your wit restord o that once more you knew but what you are these fifteen years you have been in a dream or when you wakd so wakd as if you slept sly these fifteen years by my fay a goodly nap but did i never speak of all that time first servant 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 seald quarts sometimes you would call out for cicely hacket sly ay the womans maid of the house third servant why sir you know no house nor no such maid nor no such men as you have reckond up as stephen sly and old john naps of greece and peter turph and henry pimpernell and twenty more such names and men as these which never were nor no man ever saw sly now lord be thanked for my good amends all amen enter the page as a lady with attendants sly i thank thee thou shalt not lose by it page how fares my noble lord sly marry i fare well for here is cheer enough where is my wife page here noble lord what is thy will with her sly are you my wife and will not call me husband my men should call me lord i am your goodman page my husband and my lord my lord and husband i am your wife in all obedience sly i know it well what must i call her lord madam sly alice madam or joan madam lord madam and nothing else so lords call ladies sly madam wife they say that i have dreamd and slept above some fifteen year or more page ay and the time seems thirty unto me being all this time abandond from your bed sly tis much servants leave me and her alone madam undress you and come now to bed page 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 chargd in peril to incur your former malady that i should yet absent me from your bed i hope this reason stands for my excuse sly 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 despite of the flesh and the blood enter a messenger messenger your honours players hearing your amendment are come to play a pleasant comedy for so your doctors hold it very meet seeing too much sadness hath congeald 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 sly marry i will let them play it is not a commonty a christmas gambold or a tumbling trick page no my good lord it is more pleasing stuff sly what household stuff page it is a kind of history sly well well seet come madam wife sit by my side and let the world slip we shall neer be younger act i scene i padua a public place flourish enter lucentio and tranio lucentio tranio since for the great desire i had to see fair padua nursery of arts i am arrivd for fruitful lombardy the pleasant garden of great italy and by my fathers love and leave am armd with his good will and thy good company my trusty servant well approvd 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 vincentios son brought up in florence it shall become to serve all hopes conceivd 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 achievd 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 tranio mi perdonato 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 lets be no stoics nor no stocks i pray or so devote to aristotles checks as ovid be an outcast quite abjurd 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 taen in brief sir study what you most affect lucentio 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 tranio master some show to welcome us to town lucentio and tranio stand aside enter baptista katherina bianca gremio and hortensio baptista gentlemen importune me no farther for how i firmly am resolvd you know that is not to bestow my youngest daughter before i have a husband for the elder if either of you both love katherina because i know you well and love you well leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure gremio to cart her rather shes too rough for me there there hortensio will you any wife katherina to baptista i pray you sir is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates hortensio mates maid how mean you that no mates for you unless you were of gentler milder mould katherina 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 leggd stool and paint your face and use you like a fool hortensio from all such devils good lord deliver us gremio and me too good lord tranio husht master heres some good pastime toward that wench is stark mad or wonderful froward lucentio but in the others silence do i see maids mild behaviour and sobriety peace tranio tranio well said master mum and gaze your fill baptista 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 neer the less my girl katherina a pretty peat it is best put finger in the eye and she knew why bianca 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 lucentio hark tranio thou mayst hear minerva speak hortensio signior baptista will you be so strange sorry am i that our good will effects biancas grief gremio why will you mew her up signior baptista for this fiend of hell and make her bear the penance of her tongue baptista gentlemen content ye i am resolvd go in bianca exit 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 katherina you may stay for i have more to commune with bianca exit katherina 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 exit gremio you may go to the devils dam your gifts are so good heres none will hold you their love is not so great hortensio but we may blow our nails together and fast it fairly out our cakes 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 hortensio 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 biancas love to labour and effect one thing specially gremio whats that i pray hortensio marry sir to get a husband for her sister gremio a husband a devil hortensio i say a husband gremio 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 hortensio tush gremio though it pass your patience and mine to endure her loud alarums why man there be good fellows in the world and a man could light on them would take her with all faults and money enough gremio i cannot tell but i had as lief take her dowry with this condition to be whippd at the high cross every morning hortensio faith as you say theres 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 baptistas eldest daughter to a husband we set his youngest free for a husband and then have tot afresh sweet bianca happy man be his dole he that runs fastest gets the ring how say you signior gremio 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 exeunt gremio and hortensio tranio i pray sir tell me is it possible that love should of a sudden take such hold lucentio 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 tranio master it is no time to chide you now affection is not rated from the heart if love have touchd you nought remains but so redime te captum quam queas minimo lucentio gramercies lad go forward this contents the rest will comfort for thy counsels sound tranio master you lookd so longly on the maid perhaps you markd not whats the pith of all lucentio 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 kissd the cretan strand tranio saw you no more markd you not how her sister began to scold and raise up such a storm that mortal ears might hardly endure the din lucentio 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 tranio 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 mewd her up because she will not be annoyd with suitors lucentio ah tranio what a cruel fathers he but art thou not advisd he took some care to get her cunning schoolmasters to instruct her tranio ay marry am i sir and now tis plotted lucentio i have it tranio tranio master for my hand both our inventions meet and jump in one lucentio tell me thine first tranio you will be schoolmaster and undertake the teaching of the maid thats your device lucentio it is may it be done tranio not possible for who shall bear your part and be in padua here vincentios son keep house and ply his book welcome his friends visit his countrymen and banquet them lucentio basta content thee for i have it full we have not yet been seen in any house nor can we be distinguishd 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 hatchd and shall be so tranio at once uncase thee take my colourd hat and cloak when biondello comes he waits on thee but i will charm him first to keep his tongue they exchange habits tranio so had you need in brief sir sith it your pleasure is and i am tied to be obedient for so your father chargd 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 lucentio tranio be so because lucentio loves and let me be a slave to achieve that maid whose sudden sight hath thralld my wounded eye enter biondello here comes the rogue sirrah where have you been biondello where have i been nay how now where are you master has my fellow tranio stoln your clothes or you stoln his or both pray whats the news lucentio 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 countnance on and i for my escape have put on his for in a quarrel since i came ashore i killd 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 biondello i sir neer a whit lucentio and not a jot of tranio in your mouth tranio is changed to lucentio biondello the better for him would i were so too tranio so could i faith boy to have the next wish after that lucentio indeed had baptistas youngest daughter but sirrah not for my sake but your masters 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 lucentio tranio lets 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 exeunt the presenters above speak first servant my lord you nod you do not mind the play sly yes by saint anne i do a good matter surely comes there any more of it page my lord tis but begun sly tis a very excellent piece of work madam lady would twere done they sit and mark scene ii padua before hortensios house enter petruchio and his man grumio petruchio verona for a while 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 grumio knock sir whom should i knock is there any man has rebused your worship petruchio villain i say knock me here soundly grumio knock you here sir why sir what am i sir that i should knock you here sir petruchio villain i say knock me at this gate and rap me well or ill knock your knaves pate grumio my master is grown quarrelsome i should knock you first and then i know after who comes by the worst petruchio will it not be faith sirrah and youll not knock ill ring it ill try how you can sol fa and sing it he wrings grumio by the ears grumio help masters help my master is mad petruchio now knock when i bid you sirrah villain enter hortensio hortensio how now whats the matter my old friend grumio and my good friend petruchio how do you all at verona petruchio signior hortensio come you to part the fray con tutto il cuore ben trovato may i say hortensio alla nostra casa ben venuto molto honorato signor mio petruchio rise grumio rise we will compound this quarrel grumio 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 knockd at first then had not grumio come by the worst petruchio a senseless villain good hortensio i bade the rascal knock upon your gate and could not get him for my heart to do it grumio 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 petruchio sirrah be gone or talk not i advise you hortensio petruchio patience i am grumios pledge why thiss 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 petruchio such wind as scatters young men through the world to seek their fortunes farther than at home where small experience grows but in a few signior hortensio thus it stands with me antonio my father is deceasd 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 hortensio petruchio shall i then come roundly to thee and wish thee to a shrewd ill favourd wife thoudst thank me but a little for my counsel and yet ill promise thee she shall be rich and very rich but thart too much my friend and ill not wish thee to her petruchio signior hortensio twixt such friends as we few words suffice and therefore if thou know one rich enough to be petruchios 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 affections 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 grumio 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 neer a tooth in her head though she have as many diseases as two and fifty horses why nothing comes amiss so money comes withal hortensio petruchio since we are steppd thus far in i will continue that i broachd 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 petruchio hortensio peace thou knowst not golds effect tell me her fathers name and tis enough for i will board her though she chide as loud as thunder when the clouds in autumn crack hortensio her father is baptista minola an affable and courteous gentleman her name is katherina minola renownd in padua for her scolding tongue petruchio 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 grumio i pray you sir let him go while the humour lasts o my word and 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 thats nothing and he begin once hell rail in his rope tricks ill tell you what sir and 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 hortensio tarry petruchio i must go with thee for in baptistas 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 rehearsd that ever katherina will be wood therefore this order hath baptista taen that none shall have access unto bianca till katherine the curst have got a husband grumio katherine the curst a title for a maid of all titles the worst hortensio now shall my friend petruchio do me grace and offer me disguisd 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 grumio heres no knavery see to beguile the old folks how the young folks lay their heads together enter gremio and lucentio disguised with books under his arm master master look about you who goes there ha hortensio peace grumio it is the rival of my love petruchio stand by awhile grumio a proper stripling and an amorous gremio o very well i have perusd the note hark you sir ill 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 baptistas liberality ill mend it with a largess take your papers too and let me have them very well perfumd for she is sweeter than perfume itself to whom they go to what will you read to her lucentio whateer i read to her ill plead for you as for my patron stand you so assurd as firmly as yourself were still in place yea and perhaps with more successful words than you unless you were a scholar sir gremio o this learning what a thing it is grumio o this woodcock what an ass it is petruchio peace sirrah hortensio grumio mum god save you signior gremio gremio and you are well met signior hortensio trow you whither i am going to baptista minola i promisd to enquire 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 hortensio tis well and i have met a gentleman hath promisd 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 belovd of me gremio belovd of me and that my deeds shall prove grumio aside and that his bags shall prove hortensio gremio tis now no time to vent our love listen to me and if you speak me fair ill 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 katherine yea and to marry her if her dowry please gremio so said so done is well hortensio have you told him all her faults petruchio i know she is an irksome brawling scold if that be all masters i hear no harm gremio no sayst me so friend what countryman petruchio born in verona old antonios son my father dead my fortune lives for me and i do hope good days and long to see gremio o sir such a life with such a wife were strange but if you have a stomach tot a gods name you shall have me assisting you in all but will you woo this wild cat petruchio will i live grumio will he woo her ay or ill hang her petruchio 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 puffd up with winds rage like an angry boar chafed with sweat have i not heard great ordnance in the field and heavens 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 womans tongue that gives not half so great a blow to hear as will a chestnut in a farmers fire tush tush fear boys with bugs grumio aside for he fears none gremio hortensio hark this gentleman is happily arrivd my mind presumes for his own good and yours hortensio i promisd we would be contributors and bear his charge of wooing whatsoeer gremio and so we will provided that he win her grumio i would i were as sure of a good dinner enter tranio brave and biondello tranio 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 biondello he that has the two fair daughters ist he you mean tranio even he biondello gremio hark you sir you mean not her to tranio perhaps him and her sir what have you to do petruchio not her that chides sir at any hand i pray tranio i love no chiders sir biondello lets away lucentio aside well begun tranio hortensio sir a word ere you go are you a suitor to the maid you talk of yea or no tranio and if i be sir is it any offence gremio no if without more words you will get you hence tranio why sir i pray are not the streets as free for me as for you gremio but so is not she tranio for what reason i beseech you gremio for this reason if youll know that shes the choice love of signior gremio hortensio that shes the chosen of signior hortensio tranio 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 ledas 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 gremio what this gentleman will out talk us all lucentio sir give him head i know hell prove a jade petruchio hortensio to what end are all these words hortensio sir let me be so bold as ask you did you yet ever see baptistas daughter tranio 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 petruchio sir sir the firsts for me let her go by gremio yea leave that labour to great hercules and let it be more than alcides twelve petruchio 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 tranio if it be so sir that you are the man must stead us all and me amongst 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 hortensio 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 tranio 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 grumio biondello o excellent motion fellows lets be gone hortensio the motions good indeed and be it so petruchio i shall be your ben venuto exeunt act ii scene i padua a room in baptistas house enter katherina and bianca bianca 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 ill 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 katherina of all thy suitors here i charge thee tell whom thou lovst best see thou dissemble not bianca believe me sister of all the men alive i never yet beheld that special face which i could fancy more than any other katherina minion thou liest ist not hortensio bianca if you affect him sister here i swear ill plead for you myself but you shall have him katherina o then belike you fancy riches more you will have gremio to keep you fair bianca 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 katherina if that be jest then all the rest was so strikes her enter baptista baptista 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 neer wrong thee when did she cross thee with a bitter word katherina her silence flouts me and ill be revengd flies after bianca baptista what in my sight bianca get thee in exit bianca katherina 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 exit baptista was ever gentleman thus grievd as i but who comes here enter gremio with lucentio in the habit of a mean man petruchio with hortensio as a musician and tranio with biondello bearing a lute and books gremio good morrow neighbour baptista baptista good morrow neighbour gremio god save you gentlemen petruchio and you good sir pray have you not a daughter calld katherina fair and virtuous baptista i have a daughter sir calld katherina gremio you are too blunt go to it orderly petruchio 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 presenting hortensio 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 baptista yare welcome sir and he for your good sake but for my daughter katherine this i know she is not for your turn the more my grief petruchio i see you do not mean to part with her or else you like not of my company baptista mistake me not i speak but as i find whence are you sir what may i call your name petruchio petruchio is my name antonios son a man well known throughout all italy baptista i know him well you are welcome for his sake gremio saving your tale petruchio i pray let us that are poor petitioners speak too backare you are marvellous forward petruchio o pardon me signior gremio i would fain be doing gremio 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 presenting lucentio 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 baptista a thousand thanks signior gremio welcome good cambio to tranio but gentle sir methinks you walk like a stranger may i be so bold to know the cause of your coming tranio 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 baptista lucentio is your name of whence i pray tranio of pisa sir son to vincentio baptista a mighty man of pisa by report i know him well you are very welcome sir to hortensio take you the lute to lucentio and you the set of books you shall go see your pupils presently holla within enter a servant sirrah lead these gentlemen to my daughters and tell them both these are their tutors bid them use them well exeunt servant with hortensio lucentio and biondello 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 petruchio 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 bettered rather than decreasd then tell me if i get your daughters love what dowry shall i have with her to wife baptista after my death the one half of my lands and in possession twenty thousand crowns petruchio and for that dowry ill assure her of her widowhood be it that she survive me in all my lands and leases whatsoever let specialities be therefore drawn between us that covenants may be kept on either hand baptista ay when the special thing is well obtaind that is her love for that is all in all petruchio 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 baptista well mayst thou woo and happy be thy speed but be thou armd for some unhappy words petruchio ay to the proof as mountains are for winds that shake not though they blow perpetually re enter hortensio with his head broke baptista how now my friend why dost thou look so pale hortensio for fear i promise you if i look pale baptista what will my daughter prove a good musician hortensio i think shell sooner prove a soldier iron may hold with her but never lutes baptista why then thou canst not break her to the lute hortensio why no for she hath broke the lute to me i did but tell her she mistook her frets and bowd her hand to teach her fingering when with a most impatient devilish spirit frets call you these quoth she ill 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 had she studied to misuse me so petruchio now by the world it is a lusty wench i love her ten times more than eer i did o how i long to have some chat with her baptista to hortensio well go with me and be not so discomfited proceed in practice with my younger daughter shes apt to learn and thankful for good turns signior petruchio will you go with us or shall i send my daughter kate to you petruchio i pray you do exeunt baptista gremio tranio and hortensio i will attend her here and woo her with some spirit when she comes say that she rail why then ill tell her plain she sings as sweetly as a nightingale say that she frown ill say she looks as clear as morning roses newly washd with dew say she be mute and will not speak a word then ill commend her volubility and say she uttereth piercing eloquence if she do bid me pack ill give her thanks as though she bid me stay by her a week if she deny to wed ill crave the day when i shall ask the banns and when be married but here she comes and now petruchio speak enter katherina good morrow kate for thats your name i hear katherina well have you heard but something hard of hearing they call me katherine that do talk of me petruchio you lie in faith for you are calld 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 kates and therefore kate take this of me kate of my consolation hearing thy mildness praisd in every town thy virtues spoke of and thy beauty sounded yet not so deeply as to thee belongs myself am movd to woo thee for my wife katherina movd in good time let him that movd you hither remove you hence i knew you at the first you were a moveable petruchio why whats a moveable katherina a joint stool petruchio thou hast hit it come sit on me katherina asses are made to bear and so are you petruchio women are made to bear and so are you katherina no such jade as bear you if me you mean petruchio alas good kate i will not burden thee for knowing thee to be but young and light katherina too light for such a swain as you to catch and yet as heavy as my weight should be petruchio should be should buz katherina well taen and like a buzzard petruchio o slow wingd turtle shall a buzzard take thee katherina ay for a turtle as he takes a buzzard petruchio come come you wasp i faith you are too angry katherina if i be waspish best beware my sting petruchio my remedy is then to pluck it out katherina ay if the fool could find it where it lies petruchio who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting in his tail katherina in his tongue petruchio whose tongue katherina yours if you talk of tales and so farewell petruchio what with my tongue in your tail nay come again good kate i am a gentleman katherina that ill try striking him petruchio i swear ill cuff you if you strike again katherina so may you lose your arms if you strike me you are no gentleman and if no gentleman why then no arms petruchio a herald kate o put me in thy books katherina what is your crest a coxcomb petruchio a combless cock so kate will be my hen katherina no cock of mine you crow too like a craven petruchio nay come kate come you must not look so sour katherina it is my fashion when i see a crab petruchio why heres no crab and therefore look not sour katherina there is there is petruchio then show it me katherina had i a glass i would petruchio what you mean my face katherina well aimd of such a young one petruchio now by saint george i am too young for you katherina yet you are witherd petruchio tis with cares katherina i care not petruchio nay hear you kate in sooth you scape not so katherina i chafe you if i tarry let me go petruchio 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 entertainst thy wooers with gentle conference soft and affable why does the world report that kate doth limp o slandrous 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 katherina go fool and whom thou keepst command petruchio 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 katherina where did you study all this goodly speech petruchio it is extempore from my mother wit katherina a witty mother witless else her son petruchio am i not wise katherina yes keep you warm petruchio marry so i mean sweet katherine 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 re enter baptista gremio and tranio here comes your father never make denial i must and will have katherine to my wife baptista now signior petruchio how speed you with my daughter petruchio how but well sir how but well it were impossible i should speed amiss baptista why how now daughter katherine in your dumps katherina call you me daughter now i promise you you have showd 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 petruchio father tis thus yourself and all the world that talkd of her have talkd amiss of her if she be curst it is for policy for shes 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 katherina ill see thee hangd on sunday first gremio hark petruchio she says shell see thee hangd first tranio is this your speeding nay then good night our part petruchio be patient gentlemen i choose her for myself if she and i be pleasd whats that to you tis bargaind 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 katherine shall be fine baptista i know not what to say but give me your hands god send you joy petruchio tis a match gremio tranio amen say we we will be witnesses petruchio 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 exeunt petruchio and katherina severally gremio was ever match clappd up so suddenly baptista faith gentlemen now i play a merchants part and venture madly on a desperate mart tranio twas a commodity lay fretting by you twill bring you gain or perish on the seas baptista the gain i seek is quiet in the match gremio 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 tranio and i am one that love bianca more than words can witness or your thoughts can guess gremio youngling thou canst not love so dear as i tranio greybeard thy love doth freeze gremio but thine doth fry skipper stand back tis age that nourisheth tranio but youth in ladies eyes that flourisheth baptista content you gentlemen ill compound this strife tis deeds must win the prize and he of both that can assure my daughter greatest dower shall have my biancas love say signior gremio what can you assure her gremio 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 stuffd my crowns in cypress chests my arras counterpoints costly apparel tents and canopies fine linen turkey cushions bossd with pearl valance of venice gold in needlework 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 tomorrow this is hers if whilst i live she will be only mine tranio that only came well in sir list to me i am my fathers heir and only son if i may have your daughter to my wife ill leave her houses three or four as good within rich pisas walls as anyone old signior gremio has in padua besides two thousand ducats by the year of fruitful land all which shall be her jointure what have i pinchd you signior gremio 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 chokd you with an argosy tranio 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 whateer thou offerst next gremio nay i have offerd 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 tranio why then the maid is mine from all the world by your firm promise gremio is out vied baptista 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 wheres her dower tranio thats but a cavil he is old i young gremio and may not young men die as well as old baptista well gentlemen i am thus resolvd on sunday next you know my daughter katherine 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 gremio adieu good neighbour exit baptista 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 exit tranio a vengeance on your crafty witherd hide yet i have facd it with a card of ten tis in my head to do my master good i see no reason but supposd lucentio must get a father calld supposd vincentio and thats 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 exit act iii scene i padua a room in baptistas house enter lucentio hortensio and bianca lucentio fiddler forbear you grow too forward sir have you so soon forgot the entertainment her sister katherine welcomed you withal hortensio 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 lucentio preposterous ass that never read so far to know the cause why music was ordaind 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 hortensio sirrah i will not bear these braves of thine bianca why gentlemen you do me double wrong to strive for that which resteth in my choice i am no breeching scholar in the schools ill 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 tund hortensio youll leave his lecture when i am in tune retires lucentio that will be never tune your instrument bianca where left we last lucentio here madam hic ibat simois hic est sigeia tellus hic steterat priami regia celsa senis bianca construe them lucentio hic 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 hortensio returning madam my instruments in tune bianca lets hear hortensio plays o fie the treble jars lucentio spit in the hole man and tune again bianca now let me see if i can construe it hic 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 hortensio madam tis now in tune lucentio all but the base hortensio the base is right tis the base knave that jars aside how fiery and forward our pedant is now for my life the knave doth court my love pedascule ill watch you better yet bianca in time i may believe yet i mistrust lucentio mistrust it not for sure aeacides was ajax calld so from his grandfather bianca 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 master take it not unkindly pray that i have been thus pleasant with you both hortensio to lucentio you may go walk and give me leave a while my lessons make no music in three parts lucentio are you so formal sir well i must wait aside and watch withal for but i be deceivd our fine musician groweth amorous hortensio 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 bianca why i am past my gamut long ago hortensio yet read the gamut of hortensio bianca gamut i am the ground of all accord a re to plead hortensios 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 enter a servant servant mistress your father prays you leave your books and help to dress your sisters chamber up you know tomorrow is the wedding day bianca farewell sweet masters both i must be gone exeunt bianca and servant lucentio faith mistress then i have no cause to stay exit hortensio 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 wandring eyes on every stale seize thee that list if once i find thee ranging hortensio will be quit with thee by changing exit scene ii the same before baptistas house enter baptista gremio tranio katherina bianca lucentio and attendants baptista to tranio signior lucentio this is the pointed day that katherine 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 katherina no shame but mine i must forsooth be forcd to give my hand opposd against my heart unto a mad brain rudesby full of spleen who wood 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 hell woo a thousand point the day of marriage make friends invite and proclaim the banns yet never means to wed where he hath wood now must the world point at poor katherine and say lo there is mad petruchios wife if it would please him come and marry her tranio patience good katherine 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 hes honest katherina would katherine had never seen him though exit weeping followed by bianca and others baptista 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 enter biondello master master news old news and such news as you never heard of baptista is it new and old too how may that be biondello why is it not news to hear of petruchios coming baptista is he come biondello why no sir baptista what then biondello he is coming baptista when will he be here biondello when he stands where i am and sees you there tranio but say what to thine old news biondello 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 taen 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 sheeps 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 womans crupper of velure which hath two letters for her name fairly set down in studs and here and there pieced with pack thread baptista who comes with him biondello 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 prickd int for a feather a monster a very monster in apparel and not like a christian footboy or a gentlemans lackey tranio tis some odd humour pricks him to this fashion yet oftentimes lie goes but mean apparelld baptista i am glad hes come howsoeer he comes biondello why sir he comes not baptista didst thou not say he comes biondello who that petruchio came baptista ay that petruchio came biondello no sir i say his horse comes with him on his back baptista why thats all one biondello nay by saint jamy i hold you a penny a horse and a man is more than one and yet not many enter petruchio and grumio petruchio come where be these gallants who is at home baptista you are welcome sir petruchio and yet i come not well baptista and yet you halt not tranio not so well apparelld as i wish you were petruchio 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 baptista why sir you know this is your wedding day 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 tranio and tell us what occasion of import hath all so long detaind you from your wife and sent you hither so unlike yourself petruchio 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 tranio see not your bride in these unreverent robes go to my chamber put on clothes of mine petruchio not i believe me thus ill visit her baptista but thus i trust you will not marry her petruchio good sooth even thus therefore ha done with words to me shes 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 exeunt petruchio grumio and biondello tranio he hath some meaning in his mad attire we will persuade him be it possible to put on better ere he go to church baptista ill after him and see the event of this exeunt baptista gremio and attendants tranio but sir to love concerneth us to add her fathers liking which to bring to pass as i before imparted to your worship i am to get a man whateer he be it skills not much well 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 lucentio were it not that my fellow schoolmaster doth watch biancas steps so narrowly twere good methinks to steal our marriage which once performd let all the world say no ill keep mine own despite of all the world tranio that by degrees we mean to look into and watch our vantage in this business well over reach the greybeard gremio the narrow prying father minola the quaint musician amorous licio all for my masters sake lucentio re enter gremio signior gremio came you from the church gremio as willingly as eer i came from school tranio and is the bride and bridegroom coming home gremio a bridegroom say you tis a groom indeed a grumbling groom and that the girl shall find tranio curster than she why tis impossible gremio why hes a devil a devil a very fiend tranio why shes a devil a devil the devils dam gremio tut shes a lamb a dove a fool to him ill tell you sir lucentio when the priest should ask if katherine should be his wife ay by gogs wouns quoth he and swore so loud that all amazd the priest let fall the book and as he stoopd again to take it up the mad braind 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 tranio what said the wench when he rose again gremio trembled and shook for why he stampd 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 abroad carousing to his mates after a storm quaffd off the muscadel and threw the sops all in the sextons face having no other reason but that his beard grew thin and hungerly and seemd to ask him sops as he was drinking this done he took the bride about the neck and kissd 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 music plays enter petrucio katherina bianca baptista hortensio grumio and train petruchio gentlemen and friends i thank you for your pains i know you think to dine with me today and have prepard great store of wedding cheer but so it is my haste doth call me hence and therefore here i mean to take my leave baptista ist possible you will away tonight petruchio i must away today 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 tranio let us entreat you stay till after dinner petruchio it may not be gremio let me entreat you petruchio it cannot be katherina let me entreat you petruchio i am content katherina are you content to stay petruchio i am content you shall entreat me stay but yet not stay entreat me how you can katherina now if you love me stay petruchio grumio my horse grumio ay sir they be ready the oats have eaten the horses katherina nay then do what thou canst i will not go today no nor tomorrow not till i please myself the door is open sir there lies your way you may be jogging whiles your boots are green for me ill not be gone till i please myself tis like youll prove a jolly surly groom that take it on you at the first so roundly petruchio o kate content thee prithee be not angry katherina i will be angry what hast thou to do father be quiet he shall stay my leisure gremio ay marry sir now it begins to work katherina gentlemen forward to the bridal dinner i see a woman may be made a fool if she had not a spirit to resist petruchio 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 ill bring mine action on the proudest he that stops my way in padua grumio draw forth thy weapon we are beset with thieves rescue thy mistress if thou be a man fear not sweet wench they shall not touch thee kate ill buckler thee against a million exeunt petrucio katherina and grumio baptista nay let them go a couple of quiet ones gremio went they not quickly i should die with laughing tranio of all mad matches never was the like lucentio mistress whats your opinion of your sister bianca that being mad herself shes madly mated gremio i warrant him petruchio is kated baptista 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 bridegrooms place and let bianca take her sisters room tranio shall sweet bianca practise how to bride it baptista she shall lucentio come gentlemen lets go exeunt act iv scene i a hall in petruchios country house enter grumio grumio fie fie on all tired jades on all mad masters and all foul ways was ever man so beaten was ever man so rayd 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 enter curtis curtis who is that calls so coldly grumio 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 curtis is my master and his wife coming grumio grumio o ay curtis ay and therefore fire fire cast on no water curtis is she so hot a shrew as shes reported grumio 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 curtis away you three inch fool i am no beast grumio 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 curtis i prithee good grumio tell me how goes the world grumio 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 curtis theres fire ready and therefore good grumio the news grumio why jack boy ho boy and as much news as wilt thou curtis come you are so full of cony catching grumio why therefore fire for i have caught extreme cold wheres the cook is supper ready the house trimmed rushes strewed cobwebs swept the servingmen 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 curtis all ready and therefore i pray thee news grumio first know my horse is tired my master and mistress fallen out curtis how grumio out of their saddles into the dirt and thereby hangs a tale curtis lets hat good grumio grumio lend thine ear curtis here grumio striking him there curtis this tis to feel a tale not to hear a tale grumio and therefore tis 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 curtis both of one horse grumio whats that to thee curtis why a horse grumio 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 curtis by this reckoning he is more shrew than she grumio 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 brushd and their garters of an indifferent knit let them curtsy with their left legs and not presume to touch a hair of my masters horse tail till they kiss their hands are they all ready curtis they are grumio call them forth curtis do you hear ho you must meet my master to countenance my mistress grumio why she hath a face of her own curtis who knows not that grumio thou it seems that calls for company to countenance her curtis i call them forth to credit her grumio why she comes to borrow nothing of them enter four or five servants nathaniel welcome home grumio philip how now grumio joseph what grumio nicholas fellow grumio nathaniel how now old lad grumio 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 nathaniel all things is ready how near is our master grumio een at hand alighted by this and therefore be not cocks passion silence i hear my master enter petrucio and katherina petruchio where be these knaves what no man at door to hold my stirrup nor to take my horse where is nathaniel gregory philip all servants here here sir here sir petruchio here sir here sir here sir here sir you logger headed and unpolishd grooms what no attendance no regard no duty where is the foolish knave i sent before grumio here sir as foolish as i was before petruchio 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 grumio nathaniels coat sir was not fully made and gabriels pumps were all unpinkd i the heel there was no link to colour peters hat and walters dagger was not come from sheathing there was 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 petruchio go rascals go and fetch my supper in exeunt some of the servants where is the life that late i led where are those sit down kate and welcome food food food food re enter servants with supper 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 strikes him take that and mend the plucking off the other be merry kate some water here what ho wheres my spaniel troilus sirrah get you hence and bid my cousin ferdinand come hither exit servant 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 servant lets the ewer fall petruchio strikes him you whoreson villain will you let it fall katherina patience i pray you twas a fault unwilling petruchio a whoreson beetle headed flap eard knave come kate sit down i know you have a stomach will you give thanks sweet kate or else shall i whats this mutton first servant ay petruchio who brought it peter i petruchio 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 throws the meat etc at them there take it to you trenchers cups and all you heedless joltheads and unmannerd slaves what do you grumble ill be with you straight katherina i pray you husband be not so disquiet the meat was well if you were so contented petruchio 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 tomorrow t shall be mended and for this night well fast for company come i will bring thee to thy bridal chamber exeunt petruchio katherina and curtis nathaniel peter didst ever see the like peter he kills her in her own humour re enter curtis grumio where is he curtis 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 exeunt re enter petruchio petruchio 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 gorgd for then she never looks upon her lure another way i have to man my haggard to make her come and know her keepers call that is to watch her as we watch these kites that bate and beat and will not be obedient she eat no meat today nor none shall eat last night she slept not nor tonight she shall not as with the meat some undeserved fault ill find about the making of the bed and here ill 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 ill rail and brawl and with the clamour keep her still awake this is a way to kill a wife with kindness and thus ill curb her mad and headstrong humour he that knows better how to tame a shrew now let him speak tis charity to show exit scene ii padua before baptistas house enter tranio and hortensio tranio is t possible friend licio that mistress bianca doth fancy any other but lucentio i tell you sir she bears me fair in hand hortensio sir to satisfy you in what i have said stand by and mark the manner of his teaching they stand aside enter bianca and lucentio lucentio now mistress profit you in what you read bianca what master read you first resolve me that lucentio i read that i profess the art to love bianca and may you prove sir master of your art lucentio while you sweet dear prove mistress of my heart they retire hortensio quick proceeders marry now tell me i pray you that durst swear that your mistress bianca lovd none in the world so well as lucentio tranio o despiteful love unconstant womankind i tell thee licio this is wonderful hortensio mistake no more i am not licio nor a musician as i seem to be but one that scorn 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 calld hortensio tranio 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 hortensio see how they kiss and court signior lucentio here is my hand and here i firmly vow never to woo her more but do forswear her as one unworthy all the former favours that i have fondly flatterd her withal tranio 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 hortensio 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 lovd me as i have lovd 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 exit hortensio lucentio and bianca advance tranio mistress bianca bless you with such grace as longeth to a lovers blessed case nay i have taen you napping gentle love and have forsworn you with hortensio bianca tranio you jest but have you both forsworn me tranio mistress we have lucentio then we are rid of licio tranio i faith hell have a lusty widow now that shall be wood and wedded in a day bianca god give him joy tranio ay and hell tame her bianca he says so tranio tranio faith he is gone unto the taming school bianca the taming school what is there such a place tranio ay mistress and petruchio is the master that teacheth tricks eleven and twenty long to tame a shrew and charm her chattering tongue enter biondello running biondello o master master i have watchd so long that i am dog weary but at last i spied an ancient angel coming down the hill will serve the turn tranio what is he biondello biondello master a mercatante or a pedant i know not what but formal in apparel in gait and countenance surely like a father lucentio and what of him tranio tranio if he be credulous and trust my tale ill 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 exeunt lucentio and bianca enter a pedant pedant god save you sir tranio and you sir you are welcome travel you far on or are you at the farthest pedant sir at the farthest for a week or two but then up farther and as far as rome and so to tripoli if god lend me life tranio what countryman i pray pedant of mantua tranio of mantua sir marry god forbid and come to padua careless of your life pedant my life sir how i pray for that goes hard tranio tis death for anyone in mantua to come to padua know you not the cause your ships are stayd at venice and the duke for private quarrel twixt your duke and him hath publishd and proclaimd it openly tis marvel but that you are but newly come you might have heard it else proclaimd about pedant alas sir it is worse for me than so for i have bills for money by exchange from florence and must here deliver them tranio 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 pedant ay sir in pisa have i often been pisa renowned for grave citizens tranio among them know you one vincentio pedant i know him not but i have heard of him a merchant of incomparable wealth tranio he is my father sir and sooth to say in countenance somewhat doth resemble you biondello aside as much as an apple doth an oyster and all one tranio 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 lodgd 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 pedant o sir i do and will repute you ever the patron of my life and liberty tranio then go with me to make the matter good this by the way i let you understand my father is here lookd for every day to pass assurance of a dower in marriage twixt me and one baptistas daughter here in all these circumstances ill instruct you go with me to clothe you as becomes you exeunt scene iii a room in petruchios house enter katherina and grumio grumio no no forsooth i dare not for my life katherina the more my wrong the more his spite appears what did he marry me to famish me beggars that come unto my fathers 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 starvd 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 grumio what say you to a neats foot katherina tis passing good i prithee let me have it grumio i fear it is too choleric a meat how say you to a fat tripe finely broild katherina i like it well good grumio fetch it me grumio i cannot tell i fear tis choleric what say you to a piece of beef and mustard katherina a dish that i do love to feed upon grumio ay but the mustard is too hot a little katherina why then the beef and let the mustard rest grumio nay then i will not you shall have the mustard or else you get no beef of grumio katherina then both or one or anything thou wilt grumio why then the mustard without the beef katherina go get thee gone thou false deluding slave beats him that feedst 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 enter petruchio with a dish of meat and hortensio petruchio how fares my kate what sweeting all amort hortensio mistress what cheer katherina faith as cold as can be petruchio 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 sets the dish on a table i am sure sweet kate this kindness merits thanks what not a word nay then thou lovst it not and all my pains is sorted to no proof here take away this dish katherina i pray you let it stand petruchio the poorest service is repaid with thanks and so shall mine before you touch the meat katherina i thank you sir hortensio signior petruchio fie you are to blame come mistress kate ill bear you company petruchio aside eat it up all hortensio if thou lovest me much good do it unto thy gentle heart kate eat apace and now my honey love will we return unto thy fathers 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 dind the tailor stays thy leisure to deck thy body with his ruffling treasure enter tailor come tailor let us see these ornaments lay forth the gown enter haberdasher what news with you sir haberdasher here is the cap your worship did bespeak petruchio 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 babys cap away with it come let me have a bigger katherina ill have no bigger this doth fit the time and gentlewomen wear such caps as these petruchio when you are gentle you shall have one too and not till then hortensio aside that will not be in haste katherina why sir i trust i may have leave to speak and speak i will i am no child no babe your betters have endurd 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 petruchio why thou sayst true it is a paltry cap a custard coffin a bauble a silken pie i love thee well in that thou likst it not katherina love me or love me not i like the cap and it i will have or i will have none exit haberdasher petruchio thy gown why ay come tailor let us seet o mercy god what masquing stuff is here whats this a sleeve tis like a demi cannon what up and down carvd like an apple tart heres snip and nip and cut and slish and slash like to a censer in a barbers shop why what i devils name tailor callst thou this hortensio aside i see shes like to have neither cap nor gown tailor you bid me make it orderly and well according to the fashion and the time petruchio marry and did but if you be rememberd 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 ill none of it hence make your best of it katherina i never saw a better fashiond gown more quaint more pleasing nor more commendable belike you mean to make a puppet of me petruchio why true he means to make a puppet of thee tailor she says your worship means to make a puppet of her petruchio 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 bravd 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 livst i tell thee i that thou hast marrd her gown tailor your worship is deceivd the gown is made just as my master had direction grumio gave order how it should be done grumio i gave him no order i gave him the stuff tailor but how did you desire it should be made grumio marry sir with needle and thread tailor but did you not request to have it cut grumio thou hast faced many things tailor i have grumio face not me thou hast braved many men brave not me i will neither be facd nor bravd 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 tailor why here is the note of the fashion to testify petruchio read it grumio the note lies in s throat if he say i said so tailor imprimis a loose bodied gown grumio 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 petruchio proceed tailor with a small compassed cape grumio i confess the cape tailor with a trunk sleeve grumio i confess two sleeves tailor the sleeves curiously cut petruchio ay theres the villainy grumio error i the bill sir error i the bill i commanded the sleeves should be cut out and sewd up again and that ill prove upon thee though thy little finger be armed in a thimble tailor this is true that i say and i had thee in place where thou shouldst know it grumio i am for thee straight take thou the bill give me thy mete yard and spare not me hortensio god a mercy grumio then he shall have no odds petruchio well sir in brief the gown is not for me grumio you are i the right sir tis for my mistress petruchio go take it up unto thy masters use grumio villain not for thy life take up my mistress gown for thy masters use petruchio why sir whats your conceit in that grumio o sir the conceit is deeper than you think for take up my mistress gown to his masters use o fie fie fie petruchio aside hortensio say thou wilt see the tailor paid to tailor go take it hence be gone and say no more hortensio aside to tailor tailor ill pay thee for thy gown tomorrow take no unkindness of his hasty words away i say commend me to thy master exit tailor petruchio well come my kate we will unto your fathers 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 accountst it shame lay it on me and therefore frolic we will hence forthwith to feast and sport us at thy fathers 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 lets see i think tis now some seven oclock and well we may come there by dinner time katherina i dare assure you sir tis almost two and twill be supper time ere you come there petruchio 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 today and ere i do it shall be what oclock i say it is hortensio why so this gallant will command the sun exeunt scene iv padua before baptistas house enter tranio and the pedant dressed like vincentio tranio sir this is the house please it you that i call pedant 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 tranio tis well and hold your own in any case with such austerity as longeth to a father pedant i warrant you but sir here comes your boy twere good he were schoold enter biondello tranio fear you not him sirrah biondello now do your duty throughly i advise you imagine twere the right vincentio biondello tut fear not me tranio but hast thou done thy errand to baptista biondello i told him that your father was at venice and that you lookd for him this day in padua tranio thart a tall fellow hold thee that to drink here comes baptista set your countenance sir enter baptista and lucentio signior baptista you are happily met to the pedant sir this is the gentleman i told you of i pray you stand good father to me now give me bianca for my patrimony pedant 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 fathers care to have him matchd 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 bestowd for curious i cannot be with you signior baptista of whom i hear so well baptista 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 tranio i thank you sir where then do you know best we be affied and such assurance taen as shall with either parts agreement stand baptista 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 tranio then at my lodging and it like you there doth my father lie and there this night well 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 are like to have a thin and slender pittance baptista it likes me well cambio hie you home and bid bianca make her ready straight and if you will tell what hath happened lucentios father is arrivd in padua and how shes like to be lucentios wife lucentio i pray the gods she may with all my heart tranio 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 baptista i follow you exeunt tranio pedant and baptista biondello cambio lucentio what sayst thou biondello biondello you saw my master wink and laugh upon you lucentio biondello what of that biondello faith nothing but has left me here behind to expound the meaning or moral of his signs and tokens lucentio i pray thee moralize them biondello then thus baptista is safe talking with the deceiving father of a deceitful son lucentio and what of him biondello his daughter is to be brought by you to the supper lucentio and then biondello the old priest at saint lukes church is at your command at all hours lucentio and what of all this biondello i cannot tell except they are busied about a counterfeit assurance take your 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 more to say but bid bianca farewell for ever and a day going lucentio hearst thou biondello 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 lukes to bid the priest be ready to come against you come with your appendix exit lucentio i may and will if she be so contented she will be pleasd then wherefore should i doubt hap what hap may ill roundly go about her it shall go hard if cambio go without her exit scene v a public road enter petruchio katherina hortensio and servants petruchio come on i gods name once more toward our fathers good lord how bright and goodly shines the moon katherina the moon the sun it is not moonlight now petruchio i say it is the moon that shines so bright katherina i know it is the sun that shines so bright petruchio now by my mothers son and thats myself it shall be moon or star or what i list or ere i journey to your fathers house go on and fetch our horses back again evermore crossd and crossd nothing but crossd hortensio say as he says or we shall never go katherina forward i pray since we have come so far and be it moon or sun or what you please and if you please to call it a rush candle henceforth i vow it shall be so for me petruchio i say it is the moon katherina i know it is the moon petruchio nay then you lie it is the blessed sun katherina then god be blessd 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 namd even that it is and so it shall be so for katherine hortensio petruchio go thy ways the field is won petruchio well forward forward thus the bowl should run and not unluckily against the bias but soft company is coming here enter vincentio in a travelling dress to vincentio 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 beautys sake hortensio a will make the man mad to make a woman of him katherina 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 bedfellow petruchio why how now kate i hope thou art not mad this is a man old wrinkled faded witherd and not a maiden as thou sayst he is katherina 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 petruchio do good old grandsire and withal make known which way thou travellest if along with us we shall be joyful of thy company vincentio fair sir and you my merry mistress that with your strange encounter much amazd 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 petruchio what is his name vincentio lucentio gentle sir petruchio 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 grievd 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 vincentio but is this true or is it else your pleasure like pleasant travellers to break a jest upon the company you overtake hortensio i do assure thee father so it is petruchio come go along and see the truth hereof for our first merriment hath made thee jealous exeunt all but hortensio hortensio 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 exit act v scene i padua before lucentios house enter on one side biondello lucentio and bianca gremio walking on other side biondello softly and swiftly sir for the priest is ready lucentio i fly biondello but they may chance to need thee at home therefore leave us biondello nay faith ill see the church o your back and then come back to my masters as soon as i can exeunt lucentio bianca and biondello gremio i marvel cambio comes not all this while enter petruchio katherina vincentio and attendants petruchio sir heres the door this is lucentios house my fathers bears more toward the market place thither must i and here i leave you sir vincentio 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 knocks gremio theyre busy within you were best knock louder enter pedant above at a window pedant whats he that knocks as he would beat down the gate vincentio is signior lucentio within sir pedant hes within sir but not to be spoken withal vincentio what if a man bring him a hundred pound or two to make merry withal pedant keep your hundred pounds to yourself he shall need none so long as i live petruchio 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 pedant thou liest his father is come from padua and here looking out at the window vincentio art thou his father pedant ay sir so his mother says if i may believe her petruchio to vincentio why how now gentleman why this is flat knavery to take upon you another mans name pedant lay hands on the villain i believe a means to cozen somebody in this city under my countenance re enter biondello biondello 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 vincentio seeing biondello come hither crack hemp biondello i hope i may choose sir vincentio come hither you rogue what have you forgot me biondello forgot you no sir i could not forget you for i never saw you before in all my life vincentio what you notorious villain didst thou never see thy masters father vincentio biondello what my old worshipful old master yes marry sir see where he looks out of the window vincentio ist so indeed he beats biondello biondello help help help heres a madman will murder me exit pedant help son help signior baptista exit from the window petruchio prithee kate lets stand aside and see the end of this controversy they retire re enter pedant below baptista tranio and servants tranio sir what are you that offer to beat my servant vincentio 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 tranio how now whats the matter baptista what is the man lunatic tranio 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 vincentio thy father o villain he is a sailmaker in bergamo baptista you mistake sir you mistake sir pray what do you think is his name vincentio 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 pedant away away mad ass his name is lucentio and he is mine only son and heir to the lands of me signior vincentio vincentio lucentio o he hath murdered his master lay hold on him i charge you in the dukes name o my son my son tell me thou villain where is my son lucentio tranio call forth an officer enter one with an officer carry this mad knave to the gaol father baptista i charge you see that he be forthcoming vincentio carry me to the gaol gremio stay officer he shall not go to prison baptista talk not signior gremio i say he shall go to prison gremio take heed signior baptista lest you be cony catched in this business i dare swear this is the right vincentio pedant swear if thou darest gremio nay i dare not swear it tranio then thou wert best say that i am not lucentio gremio yes i know thee to be signior lucentio baptista away with the dotard to the gaol with him vincentio thus strangers may be haled and abusd o monstrous villain re enter biondello with lucentio and bianca biondello o we are spoiled and yonder he is deny him forswear him or else we are all undone lucentio kneeling pardon sweet father vincentio lives my sweetest son biondello tranio and pedant run out bianca kneeling pardon dear father baptista how hast thou offended where is lucentio lucentio heres lucentio right son to the right vincentio that have by marriage made thy daughter mine while counterfeit supposes bleard thine eyne gremio here s packing with a witness to deceive us all vincentio where is that damned villain tranio that facd and bravd me in this matter so baptista why tell me is not this my cambio bianca cambio is changd into lucentio lucentio love wrought these miracles biancas love made me exchange my state with tranio while he did bear my countenance in the town and happily i have arrivd at the last unto the wished haven of my bliss what tranio did myself enforcd him to then pardon him sweet father for my sake vincentio ill slit the villains nose that would have sent me to the gaol baptista to lucentio but do you hear sir have you married my daughter without asking my good will vincentio fear not baptista we will content you go to but i will in to be revenged for this villainy exit baptista and i to sound the depth of this knavery exit lucentio look not pale bianca thy father will not frown exeunt lucentio and bianca gremio my cake is dough but ill in among the rest out of hope of all but my share of the feast exit petruchio and katherina advance katherina husband lets follow to see the end of this ado petruchio first kiss me kate and we will katherina what in the midst of the street petruchio what art thou ashamed of me katherina no sir god forbid but ashamed to kiss petruchio why then lets home again come sirrah lets away katherina nay i will give thee a kiss now pray thee love stay petruchio is not this well come my sweet kate better once than never for never too late exeunt scene ii a room in lucentios house enter baptista vincentio gremio the pedant lucentio bianca petruchio katherina hortensio and widow tranio biondello and grumio and others attending lucentio 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 katherina 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 they sit at table petruchio nothing but sit and sit and eat and eat baptista padua affords this kindness son petruchio petruchio padua affords nothing but what is kind hortensio for both our sakes i would that word were true petruchio now for my life hortensio fears his widow widow then never trust me if i be afeard petruchio you are very sensible and yet you miss my sense i mean hortensio is afeard of you widow he that is giddy thinks the world turns round petruchio roundly replied katherina mistress how mean you that widow thus i conceive by him petruchio conceives by me how likes hortensio that hortensio my widow says thus she conceives her tale petruchio very well mended kiss him for that good widow katherina he that is giddy thinks the world turns round i pray you tell me what you meant by that widow your husband being troubled with a shrew measures my husbands sorrow by his woe and now you know my meaning katherina a very mean meaning widow right i mean you katherina and i am mean indeed respecting you petruchio to her kate hortensio to her widow petruchio a hundred marks my kate does put her down hortensio thats my office petruchio spoke like an officer ha to thee lad drinks to hortensio baptista how likes gremio these quick witted folks gremio believe me sir they butt together well bianca head and butt an hasty witted body would say your head and butt were head and horn vincentio ay mistress bride hath that awakend you bianca ay but not frighted me therefore ill sleep again petruchio nay that you shall not since you have begun have at you for a bitter jest or two bianca am i your bird i mean to shift my bush and then pursue me as you draw your bow you are welcome all exeunt bianca katherina and widow petruchio she hath prevented me here signior tranio this bird you aimd at though you hit her not therefore a health to all that shot and missd tranio o sir lucentio slippd me like his greyhound which runs himself and catches for his master petruchio a good swift simile but something currish tranio tis well sir that you hunted for yourself tis thought your deer does hold you at a bay baptista o ho petruchio tranio hits you now lucentio i thank thee for that gird good tranio hortensio confess confess hath he not hit you here petruchio a has a little galld me i confess and as the jest did glance away from me tis ten to one it maimd you two outright baptista now in good sadness son petruchio i think thou hast the veriest shrew of all petruchio well i say no and therefore for assurance lets 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 hortensio content whats the wager lucentio twenty crowns petruchio twenty crowns ill venture so much of my hawk or hound but twenty times so much upon my wife lucentio a hundred then hortensio content petruchio a match tis done hortensio who shall begin lucentio that will i go biondello bid your mistress come to me biondello i go exit baptista son ill be your half bianca comes lucentio ill have no halves ill bear it all myself re enter biondello how now what news biondello sir my mistress sends you word that she is busy and she cannot come petruchio how shes busy and she cannot come is that an answer gremio ay and a kind one too pray god sir your wife send you not a worse petruchio i hope better hortensio sirrah biondello go and entreat my wife to come to me forthwith exit biondello petruchio o ho entreat her nay then she must needs come hortensio i am afraid sir do what you can yours will not be entreated re enter biondello now wheres my wife biondello she says you have some goodly jest in hand she will not come she bids you come to her petruchio worse and worse she will not come o vile intolerable not to be endurd sirrah grumio go to your mistress say i command her come to me exit grumio hortensio i know her answer petruchio what hortensio she will not petruchio the fouler fortune mine and there an end re enter katherina baptista now by my holidame here comes katherina katherina what is your will sir that you send for me petruchio where is your sister and hortensios wife katherina they sit conferring by the parlour fire petruchio 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 exit katherina lucentio here is a wonder if you talk of a wonder hortensio and so it is i wonder what it bodes petruchio marry peace it bodes and love and quiet life an awful rule and right supremacy and to be short what not thats sweet and happy baptista 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 changd as she had never been petruchio 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 re enter katherina with bianca and widow katherine that cap of yours becomes you not off with that bauble throw it underfoot katherina pulls off her cap and throws it down widow lord let me never have a cause to sigh till i be brought to such a silly pass bianca fie what a foolish duty call you this lucentio i would your duty were as foolish too the wisdom of your duty fair bianca hath cost me a hundred crowns since supper time bianca the more fool you for laying on my duty petruchio katherine i charge thee tell these headstrong women what duty they do owe their lords and husbands widow come come youre mocking we will have no telling petruchio come on i say and first begin with her widow she shall not petruchio i say she shall and first begin with her katherina 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 movd 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 is 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 ashamd 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 husbands foot in token of which duty if he please my hand is ready may it do him ease petruchio why theres a wench come on and kiss me kate lucentio well go thy ways old lad for thou shalt hat vincentio tis a good hearing when children are toward lucentio but a harsh hearing when women are froward petruchio come kate well to bed we three are married but you two are sped twas i won the wager to lucentio though you hit the white and being a winner god give you good night exeunt petrucio and katherina hortensio now go thy ways thou hast tamd a curst shrew lucentio tis a wonder by your leave she will be tamd so exeunt the tempest dramatis personae alonso king of naples sebastian his brother prospero the right duke of milan antonio his brother the usurping duke of milan ferdinand son to the king of naples gonzalo an honest old counsellor lords adrian francisco caliban a savage and deformed slave trinculo a jester stephano a drunken butler master of a ship boatswain mariners miranda daughter to prospero ariel an airy spirit spirits iris ceres juno nymphs reapers other spirits attending on prospero scene a ship at sea afterwards an uninhabited island the tempest act i scene on a ship at sea a tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard enter a shipmaster and a boatswain master boatswain boatswain here master what cheer master good speak to th mariners fall tot yarely or we run ourselves aground bestir bestir exit enter mariners boatswain heigh my hearts cheerly cheerly my hearts yare yare take in the topsail tend to th masters whistle blow till thou burst thy wind if room enough enter alonso sebastian antonio ferdinand gonzalo and others alonso good boatswain have care wheres the master play the men boatswain i pray now keep below antonio where is the master boson boatswain do you not hear him you mar our labour keep your cabins you do assist the storm gonzalo nay good be patient boatswain when the sea is hence what cares these roarers for the name of king to cabin silence trouble us not gonzalo good yet remember whom thou hast aboard boatswain none that i more love than myself you are 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 livd 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 exit gonzalo 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 hangd our case is miserable exeunt re enter boatswain boatswain down with the topmast yare lower lower bring her to try wi th maincourse a cry within a plague upon this howling they are louder than the weather or our office re enter sebastian antonio and gonzalo yet again what do you here shall we give oer and drown have you a mind to sink sebastian a pox o your throat you bawling blasphemous incharitable dog boatswain work you then antonio hang cur hang you whoreson insolent noisemaker we are less afraid to be drownd than thou art gonzalo ill warrant him for drowning though the ship were no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an unstanched wench boatswain lay her a hold a hold set her two courses off to sea again lay her off enter mariners wet mariners all lost to prayers to prayers all lost exeunt boatswain what must our mouths be cold gonzalo the king and prince at prayers lets assist them for our case is as theirs sebastian i am out of patience antonio we are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards this wide choppd rascal would thou mightst lie drowning the washing of ten tides gonzalo hell be hangd yet though every drop of water swear against it and gape at widst to glut him a confused noise within mercy on us we split we split farewell my wife and children farewell brother we split we split we split antonio lets all sink wi th king sebastian lets take leave of him exeunt antonio and sebastian gonzalo 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 dry death exeunt scene the island before prosperos cell enter prospero and miranda miranda 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 welkins cheek dashes the fire out o i have suffered with those that i saw suffer a brave vessel who had no doubt some noble creature in her dashd all to pieces o the cry did knock against my very heart poor souls they perishd had i been any god of power i would have sunk the sea within the earth or ere it should the good ship so have swallowd and the fraughting souls within her prospero be conected no more amazement tell your piteous heart theres no harm done miranda o woe the day prospero 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 miranda more to know did never meddle with my thoughts prospero tis time i should inform thee farther lend thy hand and pluck my magic garment from me so lays down his mantle lie there my art wipe thou thine eyes have comfort the direful spectacle of the wreck which touchd the very virtue of compassion in thee i have with such provision in mine art so safely ordered that there is no soul no not so much perdition as an hair betid to any creature in the vessel which thou heardst cry which thou sawst sink sit down for thou must now know farther miranda you have often begun to tell me what i am but stoppd and left me to a bootless inquisition concluding stay not yet prospero the hours 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 miranda certainly sir i can prospero by what by any other house or person of any thing the image tell me that hath kept with thy remembrance miranda 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 prospero 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 remembrest aught ere thou camst here how thou camst here thou mayst miranda but that i do not prospero twelve year since miranda twelve year since thy father was the duke of milan and a prince of power miranda sir are not you my father prospero 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 and princess no worse issued miranda o the heavens what foul play had we that we came from thence or blessed wast we did prospero both both my girl by foul play as thou sayst were we heavd thence but blessedly holp hither miranda o my heart bleeds to think o th teen that i have turnd you to which is from my remembrance please you farther prospero my brother and thy uncle calld antonio i pray thee mark me that a brother should be so perfidious he whom next thyself of all the world i lovd and to him put the manage of my state as at that time through all the signories 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 miranda sir most heedfully prospero 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 changd em or else new formd em having both the key of officer and office set all hearts i th state to what tune pleasd his ear that now he was the ivy which had hid my princely trunk and suckd my verdure out ont thou attendst not miranda o good sir i do prospero 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 retird oer prizd all popular rate in my false brother awakd 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 th substitution and executing th outward face of royalty with all prerogative hence his ambition growing dost thou hear miranda your tale sir would cure deafness prospero to have no screen between this part he playd and him he playd 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 th king of naples to give him annual tribute do him homage subject his coronet to his crown and bend the dukedom yet unbowd alas poor milan to most ignoble stooping miranda o the heavens prospero mark his condition and th event then tell me if this might be a brother miranda i should sin to think but nobly of my grandmother good wombs have borne bad sons prospero now the condition this king of naples being an enemy to me inveterate hearkens my brothers suit which was that he in lieu o th 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 th purpose did antonio open the gates of milan and i th dead of darkness the ministers for th purpose hurried thence me and thy crying self miranda alack for pity i not remembring how i cried out then will cry it oer again it is a hint that wrings mine eyes tot prospero hear a little further and then ill bring thee to the present busines which nows upon s without the which this story were most impertinent miranda wherefore did they not that hour destroy us prospero 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 prepared a rotten carcass of a butt not riggd nor tackle sail nor mast the very rats instinctively have quit it there they hoist us to cry to th sea that roard to us to sigh to th winds whose pity sighing back again did us but loving wrong miranda alack what trouble was i then to you prospero o a cherubin thou wast that did preserve me thou didst smile infused with a fortitude from heaven when i have deckd the sea with drops full salt under my burden groand which raisd in me an undergoing stomach to bear up against what should ensue miranda how came we ashore prospero 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 lovd my books he furnishd me from mine own library with volumes that i prize above my dukedom miranda would i might but ever see that man prospero now i arise puts on his mantle sit still and hear the last of our sea sorrow here in this island we arrivd and here have i thy schoolmaster made thee more profit than other princess can that have more time for vainer hours and tutors not so careful miranda heavens thank you fort and now i pray you sir for still tis beating in my mind your reason for raising this sea storm prospero 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 inclind to sleep tis a good dullness and give it way i know thou canst not choose miranda sleeps come away servant come i am ready now approach my ariel come enter ariel ariel all hail great master grave sir hail i come to answer thy best pleasure bet to fly to swim to dive into the fire to ride on the curld clouds to thy strong bidding task ariel and all his quality prospero hast thou spirit performd to point the tempest that i bade thee ariel to every article i boarded the kings ship now on the beak now in the waist the deck in every cabin i flamd amazement sometime id divide and burn in many places on the topmast the yards and bowsprit would i flame distinctly then meet and join joves lightning the precursors o th 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 prospero my brave spirit who was so firm so constant that this coil would not infect his reason ariel not a soul but felt a fever of the mad and playd some tricks of desperation all but mariners plungd in the foaming brine and quit the vessel then all afire with me the kings son ferdinand with hair up staring then like reeds not hair was the first man that leapt cried hell is empty and all the devils are here prospero why thats my spirit but was not this nigh shore ariel close by my master prospero but are they ariel safe ariel not a hair perishd on their sustaining garments not a blemish but fresher than before and as thou badst me in troops i have dispersd them bout the isle the kings 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 prospero of the kings ship the mariners say how thou hast disposd and all the rest o th fleet ariel safely in harbour is the kings ship in the deep nook where once thou calldst me up at midnight to fetch dew from the still vexd bermoothes there shes hid the mariners all under hatches stowed who with a charm joind to their suffred labour i have left asleep and for the rest o th fleet which i dispersd they all have met again and are upon the mediterranean flote bound sadly home for naples supposing that they saw the kings ship wreckd and his great person perish prospero ariel thy charge exactly is performd but theres more work what is the time o th day ariel past the mid season prospero at least two glasses the time twixt six and now must by us both be spent most preciously ariel is there more toil since thou dost give me pains let me remember thee what thou hast promisd which is not yet performd me prospero how now moody what ist thou canst demand ariel my liberty prospero before the time be out no more ariel i prithee remember i have done thee worthy service told thee no lies made thee no mistakings servd without or grudge or grumblings thou didst promise to bate me a full year prospero dost thou forget from what a torment i did free thee ariel no prospero thou dost and thinkst 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 bakd with frost ariel i do not sir prospero 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 ariel no sir prospero thou hast where was she born speak tell me ariel sir in argier prospero o was she so i must once in a month recount what thou hast been which thou forgetst this damnd witch sycorax for mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible to enter human hearing from argier thou knowst was banishd for one thing she did they would not take her life is not this true ariel ay sir prospero this blue eyd hag was hither brought with child and here was left by thsailors thou my slave as thou reportst thyself wast then her servant and for thou wast a spirit too delicate to act her earthy and abhorrd 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 imprisond 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 freckld whelp hag born not honourd with a human shape ariel yes caliban her son prospero dull thing i say so he that caliban whom now i keep in service thou best knowst 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 damnd which sycorax could not again undo it was mine art when i arrivd and heard thee that made gape the pine and let thee out ariel i thank thee master prospero if thou more murmurst i will rend an oak and peg thee in his knotty entrails till thou hast howld away twelve winters ariel pardon master i will be correspondent to command and do my spriting gently prospero do so and after two days i will discharge thee ariel thats my noble master what shall i do say what what shall i do prospero go make thyself like a nymph o th 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 exit ariel awake dear heart awake thou hast slept well awake miranda the strangeness of your story put heaviness in me prospero shake it off come on well visit caliban my slave who never yields us kind answer miranda tis a villain sir i do not love to look on prospero 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 caliban within theres wood enough within prospero come forth i say theres other business for thee come thou tortoise when re enter ariel like a water nymph fine apparition my quaint ariel hark in thine ear ariel my lord it shall be done exit prospero thou poisonous slave got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam come forth enter caliban caliban as wicked dew as eer my mother brushd with ravens feather from unwholesome fen drop on you both a south west blow on ye and blister you all oer prospero for this be sure to night thou shalt have cramps side stitches that shall pen thy breath up urchins shall for that vast of night that they may work all exercise on thee thou shalt be pinchd as thick as honeycomb each pinch more stinging than bees that made em caliban i must eat my dinner this islands mine by sycorax my mother which thou takst from me when thou camst first thou strokst me and made much of me wouldst give me water with berries int and teach me how to name the bigger light and how the less that burn by day and night and then i lovd thee and showd thee all the qualities o th isle the fresh springs brine pits barren place and fertile cursd 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 prospero thou most lying slave whom stripes may move not kindness i have usd thee filth as thou art with human care and lodgd thee in mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate the honour of my child caliban o ho o ho wouldt had been done thou didst prevent me i had peopld else this isle with calibans miranda abhorred slave which any print of goodness wilt 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 endowd thy purposes with words that made them known but thy vile race though thou didst learn had that int which good natures could not abide to be with therefore wast thou deservedly confind into this rock who hadst deservd more than a prison caliban you taught me language and my profit ont is i know how to curse the red plague rid you for learning me your language prospero hag seed hence fetch us in fuel and be quick thou rt best to answer other business shrugst thou malice if thou neglectst or dost unwillingly what i command ill rack thee with old cramps fill all thy bones with aches make thee roar that beasts shall tremble at thy din caliban no pray thee aside i must obey his art is of such powr it would control my dams god setebos and make a vassal of him prospero so slave hence exit caliban re enter ariel invisible playing ad singing ferdinand following ariels song come unto these yellow sands and then take hands curtsied when you have and kissd the wild waves whist foot it featly here and there and sweet sprites the burden bear hark hark burden dispersedly bow wow the watch dogs bark burden dispersedly bow wow hark hark i hear the strain of strutting chanticleer cry cock a diddle dow ferdinand 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 fathers wreck this music crept by me upon the waters allaying both their fury and my passion with its sweet air thence i have followd it or it hath drawn me rather but tis gone no it begins again ariels song 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 burden ding dong hark now i hear them ding dong bell ferdinand the ditty does remember my drownd father this is no mortal business nor no sound that the earth owes i hear it now above me prospero the fringed curtains of thine eye advance and say what thou seest yond miranda what ist a spirit lord how it looks about believe me sir it carries a brave form but tis a spirit prospero no wench it eats and sleeps and hath such senses as we have such this gallant which thou seest was in the wreck and but hes something staind with grief thats beautys canker thou mightst call him a goodly person he hath lost his fellows and strays about to find em miranda i might call him a thing divine for nothing natural i ever saw so noble prospero aside it goes on i see as my soul prompts it spirit fine spirit ill free thee within two days for this ferdinand most sure the goddess on whom these airs attend vouchsafe my prayr 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 miranda no wonder sir but certainly a maid ferdinand my language heavens i am the best of them that speak this speech were i but where tis spoken prospero how the best what wert thou if the king of naples heard thee ferdinand 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 never since at ebb beheld the king my father wreckd miranda alack for mercy ferdinand yes faith and all his lords the duke of milan and his brave son being twain prospero aside the duke of milan and his more braver daughter could control thee if now twere fit to dot at the first sight they have changd eyes delicate ariel ill set thee free for this to ferdinand a word good sir i fear you have done yourself some wrong a word miranda why speaks my father so ungently this is the third man that eer i saw the first that eer i sighd for pity move my father to be inclind my way ferdinand o if a virgin and your affection not gone forth ill make you the queen of naples prospero soft sir one word more aside they are both in eithers powrs but this swift busines i must uneasy make lest too light winning make the prize light to ferdinand one word more i charge thee that thou attend me thou dost here usurp the name thou owst not and hast put thyself upon this island as a spy to win it from me the lord ont ferdinand no as i am a man miranda theres nothing ill can dwell in such a temple if the ill spirit have so fair a house good things will strive to dwell witht prospero follow me speak not you for him hes a traitor come ill manacle thy neck and feet together sea water shalt thou drink thy food shall be the fresh brook mussels witherd roots and husks wherein the acorn cradled follow ferdinand no i will resist such entertainment till mine enemy has more power he draws and is charmed from moving miranda o dear father make not too rash a trial of him for hes gentle and not fearful prospero what i say my foot my tutor put thy sword up traitor who makst a show but darst not strike thy conscience is so possessd with guilt come from thy ward for i can here disarm thee with this stick and make thy weapon drop miranda beseech you father prospero hence hang not on my garments miranda sir have pity ill be his surety prospero silence one word more shall make me chide thee if not hate thee what an advocate for an impostor hush thou thinkst there is no more such shapes as he having seen but him and caliban foolish wench to th most of men this is a caliban and they to him are angels miranda my affections are then most humble i have no ambition to see a goodlier man prospero come on obey thy nerves are in their infancy again and have no vigour in them ferdinand so they are my spirits as in a dream are all bound up my fathers loss the weakness which i feel the wreck of all my friends nor this mans threats to whom i am subdud 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 prospero aside it works to ferdinand come on thou hast done well fine ariel to ferdinand follow me to ariel hark what thou else shalt do me miranda be of comfort my fathers of a better nature sir than he appears by speech this is unwonted which now came from him prospero to ariel thou shalt be as free as mountain winds but then exactly do all points of my command ariel to th syllable prospero to ferdinand come follow to miranda speak not for him exeunt act ii scene another part of the island enter alonso sebastian antonio gonzalo adrian francisco and others gonzalo 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 sailors 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 alonso prithee peace sebastian he receives comfort like cold porridge antonio the visitor will not give him oer so sebastian look hes winding up the watch of his wit by and by it will strike gonzalo sir sebastian one tell gonzalo when every grief is entertaind thats offerd comes to th entertainer sebastian a dollar gonzalo dolour comes to him indeed you have spoken truer than you purposd sebastian you have taken it wiselier than i meant you should gonzalo therefore my lord antonio fie what a spendthrift is he of his tongue alonso i prithee spare gonzalo well i have done but yet sebastian he will be talking antonio which of he or adrian for a good wager first begins to crow sebastian the old cock antonio the cockrel sebastian done the wager antonio a laughter sebastian a match adrian though this island seem to be desert antonio ha ha ha sebastian so youre paid adrian uninhabitable and almost inaccessible sebastian yet adrian yet antonio he could not misst adrian it must needs be of subtle tender and delicate temperance antonio temperance was a delicate wench sebastian ay and a subtle as he most learnedly deliverd adrian the air breathes upon us here most sweetly sebastian as if it had lungs and rotten ones antonio or as twere perfumd by a fen gonzalo here is everything advantageous to life antonio true save means to live sebastian of that theres none or little gonzalo how lush and lusty the grass looks how green antonio the ground indeed is tawny sebastian with an eye of green int antonio he misses not much sebastian no he doth but mistake the truth totally gonzalo but the rarity of it is which is indeed almost beyond credit sebastian as many vouchd rarities are gonzalo that our garments being as they were drenchd in the sea hold notwithstanding their freshness and glosses being rather new dyd than staind with salt water antonio if but one of his pockets could speak would it not say he lies sebastian ay or very falsely pocket up his report gonzalo methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on first in afric at the marriage of the kings fair daughter claribel to the king of tunis sebastian twas a sweet marriage and we prosper well in our return adrian tunis was never gracd before with such a paragon to their queen gonzalo not since widow didos time antonio widow a pox o that how came that widow in widow dido sebastian what if he had said widower aeneas too good lord how you take it adrian widow dido said you you make me study of that she was of carthage not of tunis gonzalo this tunis sir was carthage adrian carthage gonzalo i assure you carthage antonio his word is more than the miraculous harp sebastian he hath raisd the wall and houses too antonio what impossible matter will he make easy next sebastian i think he will carry this island home in his pocket and give it his son for an apple antonio and sowing the kernels of it in the sea bring forth more islands gonzalo ay antonio why in good time gonzalo 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 antonio and the rarest that eer came there sebastian bate i beseech you widow dido antonio o widow dido ay widow dido gonzalo is not sir my doublet as fresh as the first day i wore it i mean in a sort antonio that sort was well fishd for gonzalo when i wore it at your daughters marriage alonso 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 removed i neer again shall see her o thou mine heir of naples and of milan what strange fish hath made his meal on thee francisco 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 oared himself with his good arms in lusty stroke to th shore that oer his wave worn basis bowed as stooping to relieve him i not doubt he came alive to land alonso no no hes gone sebastian 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 banishd from your eye who hath cause to wet the grief ont alonso prithee peace sebastian you were kneeld to and importund otherwise by all of us and the fair soul herself weighd between loathness and obedience at which end o th beam should bow we have lost your son i fear for ever milan and naples have moe widows in them of this business making than we bring men to comfort them the faults your own alonso so is the dearst o th loss gonzalo 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 sebastian very well antonio and most chirurgeonly gonzalo it is foul weather in us all good sir when you are cloudy sebastian foul weather antonio very foul gonzalo had i plantation of this isle my lord antonio hed sow t with nettle seed sebastian or docks or mallows gonzalo and were the king ont what would i do sebastian scape being drunk for want of wine gonzalo i th 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 sebastian yet he would be king ont antonio the latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning gonzalo 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 it own kind all foison all abundance to feed my innocent people sebastian no marrying mong his subjects antonio none man all idle whores and knaves gonzalo i would with such perfection govern sir t excel the golden age sebastian save his majesty antonio long live gonzalo gonzalo and do you mark me sir alonso prithee no more thou dost talk nothing to me gonzalo 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 antonio twas you we laughd at gonzalo who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you so you may continue and laugh at nothing still antonio what a blow was there given sebastian an it had not falln flat long gonzalo 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 enter ariel invisible playing solemn music sebastian we would so and then go a bat fowling antonio nay good my lord be not angry gonzalo no i warrant you i will not adventure my discretion so weakly will you laugh me asleep for i am very heavy antonio go sleep and hear us all sleep but alonso sebastian and antonio alonso what all so soon asleep i wish mine eyes would with themselves shut up my thoughts i find they are inclind to do so sebastian please you sir do not omit the heavy offer of it it seldom visits sorrow when it doth it is a comforter antonio we two my lord will guard your person while you take your rest and watch your safety alonso thank you wondrous heavy alonso sleeps exit ariel sebastian what a strange drowsiness possesses them antonio it is the quality o th climate sebastian why doth it not then our eyelids sink i find not myself disposd to sleep antonio nor i my spirits are nimble they fell together all as by consent they droppd 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 shouldst be th occasion speaks thee and my strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head sebastian what art thou waking antonio do you not hear me speak sebastian i do and surely it is a sleepy language and thou speakst 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 antonio noble sebastian thou letst thy fortune sleep die rather winkst whiles thou art waking sebastian thou dost snore distinctly theres meaning in thy snores antonio i am more serious than my custom you must be so too if heed me which to do trebles thee oer sebastian well i am standing water antonio ill teach you how to flow sebastian do so to ebb hereditary sloth instructs me antonio 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 sebastian 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 antonio thus sir although this lord of weak remembrance this who shall be of as little memory when he is earthd hath here almost persuaded for hes a spirit of persuasion only professes to persuade the king his sons alive tis as impossible that hes undrownd as he that sleeps here swims sebastian i have no hope that hes undrownd antonio 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 doubt discovery there will you grant with me that ferdinand is drownd sebastian hes gone antonio then tell me whos the next heir of naples sebastian claribel antonio she that is queen of tunis she that dwells ten leagues beyond mans life she that from naples can have no note unless the sun were post the man i th moons too slow till newborn chins be rough and razorable she that from whom we all were sea swallowd though some cast again and by that destiny to perform an act whereof whats past is prologue what to come in yours and my discharge sebastian what stuff is this how say you tis true my brothers daughters queen of tunis so is she heir of naples twixt which regions there is some space antonio a space whose evry 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 seizd 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 sebastian methinks i do antonio and how does your content tender your own good fortune sebastian i remember you did supplant your brother prospero antonio true and look how well my garments sit upon me much feater than before my brothers servants were then my fellows now they are my men sebastian but for your conscience antonio ay sir where lies that if twere 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 hes like thats 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 theyll take suggestion as a cat laps milk theyll tell the clock to any business that we say befits the hour sebastian thy case dear friend shall be my precedent as thou gotst milan ill come by naples draw thy sword one stroke shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest and i the king shall love thee antonio draw together and when i rear my hand do you the like to fall it on gonzalo sebastian o but one word they talk apart re enter ariel invisible with music and song ariel 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 them living sings in gonzalos ear while you here do snoring lie open eyd conspiracy his time doth take if of life you keep a care shake off slumber and beware awake awake antonio then let us both be sudden gonzalo now good angels preserve the king they wake alonso why how now ho awake why are you drawn wherefore this ghastly looking gonzalo whats the matter sebastian whiles we stood here securing your repose even now we heard a hollow burst of bellowing like bulls or rather lions didt not wake you it struck mine ear most terribly alonso i heard nothing antonio o twas a din to fright a monsters ear to make an earthquake sure it was the roar of a whole herd of lions alonso heard you this gonzalo gonzalo upon mine honour sir i heard a humming and that a strange one too which did awake me i shakd you sir and cried as mine eyes opend i saw their weapons drawn there was a noise thats verily tis best we stand upon our guard or that we quit this place lets draw our weapons alonso lead off this ground and lets make further search for my poor son gonzalo heavens keep him from these beasts for he is sure i th island alonso lead away ariel prospero my lord shall know what i have done so king go safely on to seek thy son exeunt scene another part of the island enter caliban with a burden of wood a noise of thunder heard caliban 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 theyll nor pinch fright me with urchin shows pitch me i th 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 hedgehogs which lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount their pricks at my footfall sometime am i all wound with adders who with cloven tongues do hiss me into madness enter trinculo lo now lo here comes a spirit of his and to torment me for bringing wood in slowly ill fall flat perchance he will not mind me trinculo heres neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all and another storm brewing i hear it sing i th 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 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 leggd 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 thunderbolt thunder 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 bed fellows i will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past enter stephano singing a bottle in his hand stephano i shall no more to sea to sea here shall i die ashore this is a very scurvy tune to sing at a mans funeral well heres my comfort drinks the master the swabber the boatswain and i the gunner and his mate lovd mall meg and marian and margery but none of us card for kate for she had a tongue with a tang would cry to a sailor go hang she lovd not the savour of tar nor of pitch yet a tailor might scratch her whereer she did itch then to sea boys and let her go hang this is a scurvy tune too but heres my comfort drinks caliban do not torment me o stephano whats the matter have we devils here do you put tricks upon s with savages and men of ind ha i have not scapd 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 nostrils caliban the spirit torments me o stephano 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 hes a present for any emperor that ever trod on neats leather caliban do not torment me prithee ill bring my wood home faster stephano hes 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 caliban thou dost me yet but little hurt thou wilt anon i know it by thy trembling now prosper works upon thee stephano 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 whos your friend open your chaps again trinculo i should know that voice it should be but he is drownd and these are devils o defend me stephano 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 trinculo stephano 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 trinculo stephano if thou beest stephano touch me and speak to me for i am trinculo be not afeard thy good friend trinculo stephano if thou beest trinculo come forth ill pull the by the lesser legs if any be trinculos legs these are they thou art very trinculo indeed how camst thou to be the siege of this moon calf can he vent trinculos trinculo i took him to be killd with a thunderstroke but art thou not drownd stephano i hope now thou are not drownd is the storm overblown i hid me under the dead moon calfs gaberdine for fear of the storm and art thou living stephano o stephano two neapolitans scapd stephano prithee do not turn me about my stomach is not constant caliban aside these be fine things an if they be not sprites thats a brave god and bears celestial liquor i will kneel to him stephano how didst thou scape how camst thou hither swear by this bottle how thou camst hither i escapd upon a butt of sack which the sailors heaved oerboard by this bottle which i made of the bark of a tree with mine own hands since i was cast ashore caliban ill swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject for the liquor is not earthly stephano here swear then how thou escapdst trinculo swum ashore man like a duck i can swim like a duck ill be sworn stephano passing the bottle here kiss the book though thou canst swim like a duck thou art made like a goose trinculo o stephano hast any more of this stephano the whole butt man my cellar is in a rock by th seaside where my wine is hid how now moon calf how does thine ague caliban hast thou not droppd from heaven stephano out o th moon i do assure thee i was the man i th moon when time was caliban i have seen thee in her and i do adore thee my mistress showd me thee and thy dog and thy bush stephano come swear to that kiss the book i will furnish it anon with new contents swear caliban drinks trinculo by this good light this is a very shallow monster i afeard of him a very weak monster the man i th moon a most poor credulous monster well drawn monster in good sooth caliban ill show thee every fertile inch o th island and will kiss thy foot i prithee be my god trinculo by this light a most perfidious and drunken monster whens gods asleep hell rob his bottle caliban ill kiss thy foot ill swear myself thy subject stephano come on then down and swear trinculo i shall laugh myself to death at this puppy headed monster a most scurvy monster i could find in my heart to beat him stephano come kiss trinculo but that the poor monsters in drink an abominable monster caliban ill show thee the best springs ill pluck thee berries ill fish for thee and get thee wood enough a plague upon the tyrant that i serve ill bear him no more sticks but follow thee thou wondrous man trinculo a most ridiculous monster to make a wonder of a poor drunkard caliban i prithee let me bring thee where crabs grow and i with my long nails will dig thee pig nuts show thee a jays nest and instruct thee how to snare the nimble marmoset ill bring thee to clustring filberts and sometimes ill get thee young scamels from the rock wilt thou go with me stephano i prithee now lead the way without any more talking trinculo the king and all our company else being drownd we will inherit here here bear my bottle fellow trinculo well fill him by and by again caliban sings drunkenly farewell master farewell farewell trinculo a howling monster a drunken monster caliban no more dams ill 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 stephano o brave monster lead the way exeunt act iii scene before prosperos cell enter ferdinand hearing a log ferdinand 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 whats dead and makes my labours pleasures o she is ten times more gentle than her fathers crabbed and hes composd 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 busy least when i do it enter miranda and prospero at a distance unseen miranda alas now pray you work not so hard i would the lightning had burnt up those logs that you are enjoind 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 hes safe for these three hours ferdinand o most dear mistress the sun will set before i shall discharge what i must strive to do miranda if youll sit down ill bear your logs the while pray give me that ill carry it to the pile ferdinand no precious creature i had rather crack my sinews break my back than you should such dishonour undergo while i sit lazy by miranda 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 prospero aside poor worm thou art infected this visitation shows it miranda you look wearily ferdinand 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 miranda o my father i have broke your hest to say so ferdinand admird miranda whats dearest to the world full many a lady i have eyd with best regard and many a time th harmony of their tongues hath into bondage brought my too diligent ear for several virtues have i likd several women never any with so full soul but some defect in her did quarrel with the noblest grace she owd and put it to the foil but you o you so perfect and so peerless are created of every creatures best miranda i do not know one of my sex no womans 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 skilless 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 fathers precepts i therein do forget ferdinand 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 miranda do you love me ferdinand 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 th world do love prize honour you miranda i am a fool to weep at what i am glad of prospero aside fair encounter of two most rare affections heavens rain grace on that which breeds between em ferdinand wherefore weep you miranda 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 ill die your maid to be your fellow you may deny me but ill be your servant whether you will or no ferdinand my mistress dearest and i thus humble ever miranda my husband then ferdinand ay with a heart as willing as bondage eer of freedom heres my hand miranda and mine with my heart int and now farewell till half an hour hence ferdinand a thousand thousand exeunt ferdinand and miranda severally prospero so glad of this as they i cannot be who are surprisd withal but my rejoicing at nothing can be more ill to my book for yet ere supper time must i perform much business appertaining exit scene another part of the island enter caliban stephano and trinculo stephano 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 trinculo servant monster the folly of this island they say theres but five upon this isle we are three of them if th other two be braind like us the state totters stephano drink servant monster when i bid thee thy eyes are almost set in thy head trinculo where should they be set else he were a brave monster indeed if they were set in his tail stephano my man monster hath drownd 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 trinculo your lieutenant if you list hes no standard stephano well not run monsieur monster trinculo nor go neither but youll lie like dogs and yet say nothing neither stephano moon calf speak once in thy life if thou beest a good moon calf caliban how does thy honour let me lick thy shoe ill not serve him he is not valiant trinculo thou liest most ignorant monster i am in case to justle a constable why thou deboshd fish thou was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as i to day wilt thou tell a monstrous lie being but half fish and half a monster caliban lo how he mocks me wilt thou let him my lord trinculo lord quoth he that a monster should be such a natural caliban lo lo again bite him to death i prithee stephano trinculo keep a good tongue in your head if you prove a mutineer the next tree the poor monsters my subject and he shall not suffer indignity caliban i thank my noble lord wilt thou be pleasd to hearken once again to the suit i made to thee stephano marry will i kneel and repeat it i will stand and so shall trinculo enter ariel invisible caliban as i told thee before i am subject to a tyrant sorcerer that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island ariel thou liest caliban thou liest thou jesting monkey thou i would my valiant master would destroy thee i do not lie stephano trinculo if you trouble him any more ins tale by this hand i will supplant some of your teeth trinculo why i said nothing stephano mum then and no more proceed caliban 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 darst but this thing dare not stephano thats most certain caliban thou shalt be lord of it and ill serve thee stephano how now shall this be compassd canst thou bring me to the party caliban yea yea my lord ill yield him thee asleep where thou mayst knock a nail into his head ariel thou liest thou canst not caliban what a pied ninnys this thou scurvy patch i do beseech thy greatness give him blows and take his bottle from him when thats gone he shall drink nought but brine for ill not show him where the quick freshes are stephano trinculo run into no further danger interrupt the monster one word further and by this hand ill turn my mercy out o doors and make a stock fish of thee trinculo why what did i i did nothing ill go farther off stephano didst thou not say he lied ariel thou liest stephano do i so take thou that beats him as you like this give me the lie another time trinculo i did not give the lie 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 caliban ha ha ha stephano now forward with your tale prithee stand further off caliban beat him enough after a little time ill beat him too stephano stand farther come proceed caliban why as i told thee tis a custom with him i th afternoon to sleep there thou mayst brain him having first seizd 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 hes 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 hell 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 greatst does least stephano is it so brave a lass caliban ay lord she will become thy bed i warrant and bring thee forth brave brood stephano 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 trinculo excellent stephano give me thy hand i am sorry i beat thee but while thou livst keep a good tongue in thy head caliban within this half hour will he be asleep wilt thou destroy him then stephano ay on mine honour ariel this will i tell my master caliban thou makst me merry i am full of pleasure let us be jocund will you troll the catch you taught me but while ere stephano at thy request monster i will do reason any reason come on trinculo let us sing sings flout em and scout em and scout em and flout em thought is free caliban thats not the tune ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe stephano what is this same trinculo this is the tune of our catch playd by the picture of nobody stephano if thou beest a man show thyself in thy likeness if thou beest a devil taket as thou list trinculo o forgive me my sins stephano he that dies pays all debts i defy thee mercy upon us caliban art thou afeard stephano no monster not i caliban 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 sometimes voices that if i then had wakd after long sleep will make me sleep again and then in dreaming the clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me that when i wakd i cried to dream again stephano this will prove a brave kingdom to me where i shall have my music for nothing caliban when prospero is destroyd stephano that shall be by and by i remember the story trinculo the sound is going away lets follow it and after do our work stephano lead monster well follow i would i could see this taborer he lays it on trinculo wilt come ill follow stephano exeunt scene another part of the island enter alonso sebastian antonio gonzalo adrian francisco and others gonzalo byr lakin i can go no further sir my old bones ache heres a maze trod indeed through forth rights and meanders by your patience i needs must rest me alonso old lord i cannot blame thee who am myself attachd with weariness to th 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 drownd whom thus we stray to find and the sea mocks our frustrate search on land well let him go antonio aside to sebastian i am right glad that hes so out of hope do not for one repulse forgo the purpose that you resolvd t effect sebastian aside to antonio the next advantage will we take throughly antonio aside to sebastian let it be to night for now they are oppressd with travel they will not nor cannot use such vigilance as when they are fresh sebastian aside to antonio i say to night no more solemn and strange music and prospero on the top invisible enter several strange shapes bringing in a banquet and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations and inviting the king etc to eat they depart alonso what harmony is this my good friends hark gonzalo marvellous sweet music alonso give us kind keepers heavens what were these sebastian a living drollery now i will believe that there are unicorns that in arabia there is one tree the phoenix throne one phoenix at this hour reigning there antonio ill believe both and what does else want credit come to me and ill be sworn tis true travellers neer did lie though fools at home condemn em gonzalo 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 prospero aside honest lord thou hast said well for some of you there present are worse than devils alonso 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 prospero aside praise in departing francisco they vanishd strangely sebastian no matter since they have left their viands behind for we have stomachs willt please you taste of what is here alonso not i gonzalo faith sir you need not fear when we were boys who would believe that there were mountaineers dewlappd like bulls whose throats had hanging at em 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 alonso 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 thunder and lightning enter ariel like a harpy claps his wings upon the table and with a quaint device the banquet vanishes ariel you are three men of sin whom destiny that hath to instrument this lower world and what is int the never surfeited sea hath causd 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 alonso sebastian etc draw their swords you fools i and my fellows are ministers of fate the elements of whom your swords are temperd may as well wound the loud winds or with bemockd at stabs kill the still closing waters as diminish one dowle thats 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 thats my business to you that you three from milan did supplant good prospero exposd unto the sea which hath requit it him and his innocent child for which foul deed the powrs delaying not forgetting have incensd the seas and shores yea all the creatures against your peace thee of thy son alonso they have bereft and do pronounce by me lingring 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 hearts sorrow and a clear life ensuing he vanishes in thunder then to soft music enter the shapes again and dance with mocks and mows and carrying out the table prospero bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou performd 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 powr and in these fits i leave them while i visit young ferdinand whom they suppose is drownd and his and mine lovd darling exit above gonzalo i th name of something holy sir why stand you in this strange stare alonso 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 pronouncd the name of prosper it did bass my trespass therefore my son i th ooze is bedded and ill seek him deeper than eer plummet sounded and with him there lie mudded exit sebastian but one fiend at a time ill fight their legions oer antonio ill be thy second exeunt sebastian and antonio gonzalo 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 adrian follow i pray you exeunt act iv scene before prosperos cell enter prospero ferdinand and miranda prospero if i have too austerely punishd you your compensation makes amends for have given you here a third of mine own life or that for which i live who 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 ferdinand i do believe it against an oracle prospero then as my gift and thine own acquisition worthily purchasd take my daughter but if thou dost break her virgin knot before all sanctimonious ceremonies may with full and holy rite be ministred no sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall to make this contract grow but barren hate sour eyd disdain and discord shall bestrew the union of your bed with weeds so loathly that you shall hate it both therefore take heed as hymens lamps shall light you ferdinand 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 strongst suggestion our worser genius can shall never melt mine honour into lust to take away the edge of that days celebration when i shall think or phoebus steeds are founderd or night kept chaind below prospero fairly spoke sit then and talk with her she is thine own what ariel my industrious servant ariel enter ariel ariel what would my potent master here i am prospero thou and thy meaner fellows your last service did worthily perform and i must use you in such another trick go bring the rabble oer whom i give thee powr 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 ariel presently prospero ay with a twink ariel 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 prospero dearly my delicate ariel do not approach till thou dost hear me call ariel well i conceive exit prospero look thou be true do not give dalliance too much the rein the strongest oaths are straw to th fire i th blood be more abstemious or else good night your vow ferdinand i warrant you sir the white cold virgin snow upon my heart abates the ardour of my liver prospero well now come my ariel bring a corollary rather than want a spirit appear and pertly no tongue all eyes be silent soft music enter iris iris ceres most bounteous lady thy rich leas of wheat rye barley vetches oats and pease thy turfy mountains where live nibbling sheep and flat meads thatchd 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 th sky whose watry 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 juno descends in her car approach rich ceres her to entertain enter ceres ceres hail many coloured messenger that neer dost disobey the wife of jupiter who with thy saffron wings upon my flowrs diffusest honey drops refreshing showrs and with each end of thy blue bow dost crown my bosky acres and my unshrubbd down rich scarf to my proud earth why hath thy queen summond me hither to this short grassd green iris a contract of true love to celebrate and some donation freely to estate on the blest lovers ceres 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 boys scandald company i have forsworn iris 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 hymens torch be lighted but in vain marss hot minion is returnd 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 juno alights ceres highest queen of state great juno comes i know her by her gait juno how does my bounteous sister go with me to bless this twain that they may prosperous be and honourd in their issue they sing juno honour riches marriage blessing long continuance and increasing hourly joys be still upon you juno sings her blessings on you ceres earths increase foison plenty barns and gamers never empty vines with clustring 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 ferdinand this is a most majestic vision and harmonious charmingly may i be bold to think these spirits prospero spirits which by mine art i have from their confines calld to enact my present fancies ferdinand let me live here ever so rare a wondred father and a wise makes this place paradise juno and ceres whisper and send iris on employment prospero sweet now silence juno and ceres whisper seriously theres something else to do hush and be mute or else our spell is marrd iris you nymphs calld naiads of the windring brooks with your sedgd 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 enter certain nymphs you sun burnt 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 enter certain reapers properly habited they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance towards the end whereof prospero starts suddenly and speaks after which to a strange hollow and confused noise they heavily vanish prospero aside i had forgot that foul conspiracy of the beast caliban and his confederates against my life the minute of their plot is almost come to the spirits well done avoid no more ferdinand this is strange your fathers in some passion that works him strongly miranda never till this day saw i him touchd with anger so distemperd prospero you do look my son in a movd sort as if you were dismayd 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 cappd 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 vexd bear with my weakness my old brain is troubled be not disturbd with my infirmity if you be pleasd retire into my cell and there repose a turn or two ill walk to still my beating mind ferdinand miranda we wish your peace exeunt prospero come with a thought i thank thee ariel come enter ariel ariel thy thoughts i cleave to whats thy pleasure prospero spirit we must prepare to meet with caliban ariel ay my commander when i presented ceres i thought to have told thee of it but i feard lest i might anger thee prospero say again where didst thou leave these varlets ariel 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 unbackd colts they prickd their ears advancd their eyelids lifted up their noses as they smelt music so i charmd their cars that calf like they my lowing followd through toothd briers sharp furzes pricking goss and thorns which entred their frail shins at last i left them i th filthy mantled pool beyond your cell there dancing up to th chins that the foul lake oerstunk their feet prospero 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 ariel i go i go exit prospero a devil a born devil on whose nature nurture can never stick on whom my pains humanely taken all all lost quite lost and as with age his body uglier grows so his mind cankers i will plague them all even to roaring re enter ariel loaden with glistering apparel etc come hang them on this line prospero and ariel remain invisible enter caliban stephano and trinculo all wet caliban pray you tread softly that the blind mole may not hear a foot fall we now are near his cell stephano monster your fairy which you say is a harmless fairy has done little better than playd the jack with us trinculo monster i do smell all horse piss at which my nose is in great indignation stephano so is mine do you hear monster if i should take a displeasure against you look you trinculo thou wert but a lost monster caliban good my lord give me thy favour still be patient for the prize ill bring thee to shall hoodwink this mischance therefore speak softly alls hushd as midnight yet trinculo ay but to lose our bottles in the pool stephano there is not only disgrace and dishonour in that monster but an infinite loss trinculo thats more to me than my wetting yet this is your harmless fairy monster stephano i will fetch off my bottle though i be oer ears for my labour caliban prithee my king be quiet seest thou here this is the mouth o th 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 stephano give me thy hand i do begin to have bloody thoughts trinculo o king stephano o peer o worthy stephano look what a wardrobe here is for thee caliban let it alone thou fool it is but trash trinculo o ho monster we know what belongs to a frippery o king stephano stephano put off that gown trinculo by this hand ill have that gown trinculo thy grace shall have it caliban the dropsy drown this fool what do you mean to dote thus on such luggage let t alone and do the murder first if he awake from toe to crown hell fill our skins with pinches make us strange stuff stephano 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 trinculo do do we steal by line and level ant like your grace stephano i thank thee for that jest heres a garment fort wit shall not go unrewarded while i am king of this country steal by line and level is an excellent pass of pate theres another garmet fort trinculo monster come put some lime upon your fingers and away with the rest caliban i will have none ont we shall lose our time and all be turnd to barnacles or to apes with foreheads villainous low stephano monster lay to your fingers help to bear this away where my hogshead of wine is or ill turn you out of my kingdom go to carry this trinculo and this stephano ay and this a noise of hunters beard enter divers spirits in shape of dogs and hounds bunting them about prospero and ariel setting them on prospero hey mountain hey ariel silver there it goes silver prospero fury fury there tyrant there hark hark caliban stephano and trinculo are driven out 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 ariel hark they roar prospero let them be hunted soundly at this hour lies 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 exeunt act v scene before prosperos cell enter prospero in his magic robes and ariel prospero now does my project gather to a head my charms crack not my spirits obey and time goes upright with his carriage hows the day ariel on the sixth hour at which time my lord you said our work should cease prospero i did say so when first i raisd the tempest say my spirit how fares the king and s followers ariel confind 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 brim full of sorrow and dismay but chiefly him you termd sir the good old lord gonzalo his tears run down his beard like winters drops from eaves of reeds your charm so strongly works em that if you now beheld them your affections would become tender prospero dost thou think so spirit ariel mine would sir were i human prospero 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 movd than thou art though with their high wrongs i am struck to th 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 ill break their senses ill restore and they shall be themselves ariel ill fetch them sir exit prospero 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 be dimmd the noontide sun calld forth the mutinous winds and twixt the green sea and the azurd vault set roaring war to the dread rattling thunder have i given fire and rifted joves stout oak with his own bolt the strong basd promontory have i made shake and by the spurs pluckd up the pine and cedar graves at my command have wakd their sleepers opd and let em forth by my so potent art but this rough magic i here abjure and when i have requird some heavenly music which even now i do to work mine end upon their senses that this airy charm is for ill break my staff bury it certain fathoms in the earth and deeper than did ever plummet sound ill drown my book solem music here enters ariel before then alonso with frantic gesture attended by gonzalo sebastian and antonio in like manner attended by adrian and francisco they all enter the circle which prospero had made and there stand charmd which prospero observing speaks a solemn air and the best comforter to an unsettled fancy cure thy brains now useless boild within thy skull there stand for you are spell stoppd holy gonzalo honourable man mine eyes evn 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 followst 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 art pinchd fort now sebastian flesh and blood you brother mine that entertaind ambition expelld remorse and nature who with sebastian whose inward pinches therefore are most strong would here have killd your king i do forgive thee unnatural though thou art their understanding begins to swell and the approaching tide will shortly fill the reasonable shore that now lies 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 exit ariel i will discase me and myself present as i was sometime milan quickly spirit thou shalt ere long be free ariel on returning sings and helps to attire him where the bee sucks there suck i in a cowslips bell i lie there i couch when owls do cry on the bats back i do fly after summer merrily merrily merrily shall i live now under the blossom that hangs on the bough prospero why thats my dainty ariel i shall miss thee but yet thou shalt have freedom so so so to the kings 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 ariel i drink the air before me and return or ere your pulse twice beat exit gonzalo all torment trouble wonder and amazement inhabits here some heavenly power guide us out of this fearful country prospero 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 alonso wheer thou best 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 prospero first noble friend let me embrace thine age whose honour cannot be measurd or confind gonzalo whether this be or be not ill not swear prospero you do yet taste some subtleties o th isle that will not let you believe things certain welcome my friends all aside to sebastian and antonio 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 sebastian aside the devil speaks in him prospero 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 alonso if thou beest prospero give us particulars of thy preservation how thou hast met us here whom three hours since were wreckd upon this shore where i have lost how sharp the point of this remembrance is my dear son ferdinand prospero i am woe fort sir alonso irreparable is the loss and patience says it is past her cure prospero 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 alonso you the like loss prospero 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 alonso 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 prospero 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 howsoeer 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 wrecked was landed to be the lord ont 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 cells 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 here prospero discovers ferdinand and miranda playing at chess miranda sweet lord you play me false ferdinand no my dearest love i would not for the world miranda yes for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle and i would call it fair play alonso if this prove a vision of the island one dear son shall i twice lose sebastian a most high miracle ferdinand though the seas threaten they are merciful i have cursd them without cause kneels alonso now all the blessings of a glad father compass thee about arise and say how thou camst here miranda o wonder how many goodly creatures are there here how beauteous mankind is o brave new world that has such people int prospero tis new to thee alonso what is this maid with whom thou wast at play your eldst acquaintance cannot be three hours is she the goddess that hath severd us and brought us thus together ferdinand sir she is mortal but by immortal providence shes 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 receivd a second life and second father this lady makes him to me alonso i am hers but o how oddly will it sound that i must ask my child forgiveness prospero there sir stop let us not burden our remembrances with a heaviness thats gone gonzalo 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 chalkd forth the way which brought us hither alonso i say amen gonzalo 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 alonso to ferdinand and miranda give me your hands let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart that doth not wish you joy gonzalo be it so amen re enter ariel with the master and boatswain amazedly following o look sir look sir here is more of us i prophesied if a gallows were on land this fellow could not drown now blasphemy that swearst grace oerboard not an oath on shore hast thou no mouth by land what is the news boatswain 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 riggd as when we first put out to sea ariel aside to prospero sir all this service have i done since i went prospero aside to ariel my tricksy spirit alonso these are not natural events they strengthen from strange to stranger say how came you hither boatswain if i did think sir i were well awake id strive to tell you we were dead of sleep and how we know not all clappd under hatches where but even now with strange and several noises of roaring shrieking howling jingling chains and moe diversity of sounds all horrible we were awakd straightway at liberty where we in all her trim freshly beheld our royal good and gallant ship our master capring to eye her on a trice so please you even in a dream were we divided from them and were brought moping hither ariel aside to prospero wast well done prospero aside to ariel bravely my diligence thou shalt be free alonso this is as strange a maze as eer men trod and there is in this business more than nature was ever conduct of some oracle must rectify our knowledge prospero sir my liege do not infest your mind with beating on the strangeness of this business at pickd leisure which shall be shortly single ill resolve you which to you shall seem probable of every these happend accidents till when be cheerful and think of each thing well aside to ariel come hither spirit set caliban and his companions free untie the spell exit ariel how fares my gracious sir there are yet missing of your company some few odd lads that you remember not re enter ariel driving in caliban stephano and trinculo in their stolen apparel stephano every man shift for all the rest and let no man take care for himself for all is but fortune coragio bully monster coragio trinculo if these be true spies which i wear in my head heres a goodly sight caliban o setebos these be brave spirits indeed how fine my master is i am afraid he will chastise me sebastian ha ha what things are these my lord antonio will money buyem antonio very like one of them is a plain fish and no doubt marketable prospero 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 robbd me and this demi devil for hes 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 caliban i shall be pinchd to death alonso is not this stephano my drunken butler sebastian he is drunk now where had he wine alonso and trinculo is reeling ripe where should they find this grand liquor that hath gilded em how camst thou in this pickle trinculo 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 sebastian why how now stephano stephano o touch me not i am not stephano but a cramp prospero youd be king o the isle sirrah stephano i should have been a sore one then alonso pointing to caliban this is as strange a thing as eer i lookd on prospero he is as disproportioned 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 caliban ay that i will and ill 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 prospero go to away alonso hence and bestow your luggage where you found it sebastian or stole it rather exeunt caliban stephano and trinculo prospero 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 ill 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 ill bring you to your ship and so to naples where i have hope to see the nuptial of these our dear belovd solemnized and thence retire me to my milan where every third thought shall be my grave alonso i long to hear the story of your life which must take the ear strangely prospero ill deliver all and promise you calm seas auspicious gales and sail so expeditious that shall catch your royal fleet far off aside to ariel my ariel chick that is thy charge then to the elements be free and fare thou well please you draw near exeunt epilogue epilogue spoken by prospero now my charms are all oerthrown and what strength i haves mine own which is most faint now tis true i must be here confind by you or sent to naples let me not since i have my dukedom got and pardond 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 relievd by prayer which pierces so that it assaults mercy itself and frees all faults as you from crimes would pardond be let your indulgence set me free the end the life of timon of athens dramatis personae timon of athens lucius lucullus sempronius flattering lords ventidius one of timons false friends alcibiades an athenian captain apemantus a churlish philosopher flavius steward to timon flaminius lucilius servilius timons servants caphis philotus titus hortensius servants to timons creditors poet painter jeweller merchant mercer an old athenian three strangers a page a fool phrynia timandra mistresses to alcibiades cupid amazons in the masque lords senators officers soldiers servants thieves and attendants scene athens and the neighbouring woods act i scene i athens timons house enter poet painter jeweller merchant and mercer at several doors poet good day sir painter i am glad yare well poet i have not seen you long how goes the world painter it wears sir as it grows poet ay thats well known but what particular rarity what strange which manifold record not matches see magic of bounty all these spirits thy power hath conjurd to attend i know the merchant painter i know them both th others a jeweller merchant o tis a worthy lord jeweller nay thats most fixd merchant a most incomparable man breathd as it were to an untirable and continuate goodness he passes jeweller i have a jewel here merchant o pray lets seet for the lord timon sir jeweller if he will touch the estimate but for that poet when we for recompense have praisd the vile it stains the glory in that happy verse which aptly sings the good merchant looking at the jewel tis a good form jeweller and rich here is a water look ye painter you are rapt sir in some work some dedication to the great lord poet a thing slippd idly from me our poesy is as a gum which oozes from whence tis nourishd the fire i th 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 painter a picture sir when comes your book forth poet upon the heels of my presentment sir lets see your piece painter tis a good piece poet so tis this comes off well and excellent painter indifferent poet admirable how this grace speaks his own standing what a mental power this eye shoots forth how big imagination moves in this lip to th dumbness of the gesture one might interpret painter it is a pretty mocking of the life here is a touch ist good poet i will say of it it tutors nature artificial strife lives in these touches livelier than life enter certain senators and pass over painter how this lord is followed poet the senators of athens happy man painter look moe poet you see this confluence this great flood of visitors i have in this rough work shapd 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 tax no levelld malice infects one comma in the course i hold but flies an eagle flight bold and forth on leaving no tract behind painter how shall i understand you poet i will unbolt to you you see how all conditions how all minds as well of glib and slippry 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 facd 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 timons nod painter i saw them speak together poet sir i have upon a high and pleasant hill feignd fortune to be thrond the base o th mount is rankd 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 fixd one do i personate of lord timons frame whom fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her whose present grace to present slaves and servants translates his rivals painter tis conceivd to scope this throne this fortune and this hill methinks with one man beckond from the rest below bowing his head against the steepy mount to climb his happiness would be well expressd in our condition poet 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 painter ay marry what of these poet when fortune in her shift and change of mood spurns down her late beloved all his dependants which labourd after him to the mountains top even on their knees and hands let him slip down not one accompanying his declining foot painter tis common a thousand moral paintings i can show that shall demonstrate these quick blows of fortunes more pregnantly than words yet you do well to show lord timon that mean eyes have seen the foot above the head trumpets sound enter timon addressing himself courteously to every suitor a messenger from ventidius talking with him lucilius and other servants following timon imprisond is he say you messenger 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 timon noble ventidius well i am not of that feather to shake of my friend when he must need me i do know him a gentleman that well deserves a help which he shall have ill pay the debt and free him messenger your lordship ever binds him timon commend me to him i will send his ransom and being enfranchisd bid him come to me tis not enough to help the feeble up but to support him after fare you well messenger all happiness to your honour exit enter an old athenian old athenian lord timon hear me speak timon freely good father old athenian thou hast a servant namd lucilius timon i have so what of him old athenian most noble timon call the man before thee timon attends he here or no lucilius lucilius here at your lordships service old athenian this fellow here lord timon this thy creature by night frequents my house i am a man that from my first have been inclind to thrift and my estate deserves an heir more raisd than one which holds a trencher timon well what further old athenian one only daughter have i no kin else on whom i may confer what i have got the maid is fair o th 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 timon the man is honest old athenian therefore he will be timon his honesty rewards him in itself it must not bear my daughter timon does she love him old athenian she is young and apt our own precedent passions do instruct us what levitys in youth timon love you the maid lucilius ay my good lord and she accepts of it old athenian 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 timon how shall she be endowd if she be mated with an equal husband old athenian three talents on the present in future all timon this gentleman of mine hath servd 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 ill counterpoise and make him weigh with her old athenian most noble lord pawn me to this your honour she is his timon my hand to thee mine honour on my promise lucilius humbly i thank your lordship never may that state or fortune fall into my keeping which is not owed to you exeunt lucilius and old athenian poet presenting his poem vouchsafe my labour and long live your lordship timon i thank you you shall hear from me anon go not away what have you there my friend painter a piece of painting which i do beseech your lordship to accept timon painting is welcome the painting is almost the natural man for since dishonour traffics with mans nature he is but outside these pencilld 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 painter the gods preserve ye timon well fare you gentleman give me your hand we must needs dine together sir your jewel hath suffered under praise jeweller what my lord dispraise timon a mere satiety of commendations if i should pay you fort as tis extolld it would unclew me quite jeweller 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 believet dear lord you mend the jewel by the wearing it timon well mockd enter apemantus merchant no my good lord he speaks the common tongue which all men speak with him timon look who comes here will you be chid jeweller well bear with your lordship merchant hell spare none timon good morrow to thee gentle apemantus apemantus till i be gentle stay thou for thy good morrow when thou art timons dog and these knaves honest timon why dost thou call them knaves thou knowst them not apemantus are they not athenians timon yes apemantus then i repent not jeweller you know me apemantus apemantus thou knowst i do i calld thee by thy name timon thou art proud apemantus apemantus of nothing so much as that i am not like timon timon whither art going apemantus to knock out an honest athenians brains timon thats a deed thout die for apemantus right if doing nothing be death by th law timon how likst thou this picture apemantus apemantus the best for the innocence timon wrought he not well that painted it apemantus he wrought better that made the painter and yet hes but a filthy piece of work painter yare a dog apemantus thy mothers of my generation whats she if i be a dog timon wilt dine with me apemantus apemantus no i eat not lords timon an thou shouldst thoudst anger ladies apemantus o they eat lords so they come by great bellies timon thats a lascivious apprehension apemantus so thou apprehendst it take it for thy labour timon how dost thou like this jewel apemantus apemantus not so well as plain dealing which will not cost a man a doit timon what dost thou think tis worth apemantus not worth my thinking how now poet poet how now philosopher apemantus thou liest poet art not one apemantus yes poet then i lie not apemantus art not a poet poet yes apemantus then thou liest look in thy last work where thou hast feignd him a worthy fellow poet thats not feignd he is so apemantus yes he is worthy of thee and to pay thee for thy labour he that loves to be flattered is worthy o th flatterer heavens that i were a lord timon what wouldst do then apemantus apemantus een as apemantus does now hate a lord with my heart timon what thyself apemantus ay timon wherefore apemantus that i had no angry wit to be a lord art not thou a merchant merchant ay apemantus apemantus traffic confound thee if the gods will not merchant if traffic do it the gods do it apemantus traffics thy god and thy god confound thee trumpet sounds enter a messenger timon what trumpets that messenger tis alcibiades and some twenty horse all of companionship timon pray entertain them give them guide to us exeunt some attendants you must needs dine with me go not you hence till i have thankd you when dinners done show me this piece i am joyful of your sights enter alcibiades with the rest most welcome sir they salute apemantus so so there aches contract and starve your supple joints that there should be small love amongst these sweet knaves and all this courtesy the strain of mans bred out into baboon and monkey alcibiades sir you have savd my longing and i feed most hungerly on your sight timon right welcome sir ere we depart well share a bounteous time in different pleasures pray you let us in exeunt all but apemantus enter two lords first lord what time o day ist apemantus apemantus time to be honest first lord that time serves still apemantus the more accursed thou that still omitst it second lord thou art going to lord timons feast apemantus ay to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools second lord fare thee well fare thee well apemantus thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice second lord why apemantus apemantus shouldst have kept one to thyself for i mean to give thee none first lord hang thyself apemantus no i will do nothing at thy bidding make thy requests to thy friend second lord away unpeaceable dog or ill spurn thee hence apemantus i will fly like a dog the heels o th ass exit first lord hes opposite to humanity come shall we in and taste lord timons bounty he outgoes the very heart of kindness second lord 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 first lord the noblest mind he carries that ever governd man second lord long may he live in fortunes shall we in first lord ill keep you company exeunt scene ii a room of state in timons house hautboys playing loud music a great banquet servd in flavius and others attending and then enter lord timon the states the athenian lords ventidius which timon redeemd from prison then comes dropping after all apemantus discontentedly like himself ventidius most honoured timon it hath pleasd the gods to remember my fathers 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 derivd liberty timon o by no means honest ventidius you mistake my love i gave it freely ever and theres 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 ventidius a noble spirit timon nay my lords ceremony was but devisd 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 they sit first lord my lord we always have confessd it apemantus ho ho confessd it hangd it have you not timon o apemantus you are welcome apemantus no you shall not make me welcome i come to have thee thrust me out of doors timon fie thart a churl ye have 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 fort indeed apemantus let me stay at thine apperil timon i come to observe i give thee warning ont timon i take no heed of thee thart an athenian therefore welcome i myself would have no power prithee let my meat make thee silent apemantus i scorn thy meat twould choke me for i should neer flatter thee o you gods what a number of men eats timon and he sees em not it grieves me to see so many dip their meat in one mans 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 theres much example fort the fellow that sits next him now parts bread with him pledges the breath of him in a divided draught is the readiest man to kill him t has been proved if i were a huge man i should fear to drink at meals lest they should spy my windpipes dangerous notes great men should drink with harness on their throats timon my lord in heart and let the health go round second lord let it flow this way my good lord apemantus flow this way a brave fellow he keeps his tides well those healths will make thee and thy state look ill timon heres that which is too weak to be a sinner honest water which neer left man i th mire this and my food are equals theres no odds feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods apemantus grace 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 tot rich men sin and i eat root eats and drinks much good dich thy good heart apemantus timon captain alcibiades your hearts in the field now alcibiades my heart is ever at your service my lord timon you had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than dinner of friends alcibiades so they were bleeding new my lord theres no meat like em i could wish my best friend at such a feast apemantus would all those flatterers were thine enemies then that then thou mightst kill em and bid me to em first lord 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 timon 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 neer have need of em they were the most needless creatures living should we neer have use for em and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases that keep their sounds to themselves why i have often wishd 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 anothers fortunes o joys een made away eret can be born mine eyes cannot hold out water methinks to forget their faults i drink to you apemantus thou weepst to make them drink timon second lord joy had the like conception in our eyes and at that instant like a babe sprung up apemantus ho ho i laugh to think that babe a bastard third lord i promise you my lord you movd me much apemantus much sound tucket timon what means that trump enter a servant how now servant please you my lord there are certain ladies most desirous of admittance timon ladies what are their wills servant there comes with them a forerunner my lord which bears that office to signify their pleasures timon i pray let them be admitted enter cupid cupid 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 pleasd from thy table rise they only now come but to feast thine eyes timon theyre welcome all let em have kind admittance music make their welcome exit cupid first lord you see my lord how ample yare belovd music re enter cupid witb a masque of ladies as amazons with lutes in their hands dancing and playing apemantus 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 thats not depraved or depraves who dies that bears not one spurn to their graves of their friends gift i should fear those that dance before me now would one day stamp upon me t has been done men shut their doors against a setting sun the lords rise from table with much adoring of timon and to show their loves each single out an amazon and all dance men witb women a lofty strain or two to the hautboys and cease timon 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 untot and lustre and entertaind me with mine own device i am to thank you fort first lady my lord you take us even at the best apemantus faith for the worst is filthy and would not hold taking i doubt me timon ladies there is an idle banquet attends you please you to dispose yourselves all ladies most thankfully my lord exeunt cupid and ladies timon flavius flavius my lord timon the little casket bring me hither flavius yes my lord aside more jewels yet there is no crossing him ins humour else i should tell him well i faith i should when alls spent hed be crossd then an he could tis pity bounty had not eyes behind that man might neer be wretched for his mind exit first lord where be our men servant here my lord in readiness second lord our horses re enter flavius with the casket timon 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 first lord i am so far already in your gifts all so are we all enter a servant servant my lord there are certain nobles of the senate newly alighted and come to visit you timon they are fairly welcome exit servant flavius i beseech your honour vouchsafe me a word it does concern you near timon near why then another time ill hear thee i prithee lets be provided to show them entertainment flavius aside i scarce know how enter another servant second servant may it please vour honour lord lucius out of his free love hath presented to you four milk white horses trappd in silver timon i shall accept them fairly let the presents be worthily entertaind exit servant enter a third servant how now what news third servant 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 timon ill hunt with him and let them be receivd not without fair reward exit servant flavius aside 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 evry word he is so kind that he now pays interest fort his lands put to their books well would i were gently put out of office before i were forcd out happier is he that has no friend to feed than such that do een enemies exceed i bleed inwardly for my lord exit timon you do yourselves much wrong you bate too much of your own merits here my lord a trifle of our love second lord with more than common thanks i will receive it third lord o hes the very soul of bounty timon and now i remember my lord you gave good words the other day of a bay courser i rode on tis yours because you likd it third lord o i beseech you pardon me my lord in that timon you may take my word my lord i know no man can justly praise but what he does affect i weigh my friends affection with mine own ill tell you true ill call to you all lords o none so welcome timon 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 neer 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 pitchd field alcibiades ay defild land my lord first lord we are so virtuously bound timon and so am i to you second lord so infinitely endeard timon all to you lights more lights first lord the best of happiness honour and fortunes keep with you lord timon timon ready for his friends exeunt all but apemantus and timon apemantus what a coils here serving of becks and jutting out of bums i doubt whether their legs be worth the sums that are given for em friendships full of dregs methinks false hearts should never have sound legs thus honest fools lay out their wealth on curtsies timon now apemantus if thou wert not sullen i would be good to thee apemantus no ill nothing for if i should be bribd too there would be none left to rail upon thee and then thou wouldst sin the faster thou givst so long timon i fear me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly what needs these feasts pomps and vain glories timon nay an you begin to rail on society once i am sworn not to give regard to you farewell and come with better music exit apemantus so thou wilt not hear me now thou shalt not then ill lock thy heaven from thee o that mens ears should be to counsel deaf but not to flattery exit act ii scene i a senators house enter a senator with papers in his hand senator 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 beggars dog and give it timon why the dog coins gold if i would sell my horse and buy twenty moe 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 sound his state in safety caphis ho caphis i say enter caphis caphis here sir what is your pleasure senator get on your cloak and haste you to lord timon importune him for my moneys be not ceasd with slight denial nor then silencd 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 tossd and turnd 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 phoenix get you gone caphis i go sir senator take the bonds along with you and have the dates in compt caphis i will sir senator go exeunt scene ii before timons house enter flavius timons steward with many bills in his hand flavius 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 enter caphis and the servants of isidore and varro caphis good even varro what you come for money varros servant ist not your business too caphis it is and yours too isidore isidores servant it is so caphis would we were all dischargd varros servant i fear it caphis here comes the lord enter timon and his train with alcibiades timon so soon as dinners done well forth again my alcibiades with me what is your will caphis my lord here is a note of certain dues timon dues whence are you caphis of athens here my lord timon go to my steward caphis please it your lordship he hath put me off to the succession of new days this month my master is awakd by great occasion to call upon his own and humbly prays you that with your other noble parts youll suit in giving him his right timon mine honest friend i prithee but repair to me next morning caphis nay good my lord timon contain thyself good friend varros servant one varros servant my good lord isidores servant from isidore he humbly prays your speedy payment caphis if you did know my lord my masters wants varros servant twas due on forfeiture my lord six weeks and past isidores servant your steward puts me off my lord and i am sent expressly to your lordship timon give me breath i do beseech you good my lords keep on ill wait upon you instantly exeunt alcibiades and lords to flavius come hither pray you how goes the world that i am thus encountred with clamorous demands of date broke bonds and the detention of long since due debts against my honour flavius 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 timon do so my friends see them well entertaind exit flavius pray draw near exit enter apemantus and fool caphis stay stay here comes the fool with apemantus lets ha some sport with em varros servant hang him hell abuse us isidores servant a plague upon him dog varros servant how dost fool apemantus dost dialogue with thy shadow varros servant i speak not to thee apemantus no tis to thyself to the fool come away isidores servant to varros servant theres the fool hangs on your back already apemantus no thou standst single thart not on him yet caphis wheres the fool now apemantus he last askd the question poor rogues and usurers men bawds between gold and want all servants what are we apemantus apemantus asses all servants why apemantus that you ask me what you are and do not know yourselves speak to em fool fool how do you gentlemen all servants gramercies good fool how does your mistress fool shes een setting on water to scald such chickens as you are would we could see you at corinth apemantus good gramercy enter page fool look you here comes my mistress page page to the fool why how now captain what do you in this wise company how dost thou apemantus apemantus would i had a rod in my mouth that i might answer thee profitably page prithee apemantus read me the superscription of these letters i know not which is which apemantus canst not read page no apemantus there will little learning die then that day thou art hangd this is to lord timon this to alcibiades go thou wast born a bastard and thout die a bawd page thou wast whelpd a dog and thou shalt famish dogs death answer not i am gone exit page apemantus een so thou outrunst grace fool i will go with you to lord timons fool will you leave me there apemantus if timon stay at home you three serve three usurers all servants ay would they servd us apemantus so would i as good a trick as ever hangman servd thief fool are you three usurers men all servants ay fool 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 varros servant i could render one apemantus do it then that we may account thee a whoremaster and a knave which notwithstanding thou shalt be no less esteemed varros servant what is a whoremaster fool 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 moe thans 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 varros servant thou art not altogether a fool fool nor thou altogether a wise man as much foolery as i have so much wit thou lackst apemantus that answer might have become apemantus varros servant aside aside here comes lord timon re enter timon and flavius apemantus come with me fool come fool i do not always follow lover elder brother and woman sometime the philosopher exeunt apemantus and fool flavius pray you walk near ill speak with you anon exeunt servants timon 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 flavius you would not hear me at many leisures i proposd timon go to perchance some single vantages you took when my indisposition put you back and that unaptness made your minister thus to excuse yourself flavius 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 th authority of manners prayd 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 lovd lord though you hear now too late yet nows a time the greatest of your having lacks a half to pay your present debts timon let all my land be sold flavius tis all engagd 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 reckning timon to lacedaemon did my land extend flavius 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 timon you tell me true flavius if you suspect my husbandry or falsehood call me before th exactest auditors and set me on the proof so the gods bless me when all our offices have been oppressd with riotous feeders when our vaults have wept with drunken spilth of wine when every room hath blazd with lights and brayd with minstrelsy i have retird me to a wasteful cock and set mine eyes at flow timon prithee no more flavius heavens have i said the bounty of this lord how many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants this night englutted who is not lord timons what heart head sword force means but is lord timons 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 showrs these flies are couchd timon come sermon me no further no villainous bounty yet hath passd 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 mens fortunes could i frankly use as i can bid thee speak flavius assurance bless your thoughts timon and in some sort these wants of mine are crownd 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 enter flaminius servilius and another servant servants my lord my lord timon 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 em toward a supply of money let the request be fifty talents flaminius as you have said my lord exeunt servants flavius aside lord lucius and lucullus humh timon go you sir to the senators of whom even to the states best health i have deservd this hearing bid em send o th instant a thousand talents to me flavius 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 timon ist true cant be flavius 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 wishd 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 timon you gods reward them prithee man look cheerly these old fellows have their ingratitude in them hereditary their blood is cakd tis cold it seldom flows tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind and nature as it grows again toward earth is fashiond for the journey dull and heavy go to ventidius prithee be not sad thou art true and honest ingeniously i speak no blame belongs to thee ventidius lately buried his father by whose death hes steppd into a great estate when he was poor imprisond and in scarcity of friends i cleard him with five talents greet him from me bid him suppose some good necessity touches his friend which craves to be remembred with those five talents that had givet these fellows to whom tis instant due nevr speak or think that timons fortunes mong his friends can sink flavius i would i could not think it that thought is bountys foe being free itself it thinks all others so exeunt act iii scene i lucullus house flaminius waiting to speak with lucullus enter servant to him servant i have told my lord of you he is coming down to you flaminius i thank you sir enter lucullus servant heres my lord lucullus aside one of lord timons men a gift i warrant why this hits right i dreamt of a silver basin 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 freehearted gentleman of athens thy very bountiful good lord and master flaminius his health is well sir lucullus i am right glad that his health is well sir and what hast thou there under thy cloak pretty flaminius flaminius faith nothing but an empty box sir which in my lords 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 lucullius 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 dind with him and told him ont 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 ont but i could neer get him fromt re enter servant with wine servant please your lordship here is the wine lucullus flaminius i have noted thee always wise heres to thee flaminius your lordship speaks your pleasure lucullus 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 to servant get you gone sirrah exit servant draw nearer honest flaminius thy lords a bountiful gentleman but thou art wise and thou knowst well enough although thou comst to me that this is no time to lend money especially upon bare friendship without security heres three solidares for thee good boy wink at me and say thou sawst me not fare thee well flaminius ist possible the world should so much differ and we alive that livd fly damned baseness to him that worships thee throwing the money back lucullus ha now i see thou art a fool and fit for thy master exit flaminius 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 masters passion this slave unto his honour has my lords meat in him why should it thrive and turn to nutriment when he is turnd to poison o may diseases only work upont and when hes 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 exit scene ii a public place enter lucius with three strangers lucius who the lord timon he is my very good friend and an honourable gentleman first stranger 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 timons happy hours are done and past and his estate shrinks from him lucius fie no do not believe it he cannot want for money second stranger 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 urgd extremely fort and showed what necessity belongd tot and yet was denied lucius how second stranger i tell you denied my lord lucius what a strange case was that now before the gods i am ashamd ont denied that honourable man there was very little honour showd int 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 neer have denied his occasion so many talents enter servilius servilius see by good hap yonders my lord i have sweat to see his honour my honourd lord lucius servilius you are kindly met sir fare thee well commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord my very exquisite friend servilius may it please your honour my lord hath sent lucius ha what has he sent i am so much endeared to that lord hes ever sending how shall i thank him thinkst thou and what has he sent now servilius has only sent his present occasion now my lord requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so many talents lucius i know his lordship is but merry with me he cannot want fifty five hundred talents servilius but in the mean time he wants less my lord if his occasion were not virtuous i should not urge it half so faithfully lucius dost thou speak seriously servilius servilius upon my soul tis true sir lucius what a wicked beast was i to disfurnish myself against such a good time when i might ha shown myself honourable how unluckily it happned 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 donet 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 servilius yes sir i shall lucius ill look you out a good turn servilius exit servilius true as you said timon is shrunk indeed and he thats once denied will hardly speed exit first stranger do you observe this hostilius second stranger ay too well first stranger why this is the worlds soul and just of the same piece is every flatterers spirit who can call him his friend that dips in the same dish for in my knowing timon has been this lords father and kept his credit with his purse supported his estate nay timons money has paid his men their wages he neer drinks but timons 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 third stranger religion groans at it first stranger 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 returnd to him so much i love his heart but i perceive men must learn now with pity to dispense for policy sits above conscience exeunt scene iii sempronius house enter sempronius and a servant of timons sempronius must he needs trouble me int hum bove all others he might have tried lord lucius or lucullus and now ventidius is wealthy too whom he redeemd from prison all these owe their estates unto him servant my lord they have all been touchd and found base metal for they have all denied him sempronius how have they denied him has ventidius and lucullus denied him and does he send to me three humh 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 th cure upon me has much disgracd me int im angry at him that might have known my place i see no sense fort but his occasions might have wood me first for in my conscience i was the first man that eer received gift from him and does he think so backwardly of me now that ill requite it last no so it may prove an argument of laughter to th rest and i mongst lords be thought a fool id rather than the worth of thrice the sum had sent to me first but for my minds sake id 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 exit servant excellent your lordships a goodly villain the devil knew not what he did when he made man politic he crossd himself byt and i cannot think but in the end the villainies 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 lords best hope now all are fled save only the gods now his friends are dead doors that were neer acquainted with their wards many a bounteous year must be employd now to guard sure their master and this is all a liberal course allows who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house exit scene iv a hall in timons house enter two of varros men meeting lucius servant and others all being servants of timons creditors to wait for his coming out then enter titus and hortensius first varros servant well met good morrow titus and hortensius titus the like to you kind varro hortensius lucius what do we meet together lucius servant ay and i think one business does command us all for mine is money titus so is theirs and ours enter philotus lucius servant and sir philotus too philotus good day at once lucius servant welcome good brother what do you think the hour philotus labouring for nine lucius servant so much philotus is not my lord seen yet lucius servant not yet philotus i wonder ont he was wont to shine at seven lucius servant ay but the days are waxd shorter with him you must consider that a prodigal course is like the suns but not like his recoverable i fear tis deepest winter in lord timons purse that is one may reach deep enough and yet find little philotus i am of your fear for that titus ill show you how t observe a strange event your lord sends now for money hortensius most true he does titus and he wears jewels now of timons gift for which i wait for money hortensius it is against my heart lucius servant mark how strange it shows timon in this should pay more than he owes and een as if your lord should wear rich jewels and send for money for em hortensius im weary of this charge the gods can witness i know my lord hath spent of timons wealth and now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth first varros servant yes mines three thousand crowns whats yours lucius servant five thousand mine first varros servant tis much deep and it should seem by th sum your masters confidence was above mine else surely his had equalld enter flaminius titus one of lord timons men lucius servant flaminius sir a word pray is my lord ready to come forth flaminius no indeed he is not titus we attend his lordship pray signify so much flaminius i need not tell him that he knows you are to diligent exit enter flavius in a cloak muffled lucius servant ha is not that his steward muffled so he goes away in a cloud call him call him titus do you hear sir second varros servant by your leave sir flavius what do ye ask of me my friend titus we wait for certain money here sir flavius ay if money were as certain as your waiting twere sure enough why then preferrd you not your sums and bills when your false masters eat of my lords meat then they could smile and fawn upon his debts and take down th intrest into their gluttnous maws you do yourselves but wrong to stir me up let me pass quietly believet my lord and i have made an end i have no more to reckon he to spend lucius servant ay but this answer will not serve flavius if twill not serve tis not so base as you for you serve knaves exit first varros servant how what does his cashierd worship mutter second varros servant no matter what hes poor and thats revenge enough who can speak broader than he that has no house to put his head in such may rail against great buildings enter servilius titus o heres servilius now we shall know some answer servilius if i might beseech you gentlemen to repair some other hour i should derive much fromt for taket of my soul my lord leans wondrously to discontent his comfortable temper has forsook him hes much out of health and keeps his chamber lucius servant 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 servilius good gods titus we cannot take this for answer sir flaminius within servilius help my lord my lord enter timon in a rage flaminius following timon what are my doors opposd 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 lucius servant put in now titus titus my lord here is my bill lucius servant heres mine hortensius and mine my lord both varros servants and ours my lord philotus all our bills timon knock me down with em cleave me to the girdle lucius servant alas my lord timon cut my heart in sums titus mine fifty talents timon tell out my blood lucius servant five thousand crowns my lord timon five thousand drops pays that what yours and yours first varros servant my lord second varros servant my lord timon tear me take me and the gods fall upon you exit hortensius faith i perceive our masters may throw their caps at their money these debts may well be calld desperate ones for a madman owes em exeunt re enter timon and flavius timon they have een put my breath from me the slaves creditors devils flavius my dear lord timon what if it should be so flaminius my lord timon ill have it so my steward flavius here my lord timon so fitly go bid all my friends again lucius lucullus and sempronius all ill once more feast the rascals flavius o my lord you only speak from your distracted soul there is not so much left to furnish out a moderate table timon be it not in thy care go i charge thee invite them all let in the tide of knaves once more my cook and ill provide exeunt scene v the senate house enter three senators at one door alcibiades meeting them with attendants first senator my lord you have my voice tot the faults bloody tis necessary he should die nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy second senator most true the law shall bruise him alcibiades honour health and compassion to the senate first senator now captain alcibiades i am an 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 steppd into the law which is past depth to those that without heed do plunge intot 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 touchd to death he did oppose his foe and with such sober and unnoted passion he did behove his anger ere twas spent as if he had but provd an argument first senator you undergo too strict a paradox striving to make an ugly deed look fair your words have took such pains as if they labourd 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 hes 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 neer 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 alcibiades my lord first senator you cannot make gross sins look clear to revenge is no valour but to bear alcibiades 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 upont 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 fellow 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 sins 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 second senator you breathe in vain alcibiades in vain his service done at lacedaemon and byzantium were a sufficient briber for his life first senator whats that alcibiades why i say my lords 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 second senator he has made too much plenty with em hes 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 inferrd to us his days are foul and his drink dangerous first senator he dies alcibiades 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 ill pawn my victories all my honours to you upon his good returns if by this crime he owes the law his life why let the war receivet in valiant gore for law is strict and war is nothing more first senator 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 alcibiades must it be so it must not be my lords i do beseech you know me second senator how alcibiades call me to your remembrances third senator what alcibiades 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 first senator do you dare our anger tis in few words but spacious in effect we banish thee for ever alcibiades banish me banish your dotage banish usury that makes the senate ugly first senator if after two days shine athens contain thee attend our weightier judgment and not to swell our spirit he shall be executed presently exeunt senators alcibiades now the gods keep you old enough that you may live only in bone that none may look on you im 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 banishd it is a cause worthy my spleen and fury that i may strike at athens ill 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 exit scene vi a banqueting hall in timons house music tables set out servants attending enter divers lords friends of timon at several doors first lord the good time of day to you sir second lord i also wish it to you i think this honourable lord did but try us this other day first lord upon that were my thoughts tiring when we encountred i hope it is not so low with him as he made it seem in the trial of his several friends second lord it should not be by the persuasion of his new feasting first lord 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 conjurd me beyond them and i must needs appear second lord 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 first lord i am sick of that grief too as i understand how all things go second lord every man heres so what would he have borrowed of you first lord a thousand pieces second lord a thousand pieces first lord what of you second lord he sent to me sir here he comes enter timon and attendants timon with all my heart gentlemen both and how fare you first lord ever at the best hearing well of your lordship second lord the swallow follows not summer more willing than we your lordship timon aside 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 th trumpets sound we shall tot presently first lord i hope it remains not unkindly with your lordship that i returnd you an empty messenger timon o sir let it not trouble you second lord my noble lord timon ah my good friend what cheer second lord my most honourable lord i am een sick of shame that when your lordship this other day sent to me i was so unfortunate a beggar timon think not ont sir second lord if you had sent but two hours before timon let it not cumber your better remembrance the banquet brought in come bring in all together second lord all coverd dishes first lord royal cheer i warrant you third lord doubt not that if money and the season can yield it first lord how do you whats the news third lord alcibiades is banishd hear you of it first and second lords alcibiades banishd third lord tis so be sure of it first lord how how second lord i pray you upon what timon my worthy friends will you draw near third lord ill tell you more anon heres a noble feast toward second lord this is the old man still third lord willt hold willt hold second lord it does but time will and so third lord i do conceive timon 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 praisd 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 god heads 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 foes 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 the dishes are uncovered and seen to he full of warm water some speak what does his lordship mean some other i know not timon may you a better feast never behold you knot of mouth friends smoke and lukewarm water is your perfection this is timons last who stuck and spangled with your flatteries washes it off and sprinkles in your faces throwing the water in their faces your reeking villainy live loathd and long most smiling smooth detested parasites courteous destroyers affable wolves meek bears you fools of fortune trencher friends times flies cap and knee slaves vapours and minute lacks of man and beast the infinite malady crust you quite oer what dost thou go soft take thy physic first thou too and thou stay i will lend thee money borrow none throws the dishes at them and drives them out what all in motion henceforth be no feast whereat a villains not a welcome guest burn house sink athens henceforth hated be of timon man and all humanity exit re enter the lords first lord how now my lords second lord know you the quality of lord timons fury third lord push did you see my cap fourth lord i have lost my gown first lord hes but a mad lord and nought but humours 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 third lord did you see my cap second lord here tis fourth lord here lies my gown first lord lets make no stay second lord lord timons mad third lord i feelt upon my bones fourth lord one day he gives us diamonds next day stones exeunt act iv scene i without the walls of athens enter timon timon let me look back upon thee o thou wall that girdles 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 th instant green virginity dot 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 masters bed thy mistress is o th brothel son of sixteen pluck the lind 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 th athenian bosoms and their crop be general leprosy breath infect breath that their society as their friendship may be merely poison nothing ill bear from thee but nakedness thou detestable town take thou that too with multiplying bans timon will to the woods where he shall find th 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 exit scene ii athens timons house enter flavius with two or three servants first servant hear you master steward wheres our master are we undone cast off nothing remaining flavius alack my fellows what should i say to you let me be recorded by the righteous gods i am as poor as you first servant such a house broke so noble a master falln all gone and not one friend to take his fortune by the arm and go along with him second servant 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 pickd and his poor self a dedicated beggar to the air with his disease of all shunnd poverty walks like contempt alone more of our fellows enter other servants flavius all broken implements of a ruind house third servant yet do our hearts wear timons livery that see i by our faces we are fellows still serving alike in sorrow leakd 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 flavius good fellows all the latest of my wealth ill share amongst you wherever we shall meet for timons sake lets yet be fellows lets shake our heads and say as twere a knell unto our masters fortune we have seen better days let each take some giving them money nay put out all your hands not one word more thus part we rich in sorrow parting poor embrace and part several ways 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 mockd with glory or to live but in a dream of friendship to have his pomp and all what state compounds but only painted like his varnishd friends poor honest lord brought low by his own heart undone by goodness strange unusual blood when mans worst sin is he does too much good who then dares to be half so kind again for bounty that makes gods does still mar men my dearest lord blest to be most accurst rich only to be wretched thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions alas kind lord hes 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 ill follow and enquire him out ill ever serve his mind with my best will whilst i have gold ill be his steward still exit scene iii the woods near the sea shore before timons cave enter timon in the woods timon o blessed breeding sun draw from the earth rotten humidity below thy sisters orb infect the air twinnd 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 denyt that lord the senator shall bear contempt hereditary the beggar native honour it is the pasture lards the rothers sides the want that makes him lean who dares who dares in purity of manhood stand upright and say this mans a flatterer if one be so are they all for every grise of fortune is smoothd by that below the learned pate ducks to the golden fool alls oblique theres nothing level in our cursed natures but direct villainy therefore be abhorrd all feasts societies and throngs of men his semblable yea himself timon disdains destruction fang mankind earth yield me roots digging 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 mens pillows from below their heads this yellow slave will knit and break religions bless th accursd make the hoar leprosy adord place thieves and give them title knee and approbation with senators on the bench this is it that makes the wappend widow wed again she whom the spital house and ulcerous sores would cast the gorge at this embalms and spices to th april day again come damnd earth thou common whore of mankind that puts odds among the rout of nations i will make thee do thy right nature march afar off ha a drum thart quick but yet ill bury thee thout go strong thief when gouty keepers of thee cannot stand nay stay thou out for earnest keeping some gold enter alcibiades with drum and fife in warlike manner and phrynia and timandra alcibiades what art thou there speak timon a beast as thou art the canker gnaw thy heart for showing me again the eyes of man alcibiades what is thy name is man so hateful to thee that art thyself a man timon i am misanthropos and hate mankind for thy part i do wish thou wert a dog that i might love thee something alcibiades i know thee well but in thy fortunes am unlearnd and strange timon i know thee too and more than that i know thee i not desire to know follow thy drum with mans 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 phrynia thy lips rot off timon i will not kiss thee then the rot returns to thine own lips again alcibiades how came the noble timon to this change timon 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 alcibiades noble timon what friendship may i do thee timon none but to maintain my opinion alcibiades what is it timon timon promise me friendship but perform none if thou wilt not promise the gods plague thee for thou art man if thou dost perform confound thee for thou art a man alcibiades i have heard in some sort of thy miseries timon thou sawst them when i had prosperity alcibiades i see them now then was a blessed time timon as thine is now held with a brace of harlots timandra is this th athenian minion whom the world voicd so regardfully timon art thou timandra timandra yes timon 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 cheekd youth to the tub fast and the diet timandra hang thee monster alcibiades pardon him sweet timandra for his wits are drownd 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 grievd how cursed athens mindless of thy worth forgetting thy great deeds when neighbour states but for thy sword and fortune trod upon them timon i prithee beat thy drum and get thee gone alcibiades i am thy friend and pity thee dear timon timon how dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble i had rather be alone alcibiades why fare thee well here is some gold for thee timon keep it i cannot eat it alcibiades when i have laid proud athens on a heap timon warst thou gainst athens alcibiades ay timon and have cause timon the gods confound them all in thy conquest and thee after when thou hast conquerd alcibiades why me timon timon that by killing of villains thou wast born to conquer my country put up thy gold go on heres gold go on be as a planetary plague when jove will oer some high vicd city hang his poison in the sick air let not thy sword skip one pity not honourd age for his white beard he is an usurer strike me the counterfeit matron it is her habit only that is honest herselfs a bawd let not the virgins cheek make soft thy trenchant sword for those milk paps that through the window bars bore at mens 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 pronouncd thy throat shall cut and mince it sans remorse swear against abjects 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 theres gold to pay thy soldiers make large confusion and thy fury spent confounded be thyself speak not be gone alcibiades hast thou gold yet ill take the gold thou givest me not all thy counsel timon dost thou or dost thou not heavens curse upon thee phrynia and timandra give us some gold good timon hast thou more timon 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 youll swear terribly swear into strong shudders and to heavenly agues th immortal gods that hear you spare your oaths ill 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 hangd no matter wear them betray with them whore still paint till a horse may mire upon your face a pox of wrinkles phrynia and timandra well more gold what then believet that well do anything for gold timon consumptions sow in hollow bones of man strike their sharp shins and mar mens spurring crack the lawyers 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 curld pate ruffians bald and let the unscarrd braggarts of the war derive some pain from you plague all that your activity may defeat and quell the source of all erection theres more gold do you damn others and let this damn you and ditches grave you all phrynia and timandra more counsel with more money bounteous timon timon more whore more mischief first i have given you earnest alcibiades strike up the drum towards athens farewell timon if i thrive well ill visit thee again timon if i hope well ill never see thee more alcibiades i never did thee harm timon yes thou spokst well of me alcibiades callst thou that harm timon men daily find it get thee away and take thy beagles with thee alcibiades we but offend him strike drum beats exeunt all but timon timon that nature being sick of mans unkindness should yet be hungry common mother thou digging whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast teems and feeds all whose self same mettle whereof thy proud child arrogant man is puffd engenders the black toad and adder blue the gilded newt and eyeless venomd worm with all th abhorred births below crisp heaven whereon hyperions quickning 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 enter apemantus more man plague plague apemantus i was directed hither men report thou dost affect my manners and dost use them timon tis then because thou dost not keep a dog whom i would imitate consumption catch thee apemantus 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 diseasd 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 seek to thrive by that which has undone thee hinge thy knee and let his very breath whom thoult observe blow off thy cap praise his most vicious strain and call it excellent thou wast told thus thou gavst thine ears like tapsters that bade welcome to knaves and all approachers tis most just that thou turn rascal hadst thou wealth again rascals should havet do not assume my likeness timon were i like thee id throw away myself apemantus thou hast cast away thyself being like thyself a madman so long now a fool what thinkst that the bleak air thy boisterous chamberlain will put thy shirt on warm will these moist trees that have outlivd the eagle page thy heels and skip when thou pointst out will the cold brook candied with ice caudle thy morning taste to cure thy oernights surfeit call the creatures whose naked natures live in all the spite of wreakful heaven whose bare unhoused trunks to the conflicting elements exposd answer mere nature bid them flatter thee o thou shalt find timon a fool of thee depart apemantus i love thee better now than eer i did timon i hate thee worse apemantus why timon thou flatterst misery apemantus i flatter not but say thou art a caitiff timon why dost thou seek me out apemantus to vex thee timon always a villains office or a fools dost please thyself int apemantus ay timon what a knave too apemantus if thou didst put this sour cold habit on to castigate thy pride twere well but thou dost it enforcedly thoudst courtier be again wert thou not beggar willing misery outlives incertain pomp is crownd 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 timon not by his breath that is more miserable thou art a slave whom fortunes tender arm with favour never claspd 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 drugs of it freely command thou wouldst have plungd thyself in general riot melted down thy youth in different beds of lust and never learnd the icy precepts of respect but followed the sugred 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 winters 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 int why shouldst thou hate men they never flatterd 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 apemantus art thou proud yet timon ay that i am not thee apemantus i that i was no prodigal timon i that i am one now were all the wealth i have shut up in thee id give thee leave to hang it get thee gone that the whole life of athens were in this thus would i eat it eating a root apemantus here i will mend thy feast offering him food timon first mend my company take away thyself apemantus so i shall mend mine own by th lack of thine timon tis not well mended so it is but botchd if not i would it were apemantus what wouldst thou have to athens timon thee thither in a whirlwind if thou wilt tell them there i have gold look so i have apemantus here is no use for gold timon the best and truest for here it sleeps and does no hired harm apemantus where liest a nights timon timon under thats above me where feedst thou a days apemantus apemantus where my stomach finds meat or rather where i eat it timon would poison were obedient and knew my mind apemantus where wouldst thou send it timon to sauce thy dishes apemantus the middle of humanity thou never knewest but the extremity of both ends when thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume they mockd thee for too much curiosity in thy rags thou knowst none but art despisd for the contrary theres a medlar for thee eat it timon on what i hate i feed not apemantus dost hate a medlar timon ay though it look like thee apemantus an th hadst hated medlars sooner thou shouldst have loved thyself better now what man didst thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means timon who without those means thou talkst of didst thou ever know belovd apemantus myself timon i understand thee thou hadst some means to keep a dog apemantus what things in the world canst thou nearest compare to thy flatterers timon women nearest but men men are the things themselves what wouldst thou do with the world apemantus if it lay in thy power apemantus give it the beasts to be rid of the men timon wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men and remain a beast with the beasts apemantus ay timon timon a beastly ambition which the gods grant thee t 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 accusd by the ass if thou wert the ass thy dulness would torment thee and still thou livdst 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 bear thou wouldst be killd by the horse wert thou a horse thou wouldst be seizd 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 beast art thou already that seest not thy loss in transformation apemantus 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 timon how has the ass broke the wall that thou art out of the city apemantus 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 ill see thee again timon when there is nothing living but thee thou shalt be welcome i had rather be a beggars dog than apemantus apemantus thou art the cap of all the fools alive timon would thou wert clean enough to spit upon apemantus a plague on thee thou art too bad to curse timon all villains that do stand by thee are pure apemantus there is no leprosy but what thou speakst timon if i name thee ill beat thee but i should infect my hands apemantus i would my tongue could rot them off timon away thou issue of a mangy dog choler does kill me that thou art alive i swoon to see thee apemantus would thou wouldst burst timon away thou tedious rogue i am sorry i shall lose a stone by thee throws a stone at him apemantus beast timon slave apemantus toad timon rogue rogue rogue i am sick of this false world and will love nought but even the mere necessities upont then timon presently prepare thy grave lie where the light foam of the sea may beat thy gravestone daily make thine epitaph that death in me at others lives may laugh looks at the gold o thou sweet king killer and dear divorce twixt natural son and sire thou bright defiler of hymens purest bed thou valiant mars thou ever young fresh lovd and delicate wooer whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow that lies on dians lap thou visible god that soldrest close impossibilities and makst them kiss that speakst 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 apemantus would twere so but not till i am dead ill say th hast gold thou wilt be throngd to shortly timon throngd to apemantus ay timon thy back i prithee apemantus live and love thy misery timon long live so and so die exit apemantus i am quit more things like men eat timon and abhor them enter the banditti first bandit 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 second bandit it is noisd he hath a mass of treasure third bandit let us make the assay upon him if he care not fort he will supply us easily if he covetously reserve it how shalls get it second bandit true for he bears it not about him tis hid first bandit is not this he banditti where second bandit tis his description third bandit he i know him banditti save thee timon timon now thieves banditti soldiers not thieves timon both too and womens sons banditti we are not thieves but men that much do want timon 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 briars scarlet hips the bounteous housewife nature on each bush lays her full mess before you want why want first bandit we cannot live on grass on berries water as beasts and birds and fishes timon nor on the beasts themselves the birds and fishes you must eat men yet thanks i must you con that you are thieves professd that you work not in holier shapes for there is boundless theft in limited professions rascal thieves heres gold go suck the subtle blood o th 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 moe than you rob take wealth and lives together do villainy do since you protest to dot like workmen ill example you with thievery the suns a thief and with his great attraction robs the vast sea the moons an arrant thief and her pale fire she snatches from the sun the seas a thief whose liquid surge resolves the moon into salt tears the earths a thief that feeds and breeds by a composture stoln from genral excrement each things a thief the laws your curb and whip in their rough power has uncheckd theft love not yourselves away rob one another theres 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 not less for this i give you and gold confound you howsoeer amen third bandit has almost charmd me from my profession by persuading me to it first bandit tis in the malice of mankind that he thus advises us not to have us thrive in our mystery second bandit ill believe him as an enemy and give over my trade first bandit let us first see peace in athens there is no time so miserable but a man may be true exeunt thieves enter flavius to timon flavius o you gods is yond despisd and ruinous man my lord full of decay and failing o monument and wonder of good deeds evilly bestowd what an alteration of honour has desprate 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 times guise when man was wishd to love his enemies grant i may ever love and rather woo those that would mischief me than those that do has 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 timon away what art thou flavius have you forgot me sir timon why dost ask that i have forgot all men then if thou grantst thart a man i have forgot thee flavius an honest poor servant of yours timon then i know thee not i never had honest man about me i all i kept were knaves to serve in meat to villains flavius the gods are witness nevr did poor steward wear a truer grief for his undone lord than mine eyes for you timon what dost thou weep come nearer then i love thee because thou art a woman and disclaimst flinty mankind whose eyes do never give but thorough lust and laughter pitys sleeping strange times that weep with laughing not with weeping flavius i beg of you to know me good my lord t accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts to entertain me as your steward still timon 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 hes a steward how fain would i have hated all mankind and thou redeemst 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 lords neck but tell me true for i must ever doubt though neer 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 flavius no my most worthy master in whose breast doubt and suspect alas are placd too late you should have feard false times when you did feast suspect still comes where 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 honourd lord for any benefit that points to me either in hope or present id exchange for this one wish that you had power and wealth to requite me by making rich yourself timon 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 conditiond thou shalt build from men hate all curse all show charity to none but let the famishd flesh slide from the bone ere thou relieve the beggar give to dogs what thou deniest 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 flavius o let me stay and comfort you my master timon if thou hatst curses stay not fly whilst thou art blest and free neer see thou man and let me neer see thee exeunt severally act v scene i the woods before timons cave enter poet and painter painter as i took note of the place it cannot be far where he abides poet to be thought of him does the rumour hold for true that hes so full of gold painter certain alcibiades reports it phrynia and timandra had gold of him he likewise enrichd poor straggling soldiers with great quantity tis said he gave unto his steward a mighty sum poet then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends painter 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 supposd distress of his it will show honestly in us and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for if it be just and true report that goes of his having poet what have you now to present unto him painter nothing at this time but my visitation only i will promise him an excellent piece poet i must serve him so too tell him of an intent thats coming toward him painter good as the best promising is the very air o th 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 enter timon from his cave timon aside excellent workman thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself poet 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 timon aside 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 poet nay lets seek him then do we sin against our own estate when we may profit meet and come too late painter true when the day serves before black cornerd night find what thou wantst by free and offerd light come timon aside ill meet you at the turn what a gods gold that he is worshippd in a baser temple than where swine feed tis thou that rigst the bark and ploughst the foam settlest admired reverence in a slave to thee be worship and thy saints for aye be crownd with plagues that thee alone obey fit i meet them advancing from his cave poet hail worthy timon painter our late noble master timon have i once livd to see two honest men poet sir having often of your open bounty tasted hearing you were retird your friends falln 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 timon let it go naked men may seet the better you that are honest by being what you are make them best seen and known painter he and myself have travaild in the great showr of your gifts and sweetly felt it timon ay you are honest men painter we are hither come to offer you our service timon most honest men why how shall i requite you can you eat roots and drink cold water no both what we can do well do to do you service timon yare honest men yhave heard that i have gold i am sure you have speak truth yare honest men painter so it is said my noble lord but therefore came not my friend nor i timon good honest men thou drawst a counterfeit best in all athens thart indeed the best thou counterfeitst most lively painter so so my lord timon een so sir as i say to to poet 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 naturd 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 both beseech your honour to make it known to us timon youll take it ill both most thankfully my lord timon will you indeed both doubt it not worthy lord timon theres never a one of you but trusts a knave that mightily deceives you both do we my lord timon ay and you hear him cog see him dissemble know his gross patchery love him feed him keep in your bosom yet remain assurd that hes a made up villain painter i know not such my lord poet nor i timon look you i love you well ill 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 ill give you gold enough both name them my lord lets know them timon you that way and you this but two in company each man apart all single and alone yet an arch villain keeps him company to the painter if where thou art two villians shall not be come not near him to the poet if thou wouldst not reside but where one villain is then him abandon hence pack theres gold you came for gold ye slaves to the painter you have work for me theres payment hence to the poet you are an alchemist make gold of that out rascal dogs beats and drives them out enter flavius and two senators flavius it is 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 first senator bring us to his cave it is our part and promise to th athenians to speak with timon second senator at all times alike men are not still the same twas time and griefs that framd 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 flavius here is his cave peace and content be here lord timon timon look out and speak to friends th athenians by two of their most reverend senate greet thee speak to them noble timon enter timon out of his cave timon thou sun that comforts burn speak and be hangd for each true word a blister and each false be as a cauterizing to the root o th tongue consuming it with speaking first senator worthy timon timon of none but such as you and you of timon first senator the senators of athens greet thee timon timon i thank them and would send them back the plague could i but catch it for them first senator 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 second senator they confess toward thee forgetfulness too general gross which now the public body which doth seldom play the recanter feeling in itself a lack of timons aid hath sense withal of it own fail restraining aid to timon and send forth us to make their sorrowed 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 blot out what wrongs were theirs and write in thee the figures of their love ever to read them thine timon you witch me in it surprise me to the very brink of tears lend me a fools heart and a womans eyes and ill beweep these comforts worthy senators first senator 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 allowd with absolute power and thy good name live with authority so soon we shall drive back of alcibiades th approaches wild who like a boar too savage doth root up his countrys peace second senator and shakes his threatning sword against the walls of athens first senator therefore timon 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 th beards giving our holy virgins to the stain of contumelious beastly mad braind 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 taket at worst for their knives care not while you have throats to answer for myself theres not a whittle in th unruly camp but i do prize it at my love before the reverendst throat in athens so i leave you to the protection of the prosperous gods as thieves to keepers flavius stay not alls in vain timon 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 first senator we speak in vain timon but yet i love my country and am not one that rejoices in the common wreck as common bruit doth put it first senator thats well spoke timon commend me to my loving countrymen first senator these words become your lips as they pass through them second senator and enter in our ears like great triumphers in their applauding gates timon 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 natures fragile vessel doth sustain in lifes uncertain voyage i will some kindness do them ill teach them to prevent wild alcibiades wrath first senator i like this well he will return again timon 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 flavius trouble him no further thus you still shall find him timon come not to me again but say to athens 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 gravestone be your oracle lips let sour words go by and language end what is amiss plague and infection mend graves only be mens works and death their gain sun hide thy beams timon hath done his reign exit timon into his cave first senator his discontents are unremovably coupled to nature second senator our hope in him is dead let us return and strain what other means is left unto us in our dear peril first senator it requires swift foot exeunt scene ii before the walls of athens enter two other senators with a messenger first senator thou hast painfully discoverd are his files as full as thy report messenger i have spoke the least besides his expedition promises present approach second senator we stand much hazard if they bring not timon messenger i met a courier one mine ancient friend whom though in general part we were opposd yet our old love had a particular force and made us speak like friends this man was riding from alcibiades to timons cave with letters of entreaty which imported his fellowship i th cause against your city in part for his sake movd enter the other senators from timon first senator here come our brothers third senator 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 exeunt scene iii the timons cave and a rude tomb seen enter a soldier in the woods seeking timon soldier by all description this should be the place whos here speak ho no answer what is this timon is dead who hath outstretchd his span some beast reard this here does not live a man dead sure and this his grave whats on this tomb i cannot read the character ill take with wax our captain hath in every figure skill an agd interpreter though young in days before proud athens hes set down by this whose fall the mark of his ambition is exit scene iv before the walls of athens trumpets sound enter alcibiades with his powers before athens alcibiades sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach sound a parley the senators appear upon the walls till now you have gone on and filld 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 wanderd with our traversd arms and breathd 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 first senator 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 second senator so did we woo transformed timon to our citys love by humble message and by promisd means we were not all unkind nor all deserve the common stroke of war first senator these walls of ours were not erected by their hands from whom you have receivd your griefs nor are they such that these great towrs trophies and schools should fall for private faults in them second senator 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 destind tenth and by the hazard of the spotted die let die the spotted first senator all have not offended for those that were it is not square to take on those that are revenge crimes like lands are not inherited then dear countryman bring in thy ranks but leave without thy rage spare thy athenian 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 second senator what thou wilt thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile than hew tot with thy sword first senator set but thy foot against our rampird gates and they shall ope so thou wilt send thy gentle heart before to say thout enter friendly second senator 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 seald thy full desire alcibiades then theres my glove descend and open your uncharged ports those enemies of timons 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 citys bounds but shall be renderd to your public laws at heaviest answer both tis most nobly spoken alcibiades descend and keep your words the senators descend and open the gates enter a soldier as a messenger soldier my noble general timon is dead entombd upon the very hem o th sea and on his grave stone this insculpture which with wax i brought away whose soft impression interprets for my poor ignorance alcibiades reads the epitaph 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 abhorrdst in us our human griefs scorndst our brains 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 others leech let our drums strike exeunt the end the tragedy of titus andronicus dramatis personae saturninus son to the late emperor of rome afterwards emperor bassianus brother to saturninus titus andronicus a noble roman marcus andronicus tribune of the people and brother to titus sons to titus andronicus lucius quintus martius mutius young lucius a boy son to lucius publius son to marcus andronicus kinsmen to titus sempronius caius valentine aemilius a noble roman sons to tamora alarbus demetrius chiron aaron a moor beloved by tamora a captain a messenger a clown tamora queen of the goths lavinia daughter to titus andronicus a nurse and a black child romans and goths senators tribunes officers soldiers and attendants scene rome and the neighbourhood act scene i rome before the capitol flourish enter the tribunes and senators aloft and then enter below saturninus and his followers at one door and bassianus and his followers at the other with drums and trumpets saturninus 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 ware the imperial diadem of rome then let my fathers honours live in me nor wrong mine age with this indignity bassianus romans friends followers favourers of my right if ever bassianus caesars 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 enter marcus andronicus aloft with the crown marcus 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 yokd a nation strong traind 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 returnd bleeding to rome bearing his valiant sons in coffins from the field and at this day to the monument of that andronici done sacrifice of expiation and slain the noblest prisoner of the goths and now at last laden with honours 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 senates 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 saturninus how fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts bassianus 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 romes rich ornament that i will here dismiss my loving friends and to my fortunes and the peoples favour commit my cause in balance to be weighd exeunt the soldiers of bassianus saturninus 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 exeunt the soldiers of saturninus rome be as just and gracious unto me as i am confident and kind to thee open the gates and let me in bassianus tribunes and me a poor competitor flourish they go up into the senate house enter a captain captain romans make way the good andronicus patron of virtue romes best champion successful in the battles that he fights with honour and with fortune is returnd from where he circumscribed with his sword and brought to yoke the enemies of rome sound drums and trumpets and then enter martius and mutius two of titus sons and then two men bearing a coffin covered with black then lucius and quintus two other sons then titus andronicus and then tamora the queen of goths with her three sons alarbus demetrius and chiron with aaron the moor and others as many as can be then set down the coffin and titus speaks titus hail rome victorious in thy mourning weeds lo as the bark that hath dischargd her fraught returns with precious lading to the bay from whence at first she weighd 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 amongst their ancestors here goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword titus unkind and careless of thine own why sufferst thou thy sons unburied yet to hover on the dreadful shore of styx make way to lay them by their brethren they open the tomb there greet in silence as the dead are wont and sleep in peace slain in your countrys wars o sacred receptacle of my joys sweet cell of virtue and nobility how many sons hast thou of mine in store that thou wilt never render to me more lucius 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 unappeasd nor we disturbd with prodigies on earth titus i give him you the noblest that survives the eldest son of this distressed queen tamora stay roman brethen gracious conqueror victorious titus rue the tears i shed a mothers 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 slaughtered in the streets for valiant doings in their countrys 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 nobilitys true badge thrice noble titus spare my first born son titus 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 markd and die he must t appease their groaning shadows that are gone lucius away with him and make a fire straight and with our swords upon a pile of wood lets hew his limbs till they be clean consumd exeunt titus sons with alarbus tamora o cruel irreligious piety chiron was never scythia half so barbarous demetrius oppose not scythia to ambitious rome alarbus goes to rest and we survive to tremble under titus threatning look then madam stand resolvd but hope withal the self same gods that armd 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 re enter lucius quintus martius and mutius the sons of andronicus with their swords bloody lucius see lord and father how we have performd our roman rites alarbus limbs are loppd 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 titus let it be so and let andronicus make this his latest farewell to their souls sound trumpets and lay the coffin in the tomb in peace and honour rest you here my sons romes 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 enter lavinia lavinia 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 brethrens obsequies and at thy feet i kneel with tears of joy shed on this earth for thy return to rome o bless me here with thy victorious hand whose fortunes romes best citizens applaud titus kind rome that hast thus lovingly reservd the cordial of mine age to glad my heart lavinia live outlive thy fathers days and fames eternal date for virtues praise enter above marcus andronicus and tribunes re enter saturninus bassianus and attendants marcus long live lord titus my beloved brother gracious triumpher in the eyes of rome titus thanks gentle tribune noble brother marcus 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 countrys service drew your swords but safer triumph is this funeral pomp that hath aspird to solons happiness and triumphs over chance in honours 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 par iament of white and spotless hue and name thee in election for the empire with these our late deceased emperors sons be candidatus then and put it on and help to set a head on headless rome titus 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 countrys 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 marcus titus thou shalt obtain and ask the empery saturninus proud and ambitious tribune canst thou tell titus patience prince saturninus saturninus romans do me right patricians draw your swords and sheathe them not till saturninus be romes emperor andronicus would thou were shippd to hell rather than rob me of the peoples hearts lucius proud saturnine interrupter of the good that noble minded titus means to thee titus content thee prince i will restore to thee the peoples hearts and wean them from themselves bassianus 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 titus people of rome and peoples tribunes here i ask your voices and your suffrages will ye bestow them friendly on andronicus tribunes to gratify the good andronicus and gratulate his safe return to rome the people will accept whom he admits titus tribunes i thank you and this suit i make that you create our emperors eldest son lord saturnine whose virtues will i hope reflect on rome as titans 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 marcus with voices and applause of every sort patricians and plebeians we create lord saturninus romes great emperor and say long live our emperor saturnine a long flourish till they come down saturninus 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 emperess romes royal mistress mistress of my heart and in the sacred pantheon her espouse tell me andronicus doth this motion please thee titus it doth my worthy lord and in this match i hold me highly honoured of your grace and here in sight of rome to saturnine king and commander of our commonweal the wide worlds emperor do i consecrate my sword my chariot and my prisoners presents well worthy romes imperious lord receive them then the tribute that i owe mine honours ensigns humbled at thy feet saturninus 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 titus to tamora now madam are you prisoner to an emperor to him that for your honour and your state will use you nobly and your followers saturninus aside 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 comst 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 displeasd with this lavinia not i my lord sith true nobility warrants these words in princely courtesy saturninus thanks sweet lavinia romans let us go ransomless here we set our prisoners free proclaim our honours lords with trump and drum flourish bassianus lord titus by your leave this maid is mine seizing lavinia titus how sir are you in earnest then my lord bassianus ay noble titus and resolvd withal to do myself this reason and this right marcus suum cuique is our roman justice this prince in justice seizeth but his own lucius and that he will and shall if lucius live titus traitors avaunt where is the emperors guard treason my lord lavinia is surprisd saturninus surprisd by whom bassianus by him that justly may bear his betrothd from all the world away exeunt bassianus and marcus with lavinia mutius brothers help to convey her hence away and with my sword ill keep this door safe exeunt lucius quintus and martius titus follow my lord and ill soon bring her back mutius my lord you pass not here titus what villain boy barst me my way in rome mutius help lucius help titus kills him during the fray exeunt saturninus tamora demetrius chiron and aaron re enter lucius lucius my lord you are unjust and more than so in wrongful quarrel you have slain your son titus nor thou nor he are any sons of mine my sons would never so dishonour me re enter aloft the emperor with tamora and her two sons and aaron the moor traitor restore lavinia to the emperor lucius dead if you will but not to be his wife that is anothers lawful promisd love exit saturninus no titus no the emperor needs her not nor her nor thee nor any of thy stock ill trust by leisure him that mocks me once thee never nor thy traitorous haughty sons confederates all thus to dishonour me was there none else in rome to make a stale but saturnine full well andronicus agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine that saidst i beggd the empire at thy hands titus o monstrous what reproachful words are these saturninus but go thy ways go give that changing piece to him that flourishd 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 titus these words are razors to my wounded heart saturninus and therefore lovely tamora queen of goths that like the stately phoebe mongst her nymphs dost overshine the gallantst dames of rome if thou be pleasd with this my sudden choice behold i choose thee tamora for my bride and will create thee emperess 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 everything in readiness for hymenaeus stand i will not re salute the streets of rome or climb my palace till from forth this place i lead espousd my bride along with me tamora 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 saturninus 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 rites exeunt all but titus titus i am not bid to wait upon this bride titus when wert thou wont to walk alone dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs re enter marcus and titus sons lucius quintus and martius marcus o titus see o see what thou hast done in a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son titus no foolish tribune no no son of mine nor thou nor these confederates in the deed that hath dishonoured all our family unworthy brother and unworthy sons lucius but let us give him burial as becomes give mutius burial with our bretheren titus 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 romes servitors repose in fame none basely slain in brawls bury him where you can he comes not here marcus my lord this is impiety in you my nephew mutius deeds do plead for him he must be buried with his bretheren quintus martius and shall or him we will accompany titus and shall what villain was it spake that word quintus he that would vouch it in any place but here titus what would you bury him in my despite marcus no noble titus but entreat of thee to pardon mutius and to bury him titus 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 martius he is not with himself let us withdraw quintus not i till mutius bones be buried the brother and the sons kneel marcus brother for in that name doth nature plead quintus father and in that name doth nature speak titus speak thou no more if all the rest will speed marcus renowned titus more than half my soul lucius dear father soul and substance of us all marcus suffer thy brother marcus to inter his noble nephew here in virtues nest that died in honour and lavinias 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 barrd his entrance here titus rise marcus rise the dismalst day is this that eer i saw to be dishonoured by my sons in rome well bury him and bury me the next they put mutius in the tomb lucius there lie thy bones sweet mutius with thy friends till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb all kneeling no man shed tears for noble mutius he lives in fame that died in virtues cause marcus my lord to step out of these dreary dumps how comes it that the subtle queen of goths is of a sudden thus advancd in rome titus 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 marcus yes and will nobly him remunerate flourish re enter the emperor tamora and her two sons with the moor at one door at the other door bassianus and lavinia with others saturninus so bassianus you have playd your prize god give you joy sir of your gallant bride bassianus and you of yours my lord i say no more nor wish no less and so i take my leave saturninus traitor if rome have law or we have power thou and thy faction shall repent this rape bassianus 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 am i possessd of that is mine saturninus tis good sir you are very short with us but if we live well be as sharp with you bassianus 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 wrongd that in the rescue of lavinia with his own hand did slay his youngest son in zeal to you and highly movd to wrath to be controlld in that he frankly gave receive him then to favour saturnine that hath expressd himself in all his deeds a father and a friend to thee and rome titus prince bassianus leave to plead my deeds tis thou and those that have dishonoured me rome and the righteous heavens be my judge how i have lovd and honoured saturnine tamora 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 saturninus what madam be dishonoured openly and basely put it up without revenge tamora 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 aside to saturninus my lord be ruld 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 ill 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 sons 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 saturninus rise titus rise my empress hath prevaild titus i thank your majesty and her my lord these words these looks infuse new life in me tamora 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 reconcild your friends and you for you prince bassianus i have passd 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 lucius we do and vow to heaven and to his highness that what we did was mildly as we might tendring our sisters honour and our own marcus that on mine honour here do i protest saturninus away and talk not trouble us no more tamora 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 saturninus marcus for thy sake and thy brothers here and at my lovely tamoras entreats i do remit these young mens 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 emperors court can feast two brides you are my guest lavinia and your friends this day shall be a love day tamora titus to morrow and it please your majesty to hunt the panther and the hart with me with horn and hound well give your grace bonjour saturninus be it so titus and gramercy too exeunt sound trumpets act ii scene i rome before the palace enter aaron aaron now climbeth tamora olympus top safe out of fortunes shot and sits aloft secure of thunders crack or lightning flash advancd above pale envys threatning reach as when the golden sun salutes the morn and having gilt the ocean with his beams gallops the zodiac in his glistening 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 fettred in amorous chains and faster bound to aarons 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 emperess to wait said i to wanton with this queen this goddess this semiramis this nymph this siren that will charm romes saturnine and see his shipwreck and his commonweals hullo what storm is this enter chiron and demetrius braving demetrius chiron thy years wants wit thy wits wants edge and manners to intrude where i am gracd and may for aught thou knowest affected be chiron 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 lavinias love aaron aside clubs clubs these lovers will not keep the peace demetrius why boy although our mother unadvisd gave you a dancing rapier by your side are you so desperate grown to threat your friends go to have your lath glued within your sheath till you know better how to handle it chiron meanwhile sir with the little skill i have full well shalt thou perceive how much i dare demetrius ay boy grow ye so brave they draw aaron coming forward why how now lords so near the emperors palace dare ye 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 dishonoured in the court of rome for shame put up demetrius not i till i have sheathd my rapier in his bosom and withal thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat that he hath breathd in my dishonour here chiron for that i am prepard and full resolvd foul spoken coward that thundrest with thy tongue and with thy weapon nothing darst perform aaron away i say now by the gods that warlike goths adore this pretty brabble will undo us all why lords and think you not how dangerous it is to jet upon a princes right what is lavinia then become so loose or bassianus so degenerate that for her love such quarrels may be broachd without controlment justice or revenge young lords beware an should the empress know this discords ground the music would not please chiron i care not i knew she and all the world i love lavinia more than all the world demetrius youngling learn thou to make some meaner choice lavina is thine elder brothers hope aaron 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 chiron aaron a thousand deaths would i propose to achieve her whom i love aaron to achieve her how demetrius why makst thou it so strange she is a woman therefore may be wood she is a woman therefore may be won she is lavinia therefore must be lovd 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 emperors brother better than he have worn vulcans badge aaron aside ay and as good as saturninus may demetrius then why should he despair that knows to court it with words fair looks and liberality what hast not thou full often struck a doe and borne her cleanly by the keepers nose aaron why then it seems some certain snatch or so would serve your turns chiron ay so the turn were served demetrius aaron thou hast hit it aaron would you had hit it too then should not we be tird 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 chiron faith not me demetrius nor me so i were one aaron 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 lingring 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 villainy 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 villainy and vengeance consecrate will we acquaint with all what 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 emperors 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 lust shadowed from heavens eye and revel in lavinias treasury chiron thy counsel lad smells of no cowardice demetrius sit fas aut nefas till i find the stream to cool this heat a charm to calm these fits per styga per manes vehor exeunt scene ii a forest near rome enter titus andronicus and his three sons lucius quintus martius making a noise with hounds and horns and marcus titus 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 hunters peal that all the court may echo with the noise sons let it be your charge as it is ours to attend the emperors person carefully i have been troubled in my sleep this night but dawning day new comfort hath inspird here a cry of hounds and wind horns in a peal then enter saturninus tamora bassianus lavinia chiron demetrius and their attendants many good morrows to your majesty madam to you as many and as good i promised your grace a hunters peal saturninus and you have rung it lustily my lords somewhat too early for new married ladies bassianus lavinia how say you lavinia i say no i have been broad awake two hours and more saturninus come on then horse and chariots let us have and to our sport to tamora madam now shall ye see our roman hunting marcus i have dogs my lord will rouse the proudest panther in the chase and climb the highest promontory top titus and i have horse will follow where the game makes way and run like swallows oer the plain demetrius chiron we hunt not we with horse nor hound but hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground exeunt scene iii a lonely part of the forest enter aaron alone with a bag of gold aaron 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 villainy and so repose sweet gold for their unrest hides the gold that have their alms out of the empress chest enter tamora alone to the moor tamora my lovely aaron wherefore lookst thou sad when everything does make a gleeful boast the birds chant melody on every bush the snakes lie rolled in the cheerful sun the green leaves quiver with the cooling wind and make a chequerd shadow on the ground under their sweet shade aaron let us sit and while the babbling echo mocks the hounds replying shrilly to the well tund horns as if a double hunt were heard at once let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise and after conflict such as was supposd the wandring prince and dido once enjoyed when with a happy storm they were surprisd and curtaind with a counsel keeping cave we may each wreathed in the others arms our pastimes done possess a golden slumber whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds be unto us as is a nurses song of lullaby to bring her babe asleep aaron 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 enter bassianus and lavinia tamora ah my sweet moor sweeter to me than life aaron no more great empress bassianus comes be cross with him and ill go fetch thy sons to back thy quarrels whatsoeer they be exit bassianus who have we here romes royal emperess unfurnishd 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 tamora saucy controller of my private steps had i the powr that some say dian had thy temples should be planted presently with horns as was actaeons and the hounds should drive upon thy new transformed limbs unmannerly intruder as thou art lavinia under your patience gentle emperess tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning and to be doubted that your moor and you are singled forth to try thy experiments jove shield your husband from his hounds to day tis pity they should take him for a stag bassianus believe me queen your swarth cimmerian doth make your honour of his bodys hue spotted detested and abominable why are you sequestred from all your train dismounted from your snow white goodly steed and wandred hither to an obscure plot accompanied but with a barbarous moor if foul desire had not conducted you lavinia 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 coloured love this valley fits the purpose passing well bassianus the king my brother shall have notice of this lavinia ay for these slips have made him noted long good king to be so mightily abused tamora why i have patience to endure all this enter chiron and demetrius demetrius how now dear sovereign and our gracious mother why doth your highness look so pale and wan tamora have i not reason think you to look pale these two have ticed me hither to this place a barren detested vale you see it is the trees though summer yet forlorn and lean overcome with moss and baleful mistletoe here never shines the sun here nothing breeds unless the nightly owl or fatal raven and when they showd 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 calld 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 mothers life or be ye not henceforth calld my children demetrius this is a witness that i am thy son stabs bassianus chiron and this for me struck home to show my strength also stabs lavinia ay come semiramis nay barbarous tamora for no name fits thy nature but thy own tamora give me the poniard you shall know my boys your mothers hand shall right your mothers wrong demetrius stay madam here is more belongs to her first thrash the corn then after burn the straw this minion stood upon her chastity upon her nuptial vow her loyalty and with that painted hope braves your mightiness and shall she carry this unto her grave chiron 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 tamora but when ye have the honey we desire let not this wasp outlive us both to sting chiron i warrant you madam we will make that sure come mistress now perforce we will enjoy that nice preserved honesty of yours lavinia o tamora thou bearest a womans face tamora i will not hear her speak away with her lavinia sweet lords entreat her hear me but a word demetrius 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 lavinia when did the tigers young ones teach the dam o do not learn her wrath she taught it thee the milk thou suckdst from her did turn to marble even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny yet every mother breeds not sons alike to chiron do thou entreat her show a womans pity chiron what wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard lavinia tis true the raven doth not hatch a lark yet have i heard o could i find it now the lion movd with pity did endure to have his princely paws pard 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 tamora i know not what it means away with her lavinia o let me teach thee for my fathers sake that gave thee life when well he might have slain thee be not obdurate open thy deaf ears tamora hadst thou in person neer offended me even for his sake am i pitiless remember boys i pourd 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 lovd of me lavinia o tamora be calld a gentle queen and with thine own hands kill me in this place for tis not life that i have beggd so long poor i was slain when bassianus died tamora what begst thou then fond woman let me go lavinia 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 mans eye may behold my body do this and be a charitable murderer tamora so should i rob my sweet sons of their fee no let them satisfy their lust on thee demetrius away for thou hast stayd us here too long lavinia no grace no womanhood ah beastly creature the blot and enemy to our general name confusion fall chiron nay then ill stop your mouth bring thou her husband this is the hole where aaron bid us hide him demetrius throws the body of bassianus into the pit then exeunt demetrius and chiron dragging off lavinia tamora farewell my sons see that you make her sure neer 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 exit re enter aaron with two of titus sons quintus and martius aaron come on my lords the better foot before straight will i bring you to the loathsome pit where i espied the panther fast asleep quintus my sight is very dull whateer it bodes martius and mine i promise you were it not for shame well could i leave our sport to sleep awhile falls into the pit quintus what art thou fallen what subtle hole is this whose mouth is covered with rude growing briers upon whose leaves are drops of new shed blood as fresh as morning dew distilld on flowers a very fatal place it seems to me speak brother hast thou hurt thee with the fall martius o brother with the dismalst object hurt that ever eye with sight made heart lament aaron aside now will i fetch the king to find them here that he thereby may have a likely guess how these were they that made away his brother exit martius why dost not comfort me and help me out from this unhallowd and blood stained hole quintus i am surprised with an uncouth fear a chilling sweat oer runs my trembling joints my heart suspects more than mine eye can see martius 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 quintus 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 who it is for neer till now was i a child to fear i know not what martius lord bassianus lies berayd in blood all on a heap like to a slaughtered lamb in this detested dark blood drinking pit quintus if it be dark how dost thou know tis he martius upon his bloody finger he doth wear a precious ring that lightens all this hole which like a taper in some monument doth shine upon the dead mans earthy cheeks and shows the ragged entrails of this pit so pale did shine the moon on pyramus when he by night lay bathd 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 quintus reach me thy hand that i may help thee out or wanting strength to do thee so much good i may be pluckd into the swallowing womb of this deep pit poor bassianus grave i have no strength to pluck thee to the brink martius nor i no strength to climb without thy help quintus 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 falls in enter the emperor and aaron the moor saturninus along with me ill see what hole is here and what he is that now is leapt into it say who art thou that lately didst descend into this gaping hollow of the earth martius the unhappy sons of old andronicus brought hither in a most unlucky hour to find thy brother bassianus dead saturninus 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 them there martius we know not where you left them all alive but out alas here have we found him dead re enter tamora with attendants titus andronicus and lucius tamora where is my lord the king saturninus here tamora though grievd with killing grief tamora where is thy brother bassianus saturninus now to the bottom dost thou search my wound poor bassianus here lies murdered tamora then all too late i bring this fatal writ the complot of this timeless tragedy and wonder greatly that mans face can fold in pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny she giveth saturnine a letter saturninus reads an if we miss to meet him handsomely sweet huntsman bassianus tis we mean do thou so much as dig the grave for him thou knowst 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 murdered bassianus here aaron my gracious lord here is the bag of gold saturninus to titus 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 devisd some never heard of torturing pain for them tamora what are they in this pit o wondrous thing how easily murder is discovered titus 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 provd in them saturninus if it be provd you see it is apparent who found this letter tamora was it you tamora andronicus himself did take it up titus i did my lord yet let me be their bail for by my fathers reverend tomb i vow they shall be ready at your highness will to answer their suspicion with their lives saturninus thou shalt not bail them see thou follow me some bring the murdered 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 tamora andronicus i will entreat the king fear not thy sons they shall do well enough titus come lucius come stay not to talk with them exeunt scene iv another part of the forest enter the empress sons demetrius and chiron with lavinia her hands cut off and her tongue cut out and ravishd demetrius so now go tell an if thy tongue can speak who twas that cut thy tongue and ravishd thee chiron write down thy mind bewray thy meaning so an if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe demetrius see how with signs and tokens she can scrowl chiron go home call for sweet water wash thy hands demetrius she hath no tongue to call nor hands to wash and so lets leave her to her silent walks chiron an twere my cause i should go hang myself demetrius if thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord exeunt demetrius and chiron wind horns enter marcus from hunting marcus who is 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 an eternal sleep speak gentle niece what stern ungentle hands hath loppd and hewd 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 half thy love why dost not speak to me alas a crimson river of warm blood like to a bubbling fountain stirrd with wind doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips coming and going with thy honey breath but sure some tereus hath deflowered thee and lest thou shouldst detect him cut thy tongue ah now thou turnst 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 titans face blushing to be encountred 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 an oven stoppd doth burn the heart to cinders where it is fair philomel why she but lost her tongue and in a tedious sampler sewd her mind but lovely niece that mean is cut from thee a craftier tereus cousin hast thou met and he hath cut those pretty fingers off that could have better sewd 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 touchd them for his life or had he heard the heavenly harmony which that sweet tongue hath made he would have droppd his knife and fell asleep as cerberus at the thracian poets feet come let us go and make thy father blind for such a sight will blind a fathers eye one hours storm will drown the fragrant meads what will whole months of tears thy fathers eyes do not draw back for we will mourn with thee o could our mourning case thy misery exeunt act iii scene i rome a street enter the judges tribunes and senators with titus two sons martius and quintus bound passing on the stage to the place of execution and titus going before pleading titus 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 romes great quarrel shed for all the frosty nights that i have watchd 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 honours lofty bed andronicus lieth down and the judges pass by him with the prisoners and exeunt for these tribunes in the dust i write my hearts deep languor and my souls sad tears let my tears stanch the earths 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 showrs in summers drought ill drop upon thee still in winter with warm tears ill melt the snow and keep eternal spring time on thy face so thou refuse to drink my dear sons blood enter lucius with his weapon drawn 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 lucius o noble father you lament in vain the tribunes hear you not no man is by and you recount your sorrows to a stone titus ah lucius for thy brothers let me plead grave tribunes once more i entreat of you lucius my gracious lord no tribune hears you speak titus why tis no matter man if they did hear they would not mark me if they did mark they would not pity me yet plead i must and 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 tribunes 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 rises but wherefore standst thou with thy weapon drawn lucius to rescue my two brothers from their death for which attempt the judges have pronouncd my everlasting doom of banishment titus 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 enter marcus with lavinia marcus titus prepare thy aged eyes to weep or if not so thy noble heart to break i bring consuming sorrow to thine age titus will it consume me let me see it then marcus this was thy daughter titus why marcus so she is lucius ay me this object kills me titus faint hearted boy arise and look upon her speak lavinia what accursed hand hath made thee handless in thy fathers sight what fool hath added water to the sea or brought a fagot to bright burning troy my grief was at the height before thou camst and now like nilus it disdaineth bounds give me a sword ill chop off my hands too for they have fought for rome and all in vain and they have nursd this woe in feeding life in bootless prayer have they been held up and they have servd 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 is but vain lucius speak gentle sister who hath martyrd thee marcus o that delightful engine of her thoughts that blabbd 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 lucius o say thou for her who hath done this deed marcus o thus i found her straying in the park seeking to hide herself as doth the deer that hath receivd some unrecuring wound titus it was my dear and he that wounded her hath hurt me more than had he killd me dead for now i stand as one upon a rock environd 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 banishd 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 martyrd thee thy husband he is dead and for his death thy brothers are condemnd 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 gathred lily almost withered marcus perchance she weeps because they killd her husband perchance because she knows them innocent titus if they did kill thy husband then be joyful because the law hath taen 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 staind like meadows yet not dry with miry slime 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 wonderd at in time to come lucius sweet father cease your tears for at your grief see how my wretched sister sobs and weeps marcus patience dear niece good titus dry thine eyes titus ah marcus marcus brother well i wot thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine for thou poor man hast drownd it with thine own lucius ah my lavinia i will wipe thy cheeks titus 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 enter aaron the moor aaron 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 titus o gracious emperor o gentle aaron did ever raven sing so like a lark that gives sweet tidings of the suns uprise with all my heart ill send the emperor my hand good aaron wilt thou help to chop it off lucius 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 marcus which of your hands hath not defended rome and reard aloft the bloody battle axe writing destruction on the enemys 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 aaron nay come agree whose hand shall go along for fear they die before their pardon come marcus my hand shall go lucius by heaven it shall not go titus sirs strive no more such withred herbs as these are meet for plucking up and therefore mine lucius sweet father if i shall be thought thy son let me redeem my brothers both from death marcus and for our fathers sake and mothers care now let me show a brothers love to thee titus agree between you i will spare my hand lucius then ill go fetch an axe marcus but i will use the axe exeunt lucius and marcus titus come hither aaron ill deceive them both lend me thy hand and i will give thee mine aaron aside if that be calld deceit i will be honest and never whilst i live deceive men so but ill deceive you in another sort and that youll say ere half an hour pass he cuts off titus hand re enter lucius and marcus titus now stay your strife what shall be is dispatchd 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 purchasd at an easy price and yet dear too because i bought mine own aaron i go andronicus and for thy hand look by and by to have thy sons with thee aside their heads i mean o how this villainy 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 exit titus o here i lift this one hand up to heaven and bow this feeble ruin to the earth if any power pities wretched tears to that i call to lavinia what wouldst thou kneel with me do then dear heart for heaven shall hear our prayers or with our sighs well breathe the welkin dim and stain the sun with fog as sometime clouds when they do hug him in their melting bosoms marcus o brother speak with possibility and do not break into these deep extremes titus is not my sorrow deep having no bottom then be my passions bottomless with them marcus but yet let reason govern thy lament titus if there were reason for these miseries then into limits could i bind my woes when heaven doth weep doth not the earth oerflow if the winds rage doth not the sea wax mad threatning 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 overflowd and drownd 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 enter a messenger with two heads and a hand messenger worthy andronicus ill art thou repaid for that good hand thou sentst the emperor here are the heads of thy two noble sons and heres thy hand in scorn to thee sent back thy grief their sports thy resolution mockd that woe is me to think upon thy woes more than remembrance of my fathers death exit marcus now let hot aetna 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 lucius 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 lavinia kisses titus marcus alas poor heart that kiss is comfortless as frozen water to a starved snake titus when will this fearful slumber have an end marcus now farewell flattry die andronicus thou dost not slumber see thy two sons heads thy warlike hand thy mangled daughter here thy other banishd 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 titus ha ha ha marcus why dost thou laugh it fits not with this hour titus why i have not another tear to shed besides this sorrow is an enemy and would usurp upon my watry eyes and make them blind with tributary tears then which way shall i find revenges 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 returnd 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 and lavinia thou shalt be employd in this 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 ye love me as i think you do lets kiss and part for we have much to do exeunt all but lucius lucius farewell andronicus my noble father the woefullst man that ever livd 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 emperess beg at the gates like tarquin and his queen now will i to the goths and raise a powr to be revengd on rome and saturnine exit scene ii rome titus house a banquet enter titus marcus lavinia and the boy young lucius titus 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 tenfold grief with folded arms this poor right hand of mine is left to tyrannize upon my breast who when my heart all mad with misery beats in this hollow prison of my flesh then thus i thump it down to lavinia 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 marcus fie brother fie teach her not thus to lay such violent hands upon her tender life titus 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 aeneas tell the tale twice oer 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 lets fall to and gentle girl eat this here is no drink hark marcus what she says i can interpret all her martyrd signs she says she drinks no other drink but tears brewd with her sorrow meshd 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 boy good grandsire leave these bitter deep laments make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale marcus alas the tender boy in passion movd doth weep to see his grandsires heaviness titus peace tender sapling thou art made of tears and tears will quickly melt thy life away marcus strikes the dish with a knife what dost thou strike at marcus with thy knife marcus at that that i have killd my lord a fly titus out on thee murderer thou killst my heart mine eyes are cloyd 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 marcus alas my lord i have but killd a fly titus but how if that fly had a father and 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 killd him marcus pardon me sir it was a black ill favourd fly like to the empress moor therefore i killd him titus 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 theres for thyself and thats 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 marcus alas poor man grief has so wrought on him he takes false shadows for true substances titus come take away lavinia go with me ill 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 begin to dazzle exeunt act iv scene i rome titus garden enter young lucius and lavinia running after him and the boy flies from her with his books under his arm enter titus and marcus boy 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 marcus stand by me lucius do not fear thine aunt titus she loves thee boy too well to do thee harm boy ay when my father was in rome she did marcus what means my niece lavinia by these signs titus 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 tullys orator marcus canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus boy 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 for sorrow that made me to fear although my lord i know my noble aunt loves me as dear as eer 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 marcus lucius i will lavinia turns over with her stumps the books which lucius has let fall titus 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 skilld come and take choice of all my library and so beguile thy sorrow till the heavens reveal the damnd contriver of this deed why lifts she up her arms in sequence thus marcus i think she means that there were more than one confederate in the fact ay more there was or else to heaven she heaves them for revenge titus lucius what book is that she tosseth so boy grandsire tis ovids metamorphoses my mother gave it me marcus for love of her thats gone perhaps she culld it from among the rest titus soft so busily she turns the leaves help her 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 thy annoy marcus see brother see note how she quotes the leaves titus lavinia wert thou thus surprisd sweet girl ravishd and wrongd as philomela was forcd 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 patternd by that the poet here describes by nature made for murders and for rapes marcus o why should nature build so foul a den unless the gods delight in tragedies titus 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 marcus 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 he writes his name with his staff and guides it with feet and mouth 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 cursd be that heart that forcd us to this shift write thou good niece and here display at last what god will have discovered for revenge heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain that we may know the traitors and the truth she takes the staff in her mouth and guides it with stumps and writes o do ye read my lord what she hath writ titus stuprum chiron demetrius marcus what what the lustful sons of tamora performers of this heinous bloody deed titus magni dominator poli tam lentus audis scelera tam lentus vides marcus 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 hectors hope and swear with me as with the woeful fere and father of that chaste dishonoured 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 titus tis sure enough an you knew how but if you hunt these bear whelps then beware the dam will wake and if she wind ye once shes 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 are a young huntsman marcus let 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 sibyls leaves abroad and wheres our lesson then boy what say you boy i say my lord that if i were a man their mothers bedchamber should not be safe for these base bondmen to the yoke of rome marcus ay thats my boy thy father hath full oft for his ungrateful country done the like boy and uncle so will i an if i live titus come go with me into mine armoury lucius ill fit thee and withal my boy shall carry from me to the empress sons presents that i intend to send them both come come thoult do my message wilt thou not boy ay with my dagger in their bosoms grandsire titus no boy not so ill teach thee another course lavinia come marcus look to my house lucius and ill go brave it at the court ay marry will we sir and well be waited on exeunt titus lavinia and young lucius marcus 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 foemens marks upon his battred shield but yet so just that he will not revenge revenge the heavens for old andronicus exit scene ii rome the palace enter aaron demetrius and chiron at one door and at the other door young lucius and another with a bundle of weapons and verses writ upon them chiron demetrius heres the son of lucius he hath some message to deliver us aaron ay some mad message from his mad grandfather boy my lords with all the humbleness i may i greet your honours from andronicus aside and pray the roman gods confound you both demetrius gramercy lovely lucius whats the news boy aside that you are both decipherd thats the news for villains markd with rape may it please you my grandsire well advisd hath sent by me the goodliest weapons of his armoury to gratify your honourable youth the hope of rome for so he bid 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 aside like bloody villains exeunt young lucius and attendant demetrius whats here a scroll and written round about lets see reads integer vitae scelerisque purus non eget mauri iaculis nec arcu chiron o tis a verse in horace i know it well i read it in the grammar long ago aaron ay just a verse in horace right you have it aside now what a thing it is to be an ass heres no sound jest the old man hath found their guilt and sends them weapons wrappd 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 wast 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 brothers hearing demetrius but me more good to see so great a lord basely insinuate and send us gifts aaron had he not reason lord demetrius did you not use his daughter very friendly demetrius i would we had a thousand roman dames at such a bay by turn to serve our lust chiron a charitable wish and full of love aaron here lacks but your mother for to say amen chiron and that would she for twenty thousand more demetrius come let us go and pray to all the gods for our beloved mother in her pains aaron aside pray to the devils the gods have given us over trumpets sound demetrius why do the emperors trumpets flourish thus chiron belike for joy the emperor hath a son demetrius soft who comes here enter nurse with a blackamoor child nurse good morrow lords o tell me did you see aaron the moor aaron well more or less or neer a whit at all here aaron is and what with aaron now nurse o gentle aaron we are all undone now help or woe betide thee evermore aaron why what a caterwauling dost thou keep what dost thou wrap and fumble in thy arms nurse o that which i would hide from heavens eye our empress shame and stately romes disgrace she is delivered lord she is delivered aaron to whom nurse i mean she is brought a bed aaron well god give her good rest what hath he sent her nurse a devil aaron why then she is the devils dam a joyful issue nurse a joyless dismal black and sorrowful issue here is the babe as loathsome as a toad amongst the fair facd breeders of our clime the empress sends it thee thy stamp thy seal and bids thee christen it with thy daggers point aaron zounds ye whore is black so base a hue sweet blowse you are a beauteous blossom sure demetrius villain what hast thou done aaron that which thou canst not undo chiron thou hast undone our mother aaron villain i have done thy mother demetrius and therein hellish dog thou hast undone her woe to her chance and damnd her loathed choice accursd the offspring of so foul a fiend chiron it shall not live aaron it shall not die nurse aaron it must the mother wills it so aaron what must it nurse then let no man but i do execution on my flesh and blood demetrius ill broach the tadpole on my rapiers point nurse give it me my sword shall soon dispatch it aaron sooner this sword shall plough thy bowels up takes the child from the nurse and draws 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 scimitars sharp point that touches this my first born son and heir i tell you younglings not enceladus with all his threatning band of typhons brood nor great alcides nor the god of war shall seize this prey out of his fathers hands what what ye sanguine shallow hearted boys ye white limd 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 swans 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 demetrius wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus aaron my mistress is my mistress this my self 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 demetrius by this our mother is for ever shamd chiron rome will despise her for this foul escape nurse the emperor in his rage will doom her death chiron i blush to think upon this ignomy aaron why theres the privilege your beauty bears fie treacherous hue that will betray with blushing the close enacts and counsels of thy heart heres a young lad framd of another leer look how the black slave smiles 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 your womb where you imprisoned 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 nurse aaron what shall i say unto the empress demetrius 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 aaron 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 they sit demetrius how many women saw this child of his aaron 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 nurse cornelia the midwife and myself and no one else but the delivered empress aaron the emperess the midwife and yourself two may keep counsel when the thirds away go to the empress tell her this i said he kills her weeke weeke so cries a pig prepared to the spit demetrius what meanst thou aaron wherefore didst thou this aaron o lord sir tis a deed of policy shall she live to betray this guilt of ours a long tongud babbling gossip no lords no and now be it known to you my full intent not far one muliteus 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 advancd and be received for the emperors 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 pointing to the nurse 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 chiron aaron i see thou wilt not trust the air with secrets demetrius for this care of tamora herself and hers are highly bound to thee exeunt demetrius and chiron bearing off the dead nurse aaron 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 lippd slave ill bear you hence for it is you that puts us to our shifts ill 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 exit with the child scene iii rome a public place enter titus bearing arrows with letters on the ends of them with him marcus young lucius and other gentlemen publius sempronius and caius with bows titus come marcus come kinsmen this is the way sir boy let me see your archery look ye draw home enough and tis there straight terras astrea reliquit be you remembred marcus shes gone shes fled sirs take you to your tools you cousins shall go sound the ocean and cast your nets happily you may catch her in the sea yet theres 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 plutos 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 peoples suffrages on him that thus doth tyrannize oer me go get you gone and pray be careful all and leave you not a man of war unsearchd this wicked emperor may have shippd her hence and kinsmen then we may go pipe for justice marcus o publius is not this a heavy case to see thy noble uncle thus distract publius therefore my lords it highly us concerns by day and night t attend him carefully and feed his humour kindly as we may till time beget some careful remedy marcus 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 titus publius how now how now my masters what have you met with her publius no my good lord but pluto sends you word if you will have revenge from hell you shall marry for justice she is so employd he thinks with jove in heaven or somewhere else so that perforce you must needs stay a time titus he doth me wrong to feed me with delays ill 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 bond men framd of the cyclops size but metal marcus steel to the very back yet wrung with wrongs more than our backs can bear and sith theres 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 he gives them the arrows ad jovem thats for you here ad apollinem ad martem thats 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 theres not a god left unsolicited marcus kinsmen shoot all your shafts into the court we will afflict the emperor in his pride titus now masters draw they shoot o well said lucius good boy in virgos lap give it pallas marcus my lord i aim a mile beyond the moon your letter is with jupiter by this titus ha ha publius publius hast thou done see see thou hast shot off one of taurus horns marcus this was the sport my lord when publius shot the bull being galld gave aries such a knock that down fell both the rams horns in the court and who should find them but the empress villain she laughd and told the moor he should not choose but give them to his master for a present titus why there it goes god give his lordship joy enter the clown with a basket and two pigeons in it news news from heaven marcus the post is come sirrah what tidings have you any letters shall i have justice what says jupiter clown ho the gibbet maker he says that he hath taken them down again for the man must not be hangd till the next week titus but what says jupiter i ask thee clown alas sir i know not jupiter i never drank with him in all my life titus why villain art not thou the carrier clown ay of my pigeons sir nothing else titus why didst thou not come from heaven clown 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 emperals men marcus 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 titus tell me can you deliver an oration to the emperor with a grace clown nay truly sir i could never say grace in all my life titus 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 heres money for thy charges give me pen and ink sirrah can you with a grace deliver up a supplication clown ay sir titus 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 ill be at hand sir see you do it bravely clown i warrant you sir let me alone titus 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 clown god be with you sir i will titus come marcus let us go publius follow me exeunt scene iv rome before the palace enter the emperor and the empress and her two sons demetrius and chiron lords and others the emperor brings the arrows in his hand that titus shot at him saturninus why lords what wrongs are these was ever seen an emperor in rome thus overborne troubled confronted thus and for the extent of egal justice usd in such contempt my lords you know as know the mightful gods however these disturbers of our peace buzz in the peoples ears there nought hath passd but even with law against the wilful sons of old andronicus and what an if his sorrows have so overwhelmd 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 heres to jove and this to mercury this to apollo this to the god of war sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of rome whats this but libelling against the senate and blazoning our unjustice 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 hell so awake as he in fury shall cut off the proudst conspirator that lives tamora my gracious lord my lovely saturnine lord of my life commander of my thoughts calm thee and bear the faults of titus age th effects of sorrow for his valiant sons whose loss hath piercd him deep and scarrd his heart and rather comfort his distressed plight than prosecute the meanest or the best for these contempts aside why thus it shall become high witted tamora to gloze with all but titus i have touchd thee to the quick thy life blood out if aaron now be wise then is all safe the anchor in the port enter clown how now good fellow wouldst thou speak with us clown yes forsooth an your mistriship be emperial tamora empress i am but yonder sits the emperor clown tis he god and saint stephen give you godden i have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here saturninus reads the letter saturninus go take him away and hang him presently clown how much money must i have tamora come sirrah you must be hangd clown hangd byr lady then i have brought up a neck to a fair end exit guarded saturninus despiteful and intolerable wrongs shall i endure this monstrous villainy 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 butchered wrongfully go drag the villain hither by the hair nor age nor honour shall shape privilege for this proud mock ill be thy slaughterman sly frantic wretch that holpst to make me great in hope thyself should govern rome and me enter nuntius aemilius what news with thee aemilius aemilius arm my lords rome never had more cause the goths have gathered 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 saturninus is warlike 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 begins 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 wishd that lucius were their emperor tamora why should you fear is not your city strong saturninus ay but the citizens favour lucius and will revolt from me to succour him tamora king be thy thoughts imperious like thy name is the sun dimmd 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 mayest 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 when as the one is wounded with the bait the other rotted with delicious feed saturninus but he will not entreat his son for us tamora if tamora entreat him then he will for i can smooth and fill his aged ears with golden promises that were his heart almost impregnable his old ears deaf yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue to aemilius go thou before to be our ambassador say that the emperor requests a parley of warlike lucius and appoint the meeting even at his fathers house the old andronicus saturninus aemilius do this message honourably and if he stand on hostage for his safety bid him demand what pledge will please him best aemilius your bidding shall i do effectually exit tamora now will i to that old andronicus and temper him with all the art i have to pluck proud lucius from the warlike goths and now sweet emperor be blithe again and bury all thy fear in my devices saturninus then go successantly and plead to him exeunt act v scene i plains near rome enter lucius with an army of goths with drums and colours lucius approved warriors and my faithful friends i have received letters from great rome which signifies 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 first goth 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 well follow where thou leadst like stinging bees in hottest summers day led by their master to the flowred fields and be avengd on cursed tamora all the goths and as he saith so say we all with him lucius i humbly thank him and i thank you all but who comes here led by a lusty goth enter a goth leading aaron with his child in his arms second goth renowned lucius from our troops i strayd 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 controlld 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 mothers 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 mothers sake with this my weapon drawn i rushd upon him surprisd him suddenly and brought him hither to use as you think needful of the man lucius o worthy goth this is the incarnate devil that robbd andronicus of his good hand this is the pearl that pleasd your empress eye and heres the base fruit of her burning lust say wall eyd 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 aaron touch not the boy he is of royal blood lucius too like the sire for ever being good first hang the child that he may see it sprawl a sight to vex the fathers soul withal get me a ladder a ladder brought which aaron is made to climb aaron lucius save the child and bear it from me to the emperess if thou do this ill show thee wondrous things that highly may advantage thee to hear if thou wilt not befall what may befall ill speak no more but vengeance rot you all lucius say on an if it please me which thou speakst thy child shall live and i will see it nourishd aaron 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 villainies ruthful to hear yet piteously performd and this shall all be buried in my death unless thou swear to me my child shall live lucius tell on thy mind i say thy child shall live aaron swear that he shall and then i will begin lucius who should i swear by thou believest no god that granted how canst thou believe an oath aaron 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 ill urge him therefore thou shalt vow by that same god what god soeer it be that thou adorest and hast in reverence to save my boy to nourish and bring him up or else i will discover nought to thee lucius even by my god i swear to thee i will aaron first know thou i begot him on the empress lucius o most insatiate and luxurious woman aaron tut lucius this was but a deed of charity to that which thou shalt hear of me anon twas her two sons that murdered bassianus they cut thy sisters tongue and ravishd her and cut her hands and trimmd her as thou sawest lucius o detestable villain callst thou that trimming aaron why she was washd and cut and trimmd and twas trim sport for them which had the doing of it lucius o barbarous beastly villains like thyself aaron 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 learnd of me as true a dog as ever fought at head well let my deeds be witness of my worth i traind 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 that letter mentiond 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 playd the cheater for thy fathers hand and when i had it drew myself apart and almost broke my heart with extreme laughter i pried me through the crevice of a wall when for his hand he had his two sons heads beheld his tears and laughd so heartily that both mine eyes were rainy like to his and when i told the empress of this sport she swooned almost at my pleasing tale and for my tidings gave me twenty kisses goth what canst thou say all this and never blush aaron ay like a black dog as the saying is lucius art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds aaron 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 mens 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 diggd up dead men from their graves and set them upright at their dear friends door even when their sorrows almost was 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 lucius bring down the devil for he must not die so sweet a death as hanging presently aaron 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 lucius sirs stop his mouth and let him speak no more enter aemilius goth my lord there is a messenger from rome desires to be admitted to your presence lucius let him come near welcome aemilius whats the news from rome aemilius 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 fathers house willing you to demand your hostages and they shall be immediately deliverd first goth what says our general lucius aemilius let the emperor give his pledges unto my father and my uncle marcus and we will come march away exeunt scene ii rome before titus house enter tamora and her two sons demetrius and chiron disguised tamora 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 they knock and titus opens his study door above titus 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 deceivd for what i mean to do see here in bloody lines i have set down and what is written shall be executed tamora titus i am come to talk with thee titus no not a word how can i grace my talk wanting a hand to give it that accord thou hast the odds of me therefore no more tamora if thou didst know me thou wouldst talk with me titus 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 tamora know thou sad man i am not tamora she is thy enemy and i thy friend i am revenge sent from th infernal kingdom to ease the gnawing vulture of thy mind by working wreakful vengeance on thy foes come down and welcome me to this worlds light confer with me of murder and of death theres 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 titus art thou revenge and art thou sent to me to be a torment to mine enemies tamora i am therefore come down and welcome me titus 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 ill come and be thy waggoner and whirl along with thee about the globes provide thee 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 thy waggon wheel trot like a servile footman all day long even from hyperions rising in the east until his very downfall in the sea and day by day ill do this heavy task so thou destroy rapine and murder there tamora these are my ministers and come with me titus are they thy ministers what are they calld tamora rape and murder therefore called so cause they take vengeance of such kind of men titus 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 arms embracement will content thee i will embrace thee in it by and by tamora this closing with him fits his lunacy whateer i forge to feed his brain sick humours do you uphold and maintain in your speeches for now he firmly takes me for revenge and being credulous in this mad thought ill make him send for lucius his son and whilst i at a banquet hold him sure ill 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 enter titus below titus 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 tamora what wouldst thou have us do andronicus demetrius show me a murderer ill deal with him chiron show me a villain that hath done a rape and i am sent to be revengd on him tamora show me a thousand that hath done thee wrong and i will be revenged on them all titus look round about the wicked streets of rome and when thou findst a man thats like thyself good murder stab him hes 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 is a ravisher go thou with them and in the emperors court there is a queen attended by a moor well shalt thou know her by thine 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 tamora well hast thou lessond 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 warlike 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 titus marcus my brother tis sad titus calls enter marcus 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 fathers life marcus this will i do and soon return again exit tamora now will i hence about thy business and take my ministers along with me titus nay nay let rape and murder stay with me or else ill call my brother back again and cleave to no revenge but lucius tamora aside to her sons what say you boys will you abide with him whiles i go tell my lord the emperor how i have governd our determind jest yield to his humour smooth and speak him fair and tarry with him till i turn again titus aside i knew them all though they supposd me mad and will oer reach them in their own devices a pair of cursed hell hounds and their dam demetrius madam depart at pleasure leave us here tamora farewell andronicus revenge now goes to lay a complot to betray thy foes titus i know thou dost and sweet revenge farewell exit tamora chiron tell us old man how shall we be employd titus tut i have work enough for you to do publius come hither caius and valentine enter publius caius and valentine publius what is your will titus know you these two publius the empress sons i take them chiron demetrius titus fie publius fie thou art too much deceivd the one is murder and rape is the others 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 exit they lay hold on chiron and demetrius chiron villains forbear we are the empress sons publius 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 re enter titus andronicus with a knife and lavinia with a basin titus 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 staind with mud this goodly summer with your winter mixd you killd her husband and for that vile fault two of her brothers were condemnd 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 constraind and forcd 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 whiles that lavinia 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 ill 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 unhallowed 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 usd my daughter and worse than progne i will be revengd 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 bakd come come be every one officious to make this banquet which i wish may prove more stern and bloody than the centaurs feast he cuts their throats so now bring them in for i will play the cook and see them ready against their mother comes exeunt bearing the dead bodies scene iii the court of titus house enter lucius marcus and the goths with aaron prisoner and his child in the arms of an attendant lucius uncle marcus since tis my fathers mind that i repair to rome i am content first goth and ours with thine befall what fortune will lucius good uncle take you in this barbarous moor this ravenous tiger this accursed devil let him receive no sustnance 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 aaron some devil whisper curses in my ear and prompt me that my tongue may utter forth the venomous malice of my swelling heart lucius away inhuman dog unhallowed slave sirs help our uncle to convey him in exeunt goths with aaron flourish within the trumpets show the emperor is at hand sound trumpets enter saturninus and tamora with aemilius tribunes senators and others saturninus what hath the firmament more suns than one lucius what boots it thee to can thyself a sun marcus romes emperor and nephew break the parle these quarrels must be quietly debated the feast is ready which the careful titus hath ordaind to an honourable end for peace for love for league and good to rome please you therefore draw nigh and take your places saturninus marcus we will a table brought in the company sit down trumpets sounding enter titus like a cook placing the dishes and lavinia with a veil over her face also young lucius and others titus welcome my lord welcome dread queen welcome ye warlike goths welcome lucius and welcome all although the cheer be poor twill fill your stomachs please you eat of it saturninus why art thou thus attird andronicus titus because i would be sure to have all well to entertain your highness and your empress tamora we are beholding to you good andronicus titus 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 enforcd staind and deflowerd saturninus it was andronicus titus your reason mighty lord saturninus because the girl should not survive her shame and by her presence still renew his sorrows titus 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 he kills her and with thy shame thy fathers sorrow die saturninus what hast thou done unnatural and unkind titus killd 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 now is done saturninus what was she ravishd tell who did the deed titus willt please you eat willt please your highness feed tamora why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus titus not i twas chiron and demetrius they ravishd her and cut away her tongue and they twas they that did her all this wrong saturninus go fetch them hither to us presently titus why there they are both baked in this pie whereof their mother daintily hath fed eating the flesh that she herself hath bred tis true tis true witness my knifes sharp point he stabs the empress saturninus die frantic wretch for this accursed deed he stabs titus lucius can the sons eye behold his father bleed theres meed for meed death for a deadly deed he stabs saturninus a great tumult lucius marcus and their friends go up into the balcony marcus you sad facd men people and sons of rome by uproars severd as a flight of fowl scatterd by winds and high tempestuous gusts o let me teach you how to knit again this scattered 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 to lucius speak romes dear friend as erst our ancestor when with his solemn tongue he did discourse to love sick didos sad attending ear the story of that baleful burning night when subtle greeks surprisd king priams troy tell us what sinon hath bewitchd 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 uttrance even in the time when it should move ye to attend me most and force you to commiseration heres romes young captain let him tell the tale while i stand by and weep to hear him speak lucius then gracious auditory be it known to you that chiron and the damnd demetrius were they that murdred our emperors brother and they it were that ravished our sister for their fell faults our brothers were beheaded our fathers tears despisd and basely cozend of that true hand that fought romes quarrel out and sent her enemies unto the grave lastly myself unkindly banished the gates shut on me and turnd weeping out to beg relief among romes enemies who drownd their enmity in my true tears and opd their arms to embrace me as a friend i am the turned forth be it known to you that have preservd her welfare in my blood and from her bosom took the enemys point sheathing the steel in my adventrous 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 marcus now is my turn to speak behold the child pointing to the child in an attendants arms 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 damnd 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 have you heard the truth what say you romans have we done aught amiss show us wherein and from the place where you behold us pleading the poor remainder of andronici will hand in hand all headlong hurl ourselves and on the ragged stones beat forth our souls 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 aemilius 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 all lucius all hail romes royal emperor marcus go go into old titus sorrowful house and hither hale that misbelieving moor to be adjudgd some direful slaughtring death as punishment for his most wicked life exeunt some attendants lucius marcus and the others descend all lucius all hail romes gracious governor lucius thanks gentle romans may i govern so to heal romes 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 kisses titus these sorrowful drops upon thy blood staind face the last true duties of thy noble son marcus 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 lucius come hither boy come come come and learn of us to melt in showers thy grandsire lovd thee well many a time he dancd thee on his knee sung thee asleep his loving breast thy pillow many a story hath he told to thee and bid thee bear his pretty tales in mind and talk of them when he was dead and gone marcus how many thousand times hath these poor lips when they were living warmd themselves on thine o now sweet boy give them their latest kiss bid him farewell commit him to the grave do them that kindness and take leave of them boy o grandsire grandsire evn 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 re enter attendants with aaron a roman you sad andronici have done with woes give sentence on the execrable wretch that hath been breeder of these dire events lucius 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 fastned in the earth aaron ah 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 lucius some loving friends convey the emperor hence and give him burial in his fathers grave my father and lavinia shall forthwith be closed in our households monument as for that ravenous tiger tamora no funeral rite nor man in mourning weed no mournful bell shall ring her burial but throw her forth to beasts and birds to prey her life was beastly and devoid of pity and being dead let birds on her take pity exeunt the end the history of troilus and cressida by william shakespeare contents act i prologue scene i troy before priams palace scene ii troy a street scene iii the grecian camp before agamemnons tent act ii scene i the grecian camp scene ii troy priams palace scene iii the grecian camp before the tent of achilles act iii scene i troy priams palace scene ii troy pandarus orchard scene iii the greek camp act iv scene i troy a street scene ii troy the court of pandarus house scene iii troy a street before pandarus house scene iv troy pandarus house scene v the grecian camp lists set out act v scene i the grecian camp before the tent of achilles scene ii the grecian camp before calchas tent scene iii troy before priams palace scene iv the plain between troy and the grecian camp scene v another part of the plain scene vi another part of the plain scene vii another part of the plain scene viii another part of the plain scene ix another part of the plain scene x another part of the plain dramatis personae priam king of troy his sons hector troilus paris deiphobus helenus margarelon a bastard son of priam trojan commanders aeneas antenor calchas a trojan priest taking part with the greeks pandarus uncle to cressida agamemnon the greek general menelaus his brother greek commanders achilles ajax ulysses nestor diomedes patroclus thersites a deformed and scurrilous greek alexander servant to cressida servant to troilus servant to paris servant to diomedes helen wife to menelaus andromache wife to hector cassandra daughter to priam a prophetess cressida daughter to calchas trojan and greek soldiers and attendants scene troy and the greek camp before it prologue in troy there lies the scene from isles of greece the princes orgulous their high blood chafd 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 ravishd helen menelaus queen with wanton paris sleeps and thats 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 priams six gated city dardan and tymbria ilias chetas troien and antenorides with massy staples and corresponsive and fulfilling bolts stir 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 armd but not in confidence of authors pen or actors voice but suited in like conditions as our argument to tell you fair beholders that our play leaps oer 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 act i scene i troy before priams palace enter troilus armed and pandarus troilus call here my varlet ill 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 hath none pandarus will this gear neer be mended troilus the greeks are strong and skilful to their strength fierce to their skill and to their fierceness valiant but i am weaker than a womans tear tamer than sleep fonder than ignorance less valiant than the virgin in the night and skilless as unpractisd infancy pandarus well i have told you enough of this for my part ill not meddle nor make no farther he that will have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding troilus have i not tarried pandarus ay the grinding but you must tarry the bolting troilus have i not tarried pandarus ay the bolting but you must tarry the leavening troilus still have i tarried pandarus ay to the leavening but heres 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 burn your lips troilus patience herself what goddess eer she be doth lesser blench at suffrance than i do at priams royal table do i sit and when fair cressid comes into my thoughts so traitor when she comes when she is thence pandarus well she lookd yesternight fairer than ever i saw her look or any woman else troilus 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 couchd in seeming gladness is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness pandarus an her hair were not somewhat darker than helens well go to there were no more comparison between the women but for my part she is my kinswoman 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 cassandras wit but troilus o pandarus i tell thee pandarus when i do tell thee there my hopes lie drownd reply not in how many fathoms deep they lie indrenchd i tell thee i am mad in cressids love thou answerst she is fair pourst 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 cygnets down is harsh and spirit of sense hard as the palm of ploughman this thou tellst me as true thou tellst me when i say i love her but saying thus instead of oil and balm thou layst in every gash that love hath given me the knife that made it pandarus i speak no more than truth troilus thou dost not speak so much pandarus faith ill not meddle int let her be as she is if she be fair tis the better for her and she be not she has the mends in her own hands troilus good pandarus how now pandarus 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 troilus what art thou angry pandarus what with me pandarus because shes kin to me therefore shes not so fair as helen and 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 and she were a blackamoor tis all one to me troilus say i she is not fair pandarus i do not care whether you do or no shes a fool to stay behind her father let her to the greeks and so ill tell her the next time i see her for my part ill meddle nor make no more i the matter troilus pandarus pandarus not i troilus sweet pandarus pandarus pray you speak no more to me i will leave all as i found it and there an end exit pandarus an alarum troilus peace you ungracious clamours peace rude sounds fools on both sides helen must needs be fair when with your blood you daily paint her thus i cannot fight upon this argument it is too starvd a subject for my sword but pandarus o gods how do you plague me i cannot come to cressid but by pandar and hes as tetchy to be wood to woo as she is stubborn chaste against all suit tell me apollo for thy daphnes 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 calld the wild and wandering flood ourself the merchant and this sailing pandar our doubtful hope our convoy and our bark alarum enter aeneas aeneas how now prince troilus wherefore not afield troilus because not there this womans answer sorts for womanish it is to be from thence what news aeneas from the field today aeneas that paris is returned home and hurt troilus by whom aeneas aeneas troilus by menelaus troilus let paris bleed tis but a scar to scorn paris is gord with menelaus horn alarum aeneas hark what good sport is out of town today troilus better at home if would i might were may but to the sport abroad are you bound thither aeneas in all swift haste troilus come go we then together exeunt scene ii troy a street enter cressida and her man alexander cressida who were those went by alexander queen hecuba and helen cressida and whither go they alexander up to the eastern tower whose height commands as subject all the vale to see the battle hector whose patience is as a virtue fixd today was movd he chid andromache and struck his armourer and like as there were husbandry in war before the sun rose he was harnessd light and to the field goes he where every flower did as a prophet weep what it foresaw in hectors wrath cressida what was his cause of anger alexander the noise goes this there is among the greeks a lord of trojan blood nephew to hector they call him ajax cressida good and what of him alexander they say he is a very man per se and stands alone cressida so do all men unless they are drunk sick or have no legs alexander this man lady hath robbd 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 crushd 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 everything but everything so out of joint that he is a gouty briareus many hands and no use or purblind argus all eyes and no sight cressida but how should this man that makes me smile make hector angry alexander they say he yesterday copd hector in the battle and struck him down the disdain and shame whereof hath ever since kept hector fasting and waking enter pandarus cressida who comes here alexander madam your uncle pandarus cressida hectors a gallant man alexander as may be in the world lady pandarus whats that whats that cressida good morrow uncle pandarus pandarus good morrow cousin cressid what do you talk of good morrow alexander how do you cousin when were you at ilium cressida this morning uncle pandarus what were you talking of when i came was hector armd and gone ere you came to ilium helen was not up was she cressida hector was gone but helen was not up pandarus een so hector was stirring early cressida that were we talking of and of his anger pandarus was he angry cressida so he says here pandarus true he was so i know the cause too hell lay about him today i can tell them that and theres troilus will not come far behind him let them take heed of troilus i can tell them that too cressida what is he angry too pandarus who troilus troilus is the better man of the two cressida o jupiter theres no comparison pandarus what not between troilus and hector do you know a man if you see him cressida ay if i ever saw him before and knew him pandarus well i say troilus is troilus cressida then you say as i say for i am sure he is not hector pandarus no nor hector is not troilus in some degrees cressida tis just to each of them he is himself pandarus himself alas poor troilus i would he were cressida so he is pandarus condition i had gone barefoot to india cressida he is not hector pandarus himself no hes 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 cressida excuse me pandarus he is elder cressida pardon me pardon me pandarus thothers not come tot you shall tell me another tale when thothers come tot hector shall not have his wit this year cressida he shall not need it if he have his own andarus nor his qualities cressida no matter pandarus nor his beauty cressida twould not become him his owns better pandarus you have no judgement niece helen herself swore thother day that troilus for a brown favour for so tis i must confess not brown neither cressida no but brown pandarus faith to say truth brown and not brown cressida to say the truth true and not true pandarus she praisd his complexion above paris cressida why paris hath colour enough pandarus so he has cressida then troilus should have too much if she praisd 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 helens golden tongue had commended troilus for a copper nose pandarus i swear to you i think helen loves him better than paris cressida then shes a merry greek indeed pandarus nay i am sure she does she came to him thother day into the compassd window and you know he has not past three or four hairs on his chin cressida indeed a tapsters arithmetic may soon bring his particulars therein to a total pandarus why he is very young and yet will he within three pound lift as much as his brother hector cressida is he so young a man and so old a lifter pandarus but to prove to you that helen loves him she came and puts me her white hand to his cloven chin cressida juno have mercy how came it cloven pandarus why you know tis dimpled i think his smiling becomes him better than any man in all phrygia cressida o he smiles valiantly pandarus does he not cressida o yes an twere a cloud in autumn pandarus why go to then but to prove to you that helen loves troilus cressida troilus will stand to the proof if youll prove it so pandarus troilus why he esteems her no more than i esteem an addle egg cressida if you love an addle egg as well as you love an idle head you would eat chickens i th shell pandarus i cannot choose but laugh to think how she tickled his chin indeed she has a marvells white hand i must needs confess cressida without the rack pandarus and she takes upon her to spy a white hair on his chin cressida alas poor chin many a wart is richer pandarus but there was such laughing queen hecuba laughd that her eyes ran oer cressida with millstones pandarus and cassandra laughd cressida but there was a more temperate fire under the pot of her eyes did her eyes run oer too pandarus and hector laughd cressida at what was all this laughing pandarus marry at the white hair that helen spied on troilus chin cressida andt had been a green hair i should have laughd too pandarus they laughd not so much at the hair as at his pretty answer cressida what was his answer pandarus quoth she heres but two and fifty hairs on your chin and one of them is white cressida this is her question pandarus thats true make no question of that two 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 pluckt out and give it him but there was such laughing and helen so blushd and paris so chafd and all the rest so laughd that it passd cressida so let it now for it has been a great while going by pandarus well cousin i told you a thing yesterday think ont cressida so i do pandarus ill be sworn tis true he will weep you and twere a man born in april cressida and ill spring up in his tears an twere a nettle against may sound a retreat pandarus 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 cressida at your pleasure pandarus here here heres an excellent place here we may see most bravely ill tell you them all by their names as they pass by but mark troilus above the rest aeneas passes cressida speak not so loud pandarus thats aeneas is not that a brave man hes one of the flowers of troy i can tell you but mark troilus you shall see anon antenor passes cressida whos that pandarus thats antenor he has a shrewd wit i can tell you and hes a man good enough hes one o th soundest judgements in troy whosoever and a proper man of person when comes troilus ill show you troilus anon if he see me you shall see him nod at me cressida will he give you the nod pandarus you shall see cressida if he do the rich shall have more hector passes pandarus thats hector that that look you that theres a fellow go thy way hector theres a brave man niece o brave hector look how he looks theres a countenance ist not a brave man cressida o a brave man pandarus is a not it does a mans heart good look you what hacks are on his helmet look you yonder do you see look you there theres no jesting theres laying on taket off who will as they say there be hacks cressida be those with swords pandarus swords anything he cares not and the devil come to him its all one by gods lid it does ones heart good yonder comes paris yonder comes paris paris passes look ye yonder niece ist not a gallant man too ist not why this is brave now who said he came hurt home today hes not hurt why this will do helens heart good now ha would i could see troilus now you shall see troilus anon helenus passes cressida whos that pandarus thats helenus i marvel where troilus is thats helenus i think he went not forth today thats helenus cressida can helenus fight uncle pandarus helenus no yes hell fight indifferent well i marvel where troilus is hark do you not hear the people cry troilus helenus is a priest cressida what sneaking fellow comes yonder troilus passes pandarus where yonder thats deiphobus tis troilus theres a man niece hem brave troilus the prince of chivalry cressida peace for shame peace pandarus mark him note him o brave troilus look well upon him niece look you how his sword is bloodied and his helm more hackd than hectors and how he looks and how he goes o admirable youth he never 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 cressida here comes more common soldiers pass pandarus asses fools dolts chaff and bran chaff and bran porridge after meat i could live and die in the eyes of troilus neer look neer 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 cressida there is amongst the greeks achilles a better man than troilus pandarus achilles a drayman a porter a very camel cressida well well pandarus 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 such like the spice and salt that season a man cressida ay a mincd man and then to be bakd with no date in the pie for then the mans date is out pandarus you are such a woman a man knows not at what ward you lie cressida 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 pandarus say one of your watches cressida nay ill watch you for that and thats 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 its past watching pandarus you are such another enter troilus boy boy sir my lord would instantly speak with you pandarus where boy at your own house there he unarms him pandarus good boy tell him i come exit boy i doubt he be hurt fare ye well good niece cressida adieu uncle pandarus i will be with you niece by and by cressida to bring uncle pandarus ay a token from troilus exit pandarus cressida by the same token you are a bawd words vows gifts tears and loves full sacrifice he offers in anothers enterprise but more in troilus thousand fold i see than in the glass of pandars praise may be yet hold i off women are angels wooing things won are done joys soul lies in the doing that she belovd knows naught that knows not this men prize the thing ungaind 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 ungaind beseech then though my hearts content firm love doth bear nothing of that shall from mine eyes appear exit scene iii the grecian camp before agamemnons tent sennet enter agamemnon nestor ulysses diomedes menelaus and others agamemnon princes what grief hath set these jaundies oer your cheeks the ample proposition that hope makes in all designs begun on earth below fails in the promisd largeness checks and disasters grow in the veins of actions highest reard as knots by the conflux of meeting sap infects the sound pine and diverts 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 gavet surmised shape why then you princes do you with cheeks abashd behold our works and call them shames which are indeed naught else but the protractive trials of great jove to find persistive constancy in men the fineness of which metal is not found in fortunes love for then the bold and coward the wise and fool the artist and unread the hard and soft seem all affind 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 nestor with due observance of thy godlike 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 ribbd bark through liquid mountains cut bounding between the two moist elements like perseus horse wheres then the saucy boat whose weak untimberd sides but even now co rivalld greatness either to harbour fled or made a toast for neptune even so doth valours show and valours worth divide in storms of fortune for in her ray and brightness the herd hath more annoyance by the breeze 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 rousd with rage with rage doth sympathise and with an accent tund in self same key retorts to chiding fortune ulysses 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 thapplause and approbation the which to agamemnon most mighty for thy place and sway to nestor and thou most reverend for thy stretchd 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 hatchd in silver should with a bond of air strong as the axle tree on which heaven rides knit all the greekish ears to his experiencd tongue yet let it please both thou great and wise to hear ulysses speak agamemnon speak prince of ithaca and bet of less expect that matter needless of importless burden divide thy lips than we are confident when rank thersites opes his mastic jaws we shall hear music wit and oracle ulysses troy yet upon his basis had been down and the great hectors sword had lackd 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 thunworthiest 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 enthrond and spherd amidst the other whose medcinable eye corrects the influence of evil planets 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 fixture o when degree is shakd which is the ladder of all high designs the enterprise is sick how could communities degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities peaceful commerce from dividable shores the primogenity 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 melts 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 everything includes itself in power power into will will into appetite and appetite an universal wolf so doubly seconded with will and power must make perforce an 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 generals disdaind by him one step below he by the next that next by him beneath so every step exampld 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 stands not in her strength nestor most wisely hath ulysses here discoverd the fever whereof all our power is sick agamemnon the nature of the sickness found ulysses what is the remedy ulysses 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 stretchd footing and the scaffoldage such to be pitied and oer wrested seeming he acts thy greatness in and when he speaks tis like a chime a mending with terms unsquard which from the tongue of roaring typhon droppd would seem hyperboles at this fusty stuff the large achilles on his pressd bed lolling from his deep chest laughs out a loud applause cries excellent tis agamemnon right now play me nestor hem and stroke thy beard as he being drest to some oration thats done as near as the extremest ends of parallels as like as vulcan and his wife yet god 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 nestor and in the imitation of these twain who as ulysses says opinion crowns with an imperial voice many are infect ajax is grown self willd 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 comparisons with dirt to weaken and discredit our exposure how rank soever rounded in with danger ulysses 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 fingers dignity they call this bed work mappry closet war so that the ram that batters down the wall for the great swinge 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 guide his execution nestor let this be granted and achilles horse makes many thetis sons tucket agamemnon what trumpet look menelaus menelaus from troy enter aeneas agamemnon what would you fore our tent aeneas is this great agamemnons tent i pray you agamemnon even this aeneas may one that is a herald and a prince do a fair message to his kingly eyes agamemnon with surety stronger than achilles arm fore all the greekish heads which with one voice call agamemnon head and general aeneas fair leave and large security how may a stranger to those most imperial looks know them from eyes of other mortals agamemnon how aeneas 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 phoebus which is that god in office guiding men which is the high and mighty agamemnon agamemnon this trojan scorns us or the men of troy are ceremonious courtiers aeneas courtiers as free as debonair unarmd as bending angels thats their fame in peace but when they would seem soldiers they have galls good arms strong joints true swords and joves accord nothing so full of heart but peace aeneas peace trojan lay thy finger on thy lips the worthiness of praise distains his worth if that the praisd himself bring the praise forth but what the repining enemy commends that breath fame blows that praise sole pure transcends agamemnon sir you of troy call you yourself aeneas aeneas ay greek that is my name agamemnon whats your affairs i pray you aeneas sir pardon tis for agamemnons ears agamemnon he hears naught privately that comes from troy aeneas nor i from troy come not to whisper with him i bring a trumpet to awake his ear to set his sense on the attentive bent and then to speak agamemnon speak frankly as the wind it is not agamemnons sleeping hour that thou shalt know trojan he is awake he tells thee so himself aeneas trumpet blow loud 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 sound trumpet we have great agamemnon here in troy a prince called hector priam is his father who in this dull and long continued truce is resty grown he bade me take a trumpet and to this purpose speak kings princes lords if there be one among the fairst of greece that holds his honour higher than his ease that feeds 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 couple in his arms and will tomorrow 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 hell say in troy when he retires the grecian dames are sunburnt and not worth the splinter of a lance even so much agamemnon this shall be told our lovers lord aeneas 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 nestor tell him of nestor one that was a man when hectors grandsire suckd he is old now but if there be not in our grecian host a noble man that hath one spark of fire to answer for his love tell him from me ill hide my silver beard in a gold beaver and in my vambrace put this witherd brawns 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 ill prove this troth with my three drops of blood aeneas now heavens forfend such scarcity of youth ulysses amen agamemnon fair lord aeneas let me touch your hand to our pavilion shall i lead you sir 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 exeunt all but ulysses and nestor ulysses nestor nestor what says ulysses ulysses i have a young conception in my brain be you my time to bring it to some shape nestor what ist ulysses this tis blunt wedges rive hard knots the seeded pride that hath to this maturity blown up in rank achilles must or now be croppd or shedding breed a nursery of like evil to overbulk us all nestor well and how ulysses this challenge that the gallant hector sends however it is spread in general name relates in purpose only to achilles nestor true 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 judgement ay with celerity find hectors purpose pointing on him ulysses and wake him to the answer think you nestor why tis most meet who may you else oppose that can from hector bring those honours off if not achilles though t be a sportful combat yet in this trial much opinion dwells for here the trojans taste our dearst repute with their finst palate and trust to me ulysses our imputation shall be oddly poisd in this vile 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 supposd 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 distilld out of our virtues who miscarrying what heart receives from hence a conquering part to steel a strong opinion to themselves which entertaind limbs are his instruments in no less working than are swords and bows directive by the limbs ulysses give pardon to my speech therefore tis meet achilles meet not hector let us like merchants first show foul wares and think perchance theyll sell if not the lustre of the better shall exceed by showing the worse first do not consent that ever hector and achilles meet for both our honour and our shame in this are doggd with two strange followers nestor i see them not with my old eyes what are they ulysses what glory our achilles shares from hector were he not proud we all should share with him but he already is too insolent and it were better parch in afric sun than in the pride and salt scorn of his eyes should he scape hector fair if he were foild why then we do our main opinion crush in taint of our best man no make a lottry and by device let blockish ajax draw the sort to fight with hector among ourselves give him allowance for the better 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 well 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 projects life this shape of sense assumes ajax employd plucks down achilles plumes nestor now ulysses i begin to relish thy advice and i will give a taste thereof 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 exeunt act ii scene i the grecian camp enter ajax and thersites ajax thersites thersites agamemnon how if he had boils full all over generally ajax thersites thersites and those boils did run say so did not the general run then were not that a botchy core ajax dog thersites then there would come some matter from him i see none now ajax thou bitch wolfs son canst thou not hear feel then strikes him thersites the plague of greece upon thee thou mongrel beef witted lord ajax speak then thou unsalted leaven speak i will beat thee into handsomeness thersites 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 jades tricks ajax toadstool learn me the proclamation thersites dost thou think i have no sense thou strikest me thus ajax the proclamation thersites thou art proclaimd fool i think ajax do not porpentine do not my fingers itch thersites i would thou didst itch from head to foot and i had the scratching of thee i would make thee the loathsomest scab in greece when thou art forth in the incursions thou strikest as slow as another ajax i say the proclamation thersites thou grumblest and railest every hour on achilles and thou art as full of envy at his greatness as cerberus is at proserpinas beauty ay that thou barkst at him ajax mistress thersites thersites thou shouldst strike him ajax cobloaf thersites he would pun thee into shivers with his fist as a sailor breaks a biscuit ajax you whoreson cur strikes him thersites do do ajax thou stool for a witch thersites ay do do thou sodden witted lord thou hast no more brain than i have in mine elbows an asinico may tutor thee you 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 ajax you dog thersites you scurvy lord ajax you cur strikes him thersites mars his idiot do rudeness do camel do do enter achilles and patroclus achilles why how now ajax wherefore do ye thus how now thersites whats the matter man thersites you see him there do you achilles ay whats the matter thersites nay look upon him achilles so i do whats the matter thersites nay but regard him well achilles well why so i do thersites but yet you look not well upon him for whosomever you take him to be he is ajax achilles i know that fool thersites ay but that fool knows not himself ajax therefore i beat thee thersites lo lo lo lo what modicums of wit he utters his evasions have ears thus long i have bobbd 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 ill tell you what i say of him achilles what thersites i say this ajax ajax offers to strike him achilles nay good ajax thersites has not so much wit achilles nay i must hold you thersites as will stop the eye of helens needle for whom he comes to fight achilles peace fool thersites i would have peace and quietness but the fool will not he there that he look you there ajax o thou damned cur i shall achilles will you set your wit to a fools thersites no i warrant you the fools will shame it patroclus good words thersites achilles whats the quarrel ajax i bade the vile owl go learn me the tenour of the proclamation and he rails upon me thersites i serve thee not ajax well go to go to thersites i serve here voluntary achilles your last service was suffrance twas not voluntary no man is beaten voluntary ajax was here the voluntary and you as under an impress thersites een so a great deal of your wit too lies in your sinews or else there be liars hector shall have a great catch and knock out either of your brains a were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel achilles what with me too thersites thersites theres 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 achilles what what thersites yes good sooth to achilles to ajax to ajax i shall cut out your tongue thersites tis no matter i shall speak as much as thou afterwards patroclus no more words thersites peace thersites i will hold my peace when achilles brach bids me shall i achilles theres for you patroclus thersites i will see you hangd like clotpoles ere i come any more to your tents i will keep where there is wit stirring and leave the faction of fools exit patroclus a good riddance achilles marry this sir is proclaimd through all our host that hector by the fifth hour of the sun will with a trumpet twixt our tents and troy tomorrow morning call some knight to arms that hath a stomach and such a one that dare maintain i know not what tis trash farewell ajax farewell who shall answer him achilles i know not tis put to lottry otherwise he knew his man ajax o meaning you i will go learn more of it exeunt scene ii troy priams palace enter priam hector troilus paris and helenus priam 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 consumd in hot digestion of this cormorant war shall be struck off hector what say you tot hector 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 calld the beacon of the wise the tent that searches to th 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 merits in that reason which denies the yielding of her up troilus fie fie my brother weigh you the worth and honour of a king so great as our dread fathers 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 helenus no marvel though you bite so sharp of reasons you are so empty of them should not our father bear the great sway of his affairs with reason because your speech hath none that tells him so troilus 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 employd 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 disorbd nay if we talk of reason lets shut our gates and sleep manhood and honour should have hare hearts would they but fat their thoughts with this crammd reason reason and respect make livers pale and lustihood deject hector brother she is not worth what she doth cost the keeping troilus whats aught but as tis valued hector 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 attributive to what infectiously itself affects without some image of thaffected merit troilus i take today 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 judgement 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 soild them nor the remainder viands we do not throw in unrespective sieve because we now are full it was thought meet paris should do some vengeance on the greeks your breath with full consent bellied his sails the seas and winds old wranglers took a truce and did him service he touchd the ports desird and for an old aunt whom the greeks held captive he brought a grecian queen whose youth and freshness wrinkles apollos 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 launchd above a thousand ships and turnd crownd kings to merchants if youll avouch twas wisdom paris went as you must needs for you all cried go go if youll confess he brought home worthy prize as you must needs for you all clappd your hands and cried inestimable why do you now the issue of your proper wisdoms rate and do a deed that never fortune did beggar the estimation which you prizd richer than sea and land o theft most base that we have stoln what we do fear to keep but thieves unworthy of a thing so stoln that in their country did them that disgrace we fear to warrant in our native place cassandra within cry trojans cry priam what noise what shriek is this troilus tis our mad sister i do know her voice cassandra within cry trojans hector it is cassandra enter cassandra raving cassandra cry trojans cry lend me ten thousand eyes and i will fill them with prophetic tears hector peace sister peace cassandra 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 exit hector 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 troilus 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 cassandras mad her brain sick raptures cannot distaste the goodness of a quarrel which hath our several honours all engagd to make it gracious for my private part i am no more touchd than all priams sons and jove forbid there should be done amongst us such things as might offend the weakest spleen to fight for and maintain paris 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 mans 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 neer retract what he hath done nor faint in the pursuit priam 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 paris sir i propose not merely to myself the pleasures such a beauty brings with it but i would have the soil of her fair rape wipd off in honourable keeping her what treason were it to the ransackd 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 theres 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 bestowd or death unfamd where helen is the subject then i say well may we fight for her whom we know well the worlds large spaces cannot parallel hector paris and troilus you have both said well and on the cause and question now in hand have glozd 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 distempred 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 rendred 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 same there is a law in each well orderd nation to curb those raging appetites that are most disobedient and refractory if helen then be wife to spartas king as it is known she is these moral laws of nature and of nations speak aloud to have her back returnd thus to persist in doing wrong extenuates not wrong but makes it much more heavy hectors opinion is this in way of truth yet neertheless my spritely brethren i propend to you in resolution to keep helen still for tis a cause that hath no mean dependence upon our joint and several dignities troilus why there you touchd 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 promisd glory as smiles upon the forehead of this action for the wide worlds revenue hector 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 advertisd their great general slept whilst emulation in the army crept this i presume will wake him exeunt scene iii the grecian camp before the tent of achilles enter thersites solus thersites 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 raild at me sfoot ill learn to conjure and raise devils but ill see some issue of my spiteful execrations then theres achilles a rare engineer 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 armd 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 depending on those that war for a placket i have said my prayers and devil envy say amen what ho my lord achilles enter patroclus patroclus whos there thersites good thersites come in and rail thersites if i could a remembred a gilt counterfeit thou wouldst not have slippd 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 corse ill be sworn and sworn upont she never shrouded any but lazars amen wheres achilles patroclus what art thou devout wast thou in prayer thersites ay the heavens hear me patroclus amen enter achilles achilles whos there patroclus thersites my lord achilles where where o where art thou come why my cheese my digestion why hast thou not served thyself in to my table so many meals come whats agamemnon thersites thy commander achilles then tell me patroclus whats achilles patroclus thy lord thersites then tell me i pray thee whats thersites thersites thy knower patroclus then tell me patroclus what art thou patroclus thou must tell that knowest achilles o tell tell thersites ill decline the whole question agamemnon commands achilles achilles is my lord i am patroclus knower and patroclus is a fool patroclus you rascal thersites peace fool i have not done achilles he is a privilegd man proceed thersites thersites agamemnon is a fool achilles is a fool thersites is a fool and as aforesaid patroclus is a fool achilles derive this come thersites 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 this patroclus is a fool positive patroclus why am i a fool thersites make that demand of the creator it suffices me thou art look you who comes here enter agamemnon ulysses nestor diomedes ajax and calchas achilles come patroclus ill speak with nobody come in with me thersites exit thersites here is such patchery such juggling and such knavery all the argument is a whore and a cuckold 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 exit agamemnon where is achilles patroclus within his tent but ill disposd my lord agamemnon let it be known to him that we are here he sate our messengers and we lay by our appertainings 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 patroclus i shall say so to him exit ulysses we saw him at the opening of his tent he is not sick ajax 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 takes agamemnon aside nestor what moves ajax thus to bay at him ulysses achilles hath inveigled his fool from him nestor who thersites ulysses he nestor then will ajax lack matter if he have lost his argument ulysses no you see he is his argument that has his argument achilles nestor all the better their fraction is more our wish than their faction but it was a strong composure a fool could disunite ulysses the amity that wisdom knits not folly may easily untie re enter patroclus here comes patroclus nestor no achilles with him ulysses the elephant hath joints but none for courtesy his legs are legs for necessity not for flexure patroclus 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 dinners breath agamemnon hear you patroclus we are too well acquainted with these answers but his evasion wingd 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 judgement 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 course and time his ebbs and flows as if the passage and whole stream of this commencement rode on his tide go tell him this and add that if he overhold his price so much well 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 patroclus i shall and bring his answer presently exit agamemnon in second voice well not be satisfied we come to speak with him ulysses enter you exit ulysses ajax what is he more than another agamemnon no more than what he thinks he is ajax is he so much do you not think he thinks himself a better man than i am agamemnon no question ajax will you subscribe his thought and say he is agamemnon no noble ajax you are as strong as valiant as wise no less noble much more gentle and altogether more tractable ajax why should a man be proud how doth pride grow i know not what pride is agamemnon 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 re enter ulysses ajax i do hate a proud man as i do hate the engendring of toads nestor aside and yet he loves himself ist not strange ulysses achilles will not to the field tomorrow agamemnon whats his excuse ulysses 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 agamemnon why will he not upon our fair request untent his person and share thair with us ulysses things small as nothing for requests sake only he makes important possessd he is with greatness and speaks not to himself but with a pride that quarrels at self breath imagind worth holds in his blood such swoln and hot discourse that twixt his mental and his active parts kingdomd 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 agamemnon let ajax go to him dear lord go you and greet him in his tent tis said he holds you well and will be led at your request a little from himself ulysses o agamemnon let it not be so well 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 doth revolve and ruminate himself shall he be worshippd of that we hold an idol more than he no this thrice worthy and right valiant lord shall not so stale his palm nobly acquird 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 nestor aside o this is well he rubs the vein of him diomedes aside and how his silence drinks up this applause ajax if i go to him with my armed fist ill pash him oer the face agamemnon o no you shall not go ajax an a be proud with me ill pheeze his pride let me go to him ulysses not for the worth that hangs upon our quarrel ajax a paltry insolent fellow nestor aside how he describes himself ajax can he not be sociable ulysses aside the raven chides blackness ajax ill let his humours blood agamemnon aside he will be the physician that should be the patient ajax and all men were o my mind ulysses aside wit would be out of fashion ajax a should not bear it so a should eats words first shall pride carry it nestor aside and twould youd carry half ulysses aside a would have ten shares ajax i will knead him ill make him supple nestor aside hes not yet through warm force him with praises pour in pour in his ambition is dry ulysses to agamemnon my lord you feed too much on this dislike nestor our noble general do not do so diomedes you must prepare to fight without achilles ulysses why tis this naming of him does him harm here is a man but tis before his face i will be silent nestor wherefore should you so he is not emulous as achilles is ulysses know the whole world he is as valiant ajax a whoreson dog that shall palter with us thus would he were a trojan nestor what a vice were it in ajax now ulysses if he were proud diomedes or covetous of praise ulysses ay or surly borne diomedes or strange or self affected ulysses thank the heavens lord thou art of sweet composure praise him that gat thee she that gave thee suck famd be thy tutor and thy parts of nature thrice famd beyond beyond all erudition but he that disciplind thine 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 heres 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 temperd you should not have the eminence of him but be as ajax ajax shall i call you father nestor ay my good son diomedes be ruld by him lord ajax ulysses 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 tomorrow we must with all our main of power stand fast and heres a lord come knights from east to west and cull their flower ajax shall cope the best agamemnon go we to council let achilles sleep light boats sail swift though greater hulks draw deep exeunt act iii scene i troy priams palace music sounds within enter pandarus and a servant pandarus friend you pray you a word do you not follow the young lord paris servant ay sir when he goes before me pandarus you depend upon him i mean servant sir i do depend upon the lord pandarus you depend upon a notable gentleman i must needs praise him servant the lord be praised pandarus you know me do you not servant faith sir superficially pandarus friend know me better i am the lord pandarus servant i hope i shall know your honour better pandarus i do desire it servant you are in the state of grace pandarus grace not so friend honour and lordship are my titles what music is this servant i do but partly know sir it is music in parts pandarus know you the musicians servant wholly sir pandarus who play they to servant to the hearers sir pandarus at whose pleasure friend servant at mine sir and theirs that love music pandarus command i mean friend servant who shall i command sir pandarus friend we understand not one another i am too courtly and thou art too cunning at whose request do these men play servant thats tot indeed sir marry sir at the request of paris my lord who is there in person with him the mortal venus the heart blood of beauty loves invisible soul pandarus who my cousin cressida servant no sir helen could not you find out that by her attributes pandarus 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 servant sodden business theres a stewd phrase indeed enter paris and helen attended pandarus fair be to you my lord and to all this fair company fair desires in all fair measure fairly guide them especially to you fair queen fair thoughts be your fair pillow helen dear lord you are full of fair words pandarus you speak your fair pleasure sweet queen fair prince here is good broken music paris 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 helen he is full of harmony pandarus truly lady no helen o sir pandarus rude in sooth in good sooth very rude paris well said my lord well you say so in fits pandarus i have business to my lord dear queen my lord will you vouchsafe me a word helen nay this shall not hedge us out well hear you sing certainly pandarus well sweet queen you are pleasant with me but marry thus my lord my dear lord and most esteemed friend your brother troilus helen my lord pandarus honey sweet lord pandarus go to sweet queen go to commends himself most affectionately to you helen you shall not bob us out of our melody if you do our melancholy upon your head pandarus sweet queen sweet queen thats a sweet queen i faith helen and to make a sweet lady sad is a sour offence pandarus 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 helen my lord pandarus pandarus what says my sweet queen my very very sweet queen paris what exploits in hand where sups he tonight helen nay but my lord pandarus what says my sweet queen my cousin will fall out with you helen you must not know where he sups paris ill lay my life with my disposer cressida pandarus no no no such matter you are wide come your disposer is sick paris well ill makes excuse pandarus ay good my lord why should you say cressida no your poor disposers sick paris i spy pandarus you spy what do you spy come give me an instrument now sweet queen helen why this is kindly done pandarus my niece is horribly in love with a thing you have sweet queen helen she shall have it my lord if it be not my lord paris pandarus he no shell none of him they two are twain helen falling in after falling out may make them three pandarus come come ill hear no more of this ill sing you a song now helen ay ay prithee now by my troth sweet lord thou hast a fine forehead pandarus ay you may you may helen let thy song be love this love will undo us all o cupid cupid cupid pandarus love ay that it shall i faith paris ay good now love love nothing but love pandarus in good troth it begins so sings love love nothing but love still love still more for oh loves bow shoots buck and doe the shaft confounds not that it wounds but tickles still the sore these lovers cry o ho they die yet that which seems the wound to kill doth turn o ho to ha ha he so dying love lives still o ho a while but ha ha ha o ho groans out for ha ha ha hey ho helen in love i faith to the very tip of the nose paris 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 pandarus 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 whos a field today paris hector deiphobus helenus antenor and all the gallantry of troy i would fain have armd today but my nell would not have it so how chance my brother troilus went not helen he hangs the lip at something you know all lord pandarus pandarus not i honey sweet queen i long to hear how they spend today youll remember your brothers excuse paris to a hair pandarus farewell sweet queen helen commend me to your niece pandarus i will sweet queen exit sound a retreat paris theyre come from the field let us to priams 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 touchd 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 helen 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 paris sweet above thought i love thee exeunt scene ii troy pandarus orchard enter pandarus and troilus boy meeting pandarus how now wheres thy master at my cousin cressidas boy no sir he stays for you to conduct him thither enter troilus pandarus o here he comes how now how now troilus sirrah walk off exit boy pandarus have you seen my cousin troilus 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 these fields where i may wallow in the lily beds proposd for the deserver o gentle pandar from cupids shoulder pluck his painted wings and fly with me to cressid pandarus walk here i th orchard ill bring her straight exit troilus i am giddy expectation whirls me round thimaginary relish is so sweet that it enchants my sense what will it be when that the watry palate tastes indeed loves thrice repured nectar death i fear me sounding destruction or some joy too fine too subtle potent tund 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 re enter pandarus pandarus shes making her ready shell come straight you must be witty now she does so blush and fetches her wind so short as if she were frayd with a sprite ill fetch her it is the prettiest villain she fetches her breath as short as a new taen sparrow exit troilus even such a passion doth embrace my bosom my heart beats thicker than a feverous pulse and all my powers do their bestowing lose like vassalage at unawares encountring the eye of majesty re enter pandarus with cressida pandarus come come what need you blush shames 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 watchd ere you be made tame must you come your ways come your ways and you draw backward well put you i th fills why do you not speak to her come draw this curtain and lets see your picture alas the day how loath you are to offend daylight and twere dark youd 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 th river go to go to troilus you have bereft me of all words lady pandarus words pay no debts give her deeds but shell bereave you o th deeds too if she call your activity in question what billing again heres in witness whereof the parties interchangeably come in come in ill go get a fire exit cressida will you walk in my lord troilus o cressid how often have i wishd me thus cressida wishd my lord the gods grant o my lord troilus what should they grant what makes this pretty abruption what too curious dreg espies my sweet lady in the fountain of our love cressida more dregs than water if my fears have eyes troilus fears make devils of cherubins they never see truly cressida blind fear that seeing reason leads finds safer footing than blind reason stumbling without fear to fear the worst oft cures the worse troilus o let my lady apprehend no fear in all cupids pageant there is presented no monster cressida nor nothing monstrous neither troilus 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 confind that the desire is boundless and the act a slave to limit cressida 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 troilus 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 cressida will you walk in my lord re enter pandarus pandarus what blushing still have you not done talking yet cressida well uncle what folly i commit i dedicate to you pandarus i thank you for that if my lord get a boy of you youll give him me be true to my lord if he flinch chide me for it troilus you know now your hostages your uncles word and my firm faith pandarus nay ill give my word for her too our kindred though they be long ere they are wooed they are constant being won they are burs i can tell you theyll stick where they are thrown cressida boldness comes to me now and brings me heart prince troilus i have lovd you night and day for many weary months troilus why was my cressid then so hard to win cressida 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 blabbd who shall be true to us when we are so unsecret to ourselves but though i lovd you well i wood you not and yet good faith i wishd myself a man or that we women had mens 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 troilus and shall albeit sweet music issues thence pandarus pretty i faith cressida my lord i do beseech you pardon me twas not my purpose thus to beg a kiss i am ashamd o heavens what have i done for this time will i take my leave my lord troilus your leave sweet cressid pandarus leave and you take leave till tomorrow morning cressida pray you content you troilus what offends you lady cressida sir mine own company troilus you cannot shun yourself cressida let me go and try i have a kind of self resides with you but an unkind self that itself will leave to be anothers fool i would be gone where is my wit i know not what i speak troilus well know they what they speak that speak so wisely cressida 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 mans might that dwells with gods above troilus 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 beautys 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 winnowed purity in love how were i then uplifted but alas i am as true as truths simplicity and simpler than the infancy of truth cressida in that ill war with you troilus 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 truth by troilus when their rhymes full of protest of oath and big compare want similes truth tird 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 th centre yet after all comparisons of truth as truths authentic author to be cited as true as troilus shall crown up the verse and sanctify the numbers cressida 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 swallowd 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 th have said as false as air as water wind or sandy earth as fox to lamb or wolf to heifers calf pard to the hind or stepdame to her son yea let them say to stick the heart of falsehood as false as cressid pandarus go to a bargain made seal it seal it ill be the witness here i hold your hand here my cousins if ever you prove false one to another since i have taken such pains to bring you together let all pitiful goers between be calld to the worlds 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 troilus amen cressida amen pandarus 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 exeunt troilus and cressida and cupid grant all tongue tied maidens here bed chamber pander to provide this gear exit scene iii the greek camp flourish enter agamemnon ulysses diomedes nestor ajax menelaus and calchas calchas now princes for the service i have done thadvantage 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 abandond troy left my possession incurrd a traitors name exposd myself from certain and possessd conveniences to doubtful fortunes sequestring from me all that time acquaintance custom and condition made tame and most familiar to my nature and here to do you service am 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 registred in promise which you say live to come in my behalf agamemnon what wouldst thou of us trojan make demand calchas you have a trojan prisoner calld antenor yesterday took troy holds him very dear oft have you often have you thanks therefore desird 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 negotiations 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 agamemnon 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 tomorrow be answerd in his challenge ajax is ready diomedes this shall i undertake and tis a burden which i am proud to bear exeunt diomedes and calchas achilles and patroclus stand in their tent ulysses achilles stands i thentrance of his tent please it our general 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 hell question me why such unplausive eyes are bent why turnd on him if so i have derision medcinable 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 proud mans fees agamemnon well 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 lookd on i will lead the way achilles what comes the general to speak with me you know my mind ill fight no more gainst troy agamemnon what says achilles would he aught with us nestor would you my lord aught with the general achilles no nestor nothing my lord agamemnon the better exeunt agamemnon and nestor achilles good day good day menelaus how do you how do you exit achilles what does the cuckold scorn me ajax how now patroclus achilles good morrow ajax ajax ha achilles good morrow ajax ay and good next day too exit achilles what mean these fellows know they not achilles patroclus they pass by strangely they were usd to bend to send their smiles before them to achilles to come as humbly as they usd to creep to holy altars achilles what am i poor of late tis certain greatness once falln out with fortune must fall out with men too what the declind 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 place riches and favour prizes of accident as oft as merit which when they fall as being slippery standers the love that leand on them as slippery too doth 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 mens looks who do methinks find out something not worth in me such rich beholding as they have often given here is ulysses ill interrupt his reading how now ulysses ulysses now great thetis son achilles what are you reading ulysses 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 achilles 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 opposed salutes each other with each others form for speculation turns not to itself till it hath travelld and is mirrord there where it may see itself this is not strange at all ulysses i do not strain at the position it is familiar but at the authors drift who in his circumstance expressly proves that no man is the lord of anything 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 formed in the applause where thare extended who like an arch reverbrate 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 thunknown 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 tomorrow an act that very chance doth throw upon him ajax renownd o heavens what some men do while some men leave to do how some men creep in skittish fortunes hall whiles others play the idiots in her eyes how one man eats into anothers 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 hectors breast and great troy shrieking achilles i do believe it for they passd by me as misers do by beggars neither gave to me good word nor look what are my deeds forgot ulysses time hath my lord a wallet at his back wherein he puts alms for oblivion a great sizd monster of ingratitudes those scraps are good deeds past which are devourd 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 mockry 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 entred tide they all rush by and leave you hindmost or like a gallant horse falln in first rank lie there for pavement to the abject rear oer run and trampled on then what they do in present though less than yours in past must oertop yours for time is like a fashionable host that slightly shakes his parting guest by thhand and with his arms out stretchd as he would fly grasps in the comer the 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 gauds though they are made and moulded of things past and give to dust that is a little gilt more laud than gilt oer 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 stirs not 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 achilles of this my privacy i have strong reasons ulysses but gainst your privacy the reasons are more potent and heroical tis known achilles that you are in love with one of priams daughters achilles ha known ulysses is that a wonder the providence thats in a watchful state knows almost every grain of plutus gold finds bottom in thuncomprehensive deeps keeps place with thought and almost like the gods do 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 island sound her trump and all the greekish girls shall tripping sing great hectors sister did achilles win but our great ajax bravely beat down him farewell my lord i as your lover speak the fool slides oer the ice that you should break exit patroclus to this effect achilles have i movd you a woman impudent and mannish grown is not more loathd than an effeminate man in time of action i stand condemnd 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 lions mane be shook to air achilles shall ajax fight with hector patroclus ay and perhaps receive much honour by him achilles i see my reputation is at stake my fame is shrewdly gord patroclus 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 they sit idly in the sun achilles go call thersites hither sweet patroclus ill send the fool to ajax and desire him tinvite the trojan lords after the combat to see us here unarmd i have a womans 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 enter thersites a labour savd thersites a wonder achilles what thersites ajax goes up and down the field asking for himself achilles how so thersites he must fight singly tomorrow with hector and is so prophetically proud of an heroical cudgelling that he raves in saying nothing achilles how can that be thersites why a stalks up and down like a peacock a stride and a stand ruminates like an 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 and 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 mans undone for ever for if hector break not his neck i th combat hell breakt 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 hes grown a very land fish languageless a monster a plague of opinion a man may wear it on both sides like leather jerkin achilles thou must be my ambassador to him thersites thersites who i why hell answer nobody he professes not answering speaking is for beggars he wears his tongue ins arms i will put on his presence let patroclus make his demands to me you shall see the pageant of ajax achilles to him patroclus tell him i humbly desire the valiant ajax to invite the most valorous hector to come unarmd to my tent and to procure safe conduct for his person of the magnanimous and most illustrious six or seven times honourd captain general of the grecian army agamemnon do this patroclus jove bless great ajax thersites hum patroclus i come from the worthy achilles thersites ha patroclus who most humbly desires you to invite hector to his tent thersites hum patroclus and to procure safe conduct from agamemnon thersites agamemnon patroclus ay my lord thersites ha patroclus what you say tot thersites god buy you with all my heart patroclus your answer sir thersites if tomorrow be a fair day by eleven of the clock it will go one way or other howsoever he shall pay for me ere he has me patroclus your answer sir thersites fare ye well with all my heart achilles why but he is not in this tune is he thersites no but out of tune thus what music will be in him when hector has knockd out his brains i know not but i am sure none unless the fiddler apollo get his sinews to make catlings on achilles come thou shalt bear a letter to him straight thersites let me bear another to his horse for thats the more capable creature achilles my mind is troubled like a fountain stirrd and i myself see not the bottom of it exeunt achilles and patroclus thersites 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 exit act iv scene i troy a street enter at one side aeneas and servant with a torch at another paris deiphobus antenor diomedes the grecian and others with torches paris see ho who is that there deiphobus it is the lord aeneas aeneas 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 diomedes thats my mind too good morrow lord aeneas paris a valiant greek aeneas 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 aeneas health to you valiant sir during all question of the gentle truce but when i meet you armd as black defiance as heart can think or courage execute diomedes the one and other diomed embraces our bloods are now in calm and so long health but when contention and occasion meet by jove ill play the hunter for thy life with all my force pursuit and policy aeneas 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 diomedes we sympathise jove let aeneas 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 tomorrow aeneas we know each other well diomedes we do and long to know each other worse paris this is the most despiteful gentle greeting the noblest hateful love that eer i heard of what business lord so early aeneas i was sent for to the king but why i know not paris his purpose meets you twas to bring this greek to calchas house and there to render him for the enfreed antenor the fair cressid lets have your company or if you please haste there before us i constantly believe or rather call my thought a certain knowledge my brother troilus lodges there tonight rouse him and give him note of our approach with the whole quality wherefore i fear we shall be much unwelcome aeneas that i assure you troilus had rather troy were borne to greece than cressid borne from troy paris there is no help the bitter disposition of the time will have it so on lord well follow you aeneas good morrow all exit with servant paris and tell me noble diomed faith tell me true even in the soul of sound good fellowship who in your thoughts deserves fair helen best myself or menelaus diomedes 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 pleasd to breed out your inheritors both merits poisd each weighs nor less nor more but he as he the heavier for a whore paris you are too bitter to your country woman diomedes shes bitter to her country hear me paris for every false drop in her bawdy veins a grecians 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 suffred death paris fair diomed you do as chapmen do dispraise the thing that you desire to buy but we in silence hold this virtue well well not commend what we intend to sell here lies our way exeunt scene ii troy the court of pandarus house enter troilus and cressida troilus dear trouble not yourself the morn is cold cressida then sweet my lord ill call mine uncle down he shall unbolt the gates troilus 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 cressida good morrow then troilus i prithee now to bed cressida are you aweary of me troilus o cressida but that the busy day wakd by the lark hath rousd the ribald crows and dreaming night will hide our joys no longer i would not from thee cressida night hath been too brief troilus 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 cressida prithee tarry you men will never tarry o foolish cressid i might have still held off and then you would have tarried hark theres one up pandarus within whats all the doors open here troilus it is your uncle enter pandarus cressida a pestilence on him now will he be mocking i shall have such a life pandarus how now how now how go maidenheads here you maid wheres my cousin cressid cressida go hang yourself you naughty mocking uncle you bring me to do and then you flout me too pandarus to do what to do what let her say what what have i brought you to do cressida come come beshrew your heart youll neer be good nor suffer others pandarus ha ha alas poor wretch ah poor capocchia hast not slept tonight would he not a naughty man let it sleep a bugbear take him cressida did not i tell you would he were knockd i th head one knocks whos 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 troilus ha ha cressida come you are deceivd i think of no such thing knock how earnestly they knock pray you come in i would not for half troy have you seen here exeunt troilus and cressida pandarus whos there whats the matter will you beat down the door how now whats the matter enter aeneas aeneas good morrow lord good morrow pandarus whos there my lord aeneas by my troth i knew you not what news with you so early aeneas is not prince troilus here pandarus here what should he do here aeneas come he is here my lord do not deny him it doth import him much to speak with me pandarus is he here say you its more than i know ill be sworn for my own part i came in late what should he do here aeneas who nay then come come youll do him wrong ere you are ware youll be so true to him to be false to him do not you know of him but yet go fetch him hither go re enter troilus troilus how now whats the matter aeneas 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 deliverd to us and for him forthwith ere the first sacrifice within this hour we must give up to diomedes hand the lady cressida troilus is it so concluded aeneas by priam and the general state of troy they are at hand and ready to effect it troilus how my achievements mock me i will go meet them and my lord aeneas we met by chance you did not find me here aeneas good good my lord the secrets of neighbour pandar have not more gift in taciturnity exeunt troilus and aeneas pandarus ist possible no sooner got but lost the devil take antenor the young prince will go mad a plague upon antenor i would they had brokes neck re enter cressida cressida how now whats the matter who was here pandarus ah ah cressida why sigh you so profoundly wheres my lord gone tell me sweet uncle whats the matter pandarus would i were as deep under the earth as i am above cressida o the gods whats the matter pandarus pray thee get thee in would thou hadst neer been born i knew thou wouldst be his death o poor gentleman a plague upon antenor cressida good uncle i beseech you on my knees i beseech you whats the matter pandarus thou must be gone wench thou must be gone thou art changd for antenor thou must to thy father and be gone from troilus twill be his death twill be his bane he cannot bear it cressida o you immortal gods i will not go pandarus thou must cressida 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 cressids 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 ill go in and weep pandarus do do cressida 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 exeunt scene iii troy a street before pandarus house enter paris troilus aeneas deiphobus antenor and diomedes paris it is great morning and the hour prefixd for 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 troilus walk into her house ill 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 offring to it his own heart exit paris i know what tis to love and would as i shall pity i could help please you walk in my lords exeunt scene iv troy pandarus house enter pandarus and cressida pandarus be moderate be moderate cressida 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 affections 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 enter troilus pandarus here here here he comes ah sweet ducks cressida embracing him o troilus troilus pandarus what a pair of spectacles is here let me embrace too o heart as the goodly saying is o heart heavy heart why sighst thou without breaking where he answers again because thou canst not ease thy smart by friendship nor by speaking there was never a truer rhyme 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 troilus cressid i love thee in so straind a purity that the blessd gods as angry with my fancy more bright in zeal than the devotion which cold lips blow to their deities take thee from me cressida have the gods envy pandarus ay ay ay ay tis too plain a case cressida and is it true that i must go from troy troilus a hateful truth cressida what and from troilus too troilus from troy and troilus cressida ist possible troilus 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 lockd 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 robbers haste crams his rich thievry up he knows not how as many farewells as be stars in heaven with distinct breath and consignd kisses to them he fumbles up into a loose adieu and scants us with a single famishd kiss distasted with the salt of broken tears aeneas within my lord is the lady ready troilus hark you are calld some say the genius cries so to him that instantly must die bid them have patience she shall come anon pandarus where are my tears rain to lay this wind or my heart will be blown up by my throat exit cressida i must then to the grecians troilus no remedy cressida a woeful cressid mongst the merry greeks when shall we see again troilus hear me my love be thou but true of heart cressida i true how now what wicked deem is this troilus 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 theres 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 cressida o you shall be exposd my lord to dangers as infinite as imminent but ill be true troilus and ill grow friend with danger wear this sleeve cressida and you this glove when shall i see you troilus i will corrupt the grecian sentinels to give thee nightly visitation but yet be true cressida o heavens be true again troilus hear why i speak it love the grecian youths are full of quality theyre loving well composd with gifts of nature flowing and swelling oer 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 afeard cressida o heavens you love me not troilus 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 cressida do you think i will troilus 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 aeneas within nay good my lord troilus come kiss and let us part paris within brother troilus troilus good brother come you hither and bring aeneas and the grecian with you cressida my lord will you be true troilus who i alas it is my vice my fault whiles 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 theres all the reach of it enter aeneas paris antenor deiphobus and diomedes welcome sir diomed here is the lady which for antenor we deliver you at the port lord ill give her to thy hand and by the way possess thee what she is entreat her fair and by my soul fair greek if eer thou stand at mercy of my sword name cressid and thy life shall be as safe as priam is in ilion diomedes 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 troilus 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 oer thy praises as thou unworthy to be calld 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 ill cut thy throat diomedes o be not movd prince troilus let me be privilegd by my place and message to be a speaker free when i am hence ill answer to my lust and know you lord ill nothing do on charge to her own worth she shall be prizd but that you say bet so i speak it in my spirit and honour no troilus come to the port ill tell thee diomed this brave shall oft make thee to hide thy head lady give me your hand and as we walk to our own selves bend we our needful talk exeunt troilus cressida and diomedes sound trumpet paris hark hectors trumpet aeneas how have we spent this morning the prince must think me tardy and remiss that swore to ride before him to the field paris tis troilus fault come come to field with him deiphobus let us make ready straight aeneas yea with a bridegrooms fresh alacrity let us address to tend on hectors heels the glory of our troy doth this day lie on his fair worth and single chivalry exeunt scene v the grecian camp lists set out enter ajax armed agamemnon achilles patroclus menelaus ulysses nestor and others agamemnon 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 ajax thou trumpet theres my purse now crack thy lungs and split thy brazen pipe blow villain till thy sphered bias cheek out swell the colic of puffd aquilon come stretch thy chest and let thy eyes spout blood thou blowest for hector trumpet sounds ulysses no trumpet answers achilles tis but early days agamemnon is not yond diomed with calchas daughter ulysses 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 enter diomedes and cressida agamemnon is this the lady cressid diomedes even she agamemnon most dearly welcome to the greeks sweet lady nestor our general doth salute you with a kiss ulysses yet is the kindness but particular twere better she were kissd in general nestor and very courtly counsel ill begin so much for nestor achilles ill take that winter from your lips fair lady achilles bids you welcome menelaus i had good argument for kissing once patroclus but thats no argument for kissing now for thus poppd paris in his hardiment and parted thus you and your argument ulysses o deadly gall and theme of all our scorns for which we lose our heads to gild his horns patroclus the first was menelaus kiss this mine patroclus kisses you menelaus o this is trim patroclus paris and i kiss evermore for him menelaus ill have my kiss sir lady by your leave cressida in kissing do you render or receive patroclus both take and give cressida ill make my match to live the kiss you take is better than you give therefore no kiss menelaus ill give you boot ill give you three for one cressida you are an odd man give even or give none menelaus an odd man lady every man is odd cressida no paris is not for you know tis true that you are odd and he is even with you menelaus you fillip me o thhead cressida no ill be sworn ulysses it were no match your nail against his horn may i sweet lady beg a kiss of you cressida you may ulysses i do desire it cressida why beg then ulysses why then for venus sake give me a kiss when helen is a maid again and his cressida i am your debtor claim it when tis due ulysses nevers my day and then a kiss of you diomedes lady a word ill bring you to your father exit with cressida nestor a woman of quick sense ulysses fie fie upon her theres 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 trumpet within all the trojans trumpet agamemnon yonder comes the troop enter hector armed aeneas troilus paris deiphobus and other trojans with attendants aeneas 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 agamemnon which way would hector have it aeneas he cares not hell obey conditions agamemnon tis done like hector achilles but securely done a little proudly and great deal misprising the knight opposd aeneas if not achilles sir what is your name achilles if not achilles nothing aeneas therefore achilles but whateer 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 hectors 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 achilles a maiden battle then o i perceive you re enter diomedes agamemnon here is sir diomed go gentle knight stand by our ajax as you and lord aeneas 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 ajax and hector enter the lists ulysses they are opposd already agamemnon what trojan is that same that looks so heavy ulysses 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 provokd nor being provokd soon calmd his heart and hand both open and both free for what he has he gives what thinks he shows yet gives he not till judgement 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 aeneas one that knows the youth even to his inches and with private soul did in great ilion thus translate him to me alarum hector and ajax fight agamemnon they are in action nestor now ajax hold thine own troilus hector thou sleepst awake thee agamemnon his blows are well disposd there ajax trumpets cease diomedes you must no more aeneas princes enough so please you ajax i am not warm yet let us fight again diomedes as hector pleases hector why then will i no more thou art great lord my fathers sisters son a cousin german to great priams 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 mothers blood runs on the dexter cheek and this sinister bounds in my fathers 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 borrowdst from thy mother my sacred aunt should by my mortal sword be drained 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 ajax 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 hector not neoptolemus so mirable on whose bright crest fame with her loudst oyes cries this is he could promise to himself a thought of added honour torn from hector aeneas there is expectance here from both the sides what further you will do hector well answer it the issue is embracement ajax farewell ajax if i might in entreaties find success as seld i have the chance i would desire my famous cousin to our grecian tents diomedes tis agamemnons wish and great achilles doth long to see unarmd the valiant hector hector aeneas 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 agamemnon and the rest of the greeks come forward ajax great agamemnon comes to meet us here hector the worthiest of them tell me name by name but for achilles my own searching eyes shall find him by his large and portly size agamemnon worthy all arms as welcome as to one that would be rid of such an enemy but thats no welcome understand more clear whats past and whats to come is strewd with husks and formless ruin of oblivion but in this extant moment faith and troth straind purely from all hollow bias drawing bids thee with most divine integrity from heart of very heart great hector welcome hector i thank thee most imperious agamemnon agamemnon to troilus my well famd lord of troy no less to you menelaus let me confirm my princely brothers greeting you brace of warlike brothers welcome hither hector who must we answer aeneas the noble menelaus hector 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 shes well but bade me not commend her to you menelaus name her not now sir shes a deadly theme hector o pardon i offend nestor 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 advanced sword i thair not letting it decline on the declined 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 shrapd thee in like an olympian wrestling this have i seen but this thy countenance still lockd 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 o let an old man embrace thee and worthy warrior welcome to our tents aeneas tis the old nestor hector let me embrace thee good old chronicle that hast so long walkd hand in hand with time most reverend nestor i am glad to clasp thee nestor i would my arms could match thee in contention as they contend with thee in courtesy hector i would they could nestor ha by this white beard id fight with thee tomorrow well welcome welcome i have seen the time ulysses i wonder now how yonder city stands when we have here her base and pillar by us hector i know your favour lord ulysses well ah sir theres many a greek and trojan dead since first i saw yourself and diomed in ilion on your greekish embassy ulysses sir i foretold you then what would ensue my prophecy is but half his journey yet for yonder walls that pertly front your town yon towers whose wanton tops do buss the clouds must kiss their own feet hector 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 ulysses 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 achilles i shall forestall thee lord ulysses thou now hector i have fed mine eyes on thee i have with exact view perusd thee hector and quoted joint by joint hector is this achilles achilles i am achilles hector stand fair i pray thee let me look on thee achilles behold thy fill hector nay i have done already achilles thou art too brief i will the second time as i would buy thee view thee limb by limb hector o like a book of sport thoult read me oer but theres more in me than thou understandst why dost thou so oppress me with thine eye achilles 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 hectors great spirit flew answer me heavens hector it would discredit the blest gods proud man to answer such a question stand again thinkst thou to catch my life so pleasantly as to prenominate in nice conjecture where thou wilt hit me dead achilles i tell thee yea hector wert thou an oracle to tell me so id not believe thee henceforth guard thee well for ill not kill thee there nor there nor there but by the forge that stithied mars his helm ill kill thee everywhere yea oer and oer you wisest grecians pardon me this brag his insolence draws folly from my lips but ill endeavour deeds to match these words or may i never ajax do not chafe thee cousin and you achilles let these threats alone till accident or purpose bring you tot 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 hector i pray you let us see you in the field we have had pelting wars since you refusd the grecians cause achilles dost thou entreat me hector tomorrow do i meet thee fell as death tonight all friends hector thy hand upon that match agamemnon first all you peers of greece go to my tent there in the full convive we afterwards as hectors leisure and your bounties shall concur together severally entreat him beat loud the tambourines let the trumpets blow that this great soldier may his welcome know exeunt all but troilus and ulysses troilus my lord ulysses tell me i beseech you in what place of the field doth calchas keep ulysses at menelaus tent most princely troilus there diomed doth feast with him tonight who neither looks upon the heaven nor earth but gives all gaze and bent of amorous view on the fair cressid troilus shall i sweet lord be bound to you so much after we part from agamemnons tent to bring me thither ulysses 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 troilus o sir to such as boasting show their scars a mock is due will you walk on my lord she was belovd she lovd she is and doth but still sweet love is food for fortunes tooth exeunt act v scene i the grecian camp before the tent of achilles enter achilles and patroclus achilles ill heat his blood with greekish wine tonight which with my scimitar ill cool tomorrow patroclus let us feast him to the height patroclus here comes thersites enter thersites achilles how now thou core of envy thou crusty batch of nature whats the news thersites why thou picture of what thou seemest and idol of idiot worshippers heres a letter for thee achilles from whence fragment thersites why thou full dish of fool from troy patroclus who keeps the tent now thersites the surgeons box or the patients wound patroclus well said adversity and what needs these tricks thersites prithee be silent boy i profit not by thy talk thou art said to be achilles male varlet patroclus male varlet you rogue whats that thersites why his masculine whore now the rotten diseases of the south the guts griping ruptures catarrhs loads o gravel in the back lethargies cold palsies raw eyes dirt rotten livers wheezing lungs bladders full of imposthume sciaticas lime kilns i th palm incurable bone ache and the rivelled fee simple of the tetter take and take again such preposterous discoveries patroclus why thou damnable box of envy thou what meanest thou to curse thus thersites do i curse thee patroclus why no you ruinous butt you whoreson indistinguishable cur no thersites 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 prodigals purse thou ah how the poor world is pestered with such water flies diminutives of nature patroclus out gall thersites finch egg achilles my sweet patroclus i am thwarted quite from my great purpose in tomorrows 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 ill obey come come thersites help to trim my tent this night in banqueting must all be spent away patroclus exit with patroclus thersites 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 ill be a curer of madmen heres 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 at his brothers 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 fitchook 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 sprites and fires enter hector troilus ajax agamemnon ulysses nestor menelaus and diomedes with lights agamemnon we go wrong we go wrong ajax no yonder tis there where we see the lights hector i trouble you ajax no not a whit ulysses here comes himself to guide you re enter achilles achilles welcome brave hector welcome princes all agamemnon so now fair prince of troy i bid good night ajax commands the guard to tend on you hector thanks and good night to the greeks general menelaus good night my lord hector good night sweet lord menelaus thersites sweet draught sweet quoth a sweet sink sweet sewer achilles good night and welcome both at once to those that go or tarry agamemnon good night exeunt agamemnon and menelaus achilles old nestor tarries and you too diomed keep hector company an hour or two diomedes i cannot lord i have important business the tide whereof is now good night great hector hector give me your hand ulysses aside to troilus follow his torch he goes to calchas tent ill keep you company troilus sweet sir you honour me hector and so good night exit diomedes ulysses and troilus following achilles come come enter my tent exeunt all but thersites thersites that same diomeds 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 ill after nothing but lechery all incontinent varlets exit scene ii the grecian camp before calchas tent enter diomedes diomedes what are you up here ho speak calchas within who calls diomedes diomed calchas i think wheres your daughter calchas within she comes to you enter troilus and ulysses at a distance after them thersites ulysses stand where the torch may not discover us enter cressida troilus cressid comes forth to him diomedes how now my charge cressida now my sweet guardian hark a word with you whispers troilus yea so familiar ulysses she will sing any man at first sight thersites and any man may sing her if he can take her cliff shes noted diomedes will you remember cressida remember yes diomedes nay but do then and let your mind be coupled with your words troilus what should she remember ulysses list cressida sweet honey greek tempt me no more to folly thersites roguery diomedes nay then cressida ill tell you what diomedes fo fo come tell a pin you are a forsworn cressida in faith i cannot what would you have me do thersites a juggling trick to be secretly open diomedes what did you swear you would bestow on me cressida i prithee do not hold me to mine oath bid me do anything but that sweet greek diomedes good night troilus hold patience ulysses how now trojan cressida diomed diomedes no no good night ill be your fool no more troilus thy better must cressida hark a word in your ear troilus o plague and madness ulysses you are moved prince let us depart i pray lest your displeasure should enlarge itself to wrathful terms this place is dangerous the time right deadly i beseech you go troilus behold i pray you ulysses nay good my lord go off you flow to great distraction come my lord troilus i pray thee stay ulysses you have not patience come troilus i pray you stay by hell and all hells torments i will not speak a word diomedes and so good night cressida nay but you part in anger troilus doth that grieve thee o withered truth ulysses how now my lord troilus by jove i will be patient cressida guardian why greek diomedes fo fo adieu you palter cressida in faith i do not come hither once again ulysses you shake my lord at something will you go you will break out troilus she strokes his cheek ulysses come come troilus 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 thersites how the devil luxury with his fat rump and potato finger tickles these together fry lechery fry diomedes but will you then cressida in faith i will la never trust me else diomedes give me some token for the surety of it cressida ill fetch you one exit ulysses you have sworn patience troilus fear me not my lord i will not be myself nor have cognition of what i feel i am all patience re enter cressida thersites now the pledge now now now cressida here diomed keep this sleeve troilus o beauty where is thy faith ulysses my lord troilus i will be patient outwardly i will cressida you look upon that sleeve behold it well he lovd me o false wench givet me again diomedes whose wast cressida it is no matter now i havet again i will not meet with you tomorrow night i prithee diomed visit me no more thersites now she sharpens well said whetstone diomedes i shall have it cressida what this diomedes ay that cressida o all you gods o pretty pretty pledge thy master now lies thinking on his bed of thee and me and sighs and takes my glove and gives memorial dainty kisses to it as i kiss thee nay do not snatch it from me he that takes that doth take my heart withal diomedes i had your heart before this follows it troilus i did swear patience cressida you shall not have it diomed faith you shall not ill give you something else diomedes i will have this whose was it cressida it is no matter diomedes come tell me whose it was cressida twas ones that lovd me better than you will but now you have it take it diomedes whose was it cressida by all dianas waiting women yond and by herself i will not tell you whose diomedes tomorrow will i wear it on my helm and grieve his spirit that dares not challenge it troilus wert thou the devil and worst it on thy horn it should be challengd cressida well well tis done tis past and yet it is not i will not keep my word diomedes why then farewell thou never shalt mock diomed again cressida you shall not go one cannot speak a word but it straight starts you diomedes i do not like this fooling thersites nor i by pluto but that that likes not you pleases me best diomedes what shall i come the hour cressida ay come o jove do come i shall be plagud diomedes farewell till then cressida good night i prithee come exit diomedes 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 swayd by eyes are full of turpitude exit thersites a proof of strength she could not publish more unless she said my mind is now turnd whore ulysses alls done my lord troilus it is ulysses why stay we then troilus 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 thattest of eyes and ears as if those organs had deceptious functions created only to calumniate was cressid here ulysses i cannot conjure trojan troilus she was not sure ulysses most sure she was troilus why my negation hath no taste of madness ulysses nor mine my lord cressid was here but now troilus let it not be believd 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 cressids rule rather think this not cressid ulysses what hath she done prince that can soil our mothers troilus nothing at all unless that this were she thersites will he swagger himself out ons own eyes troilus this she no this is diomeds cressida if beauty have a soul this is not she if souls guide vows if vows be sanctimonies if sanctimony be the gods delight if there be rule in unity itself this was 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 ariachnes broken woof to enter instance o instance strong as plutos gates cressid is mine tied with the bonds of heaven instance o instance strong as heaven itself the bonds of heaven are slippd dissolvd and loosd and with another knot five finger tied the fractions of her faith orts of her love the fragments scraps the bits and greasy relics of her oer eaten faith are given to diomed ulysses may worthy troilus be half attachd with that which here his passion doth express troilus ay greek and that shall be divulged well in characters as red as mars his heart inflamd with venus never did young man fancy with so eternal and so fixd a soul hark greek as much as i do cressid love so much by weight hate i her diomed that sleeve is mine that hell bear on his helm were it a casque composd by vulcans skill my sword should bite it not the dreadful spout which shipmen do the hurricano call constringd in mass by the almighty sun shall dizzy with more clamour neptunes ear in his descent than shall my prompted sword falling on diomed thersites hell tickle it for his concupy troilus o cressid o false cressid false false false let all untruths stand by thy stained name and theyll seem glorious ulysses o contain yourself your passion draws ears hither enter aeneas aeneas 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 troilus have with you prince my courteous lord adieu fairwell revolted fair and diomed stand fast and wear a castle on thy head ulysses ill bring you to the gates troilus accept distracted thanks exeunt troilus aeneas and ulysses thersites would i could meet that rogue diomed i would croak like a raven i would bode i would bode patroclus will give me anything 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 exit scene iii troy before priams palace enter hector and andromache andromache when was my lord so much ungently temperd to stop his ears against admonishment unarm unarm and do not fight today hector you train me to offend you get you in by all the everlasting gods ill go andromache my dreams will sure prove ominous to the day hector no more i say enter cassandra cassandra where is my brother hector andromache here sister armd and bloody in intent consort with me in loud and dear petition pursue we him on knees for i have dreamt of bloody turbulence and this whole night hath nothing been but shapes and forms of slaughter cassandra o tis true hector ho bid my trumpet sound cassandra no notes of sally for the heavens sweet brother hector be gone i say the gods have heard me swear cassandra the gods are deaf to hot and peevish vows they are polluted offrings more abhorrd than spotted livers in the sacrifice andromache 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 cassandra it is the purpose that makes strong the vow but vows to every purpose must not hold unarm sweet hector 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 enter troilus how now young man meanst thou to fight today andromache cassandra call my father to persuade exit cassandra hector no faith young troilus doff thy harness youth i am today i thvein 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 ill stand today for thee and me and troy troilus brother you have a vice of mercy in you which better fits a lion than a man hector what vice is that good troilus chide me for it troilus when many times the captive grecian falls even in the fan and wind of your fair sword you bid them rise and live hector o tis fair play troilus fools play by heaven hector hector how now how now troilus for th love of all the gods lets leave the hermit pity with our mother and when we have our armours buckled on the venomd vengeance ride upon our swords spur them to ruthful work rein them from ruth hector fie savage fie troilus hector then tis wars hector troilus i would not have you fight today troilus 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 oer galled with recourse of tears nor you my brother with your true sword drawn opposd to hinder me should stop my way but by my ruin re enter cassandra with priam cassandra 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 priam come hector come go back thy wife hath dreamt 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 hector aeneas is a field and i do stand engagd to many greeks even in the faith of valour to appear this morning to them priam ay but thou shalt not go hector 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 cassandra o priam yield not to him andromache do not dear father hector andromache i am offended with you upon the love you bear me get you in exit andromache troilus this foolish dreaming superstitious girl makes all these bodements cassandra 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 antics one another meet and all cry hector hectors dead o hector troilus away away cassandra farewell yet soft hector i take my leave thou dost thyself and all our troy deceive exit hector you are amazd my liege at her exclaim go in and cheer the town well forth and fight do deeds worth praise and tell you them at night priam farewell the gods with safety stand about thee exeunt severally priam and hector alarums troilus they are at it hark proud diomed believe i come to lose my arm or win my sleeve enter pandarus pandarus do you hear my lord do you hear troilus what now pandarus heres a letter come from yond poor girl troilus let me read pandarus 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 cursd i cannot tell what to think ont what says she there troilus words words mere words no matter from the heart theffect doth operate another way tearing the letter go wind to wind there turn and change together my love with words and errors still she feeds but edifies another with her deeds exeunt severally scene iv the plain between troy and the grecian camp alarums excursions enter thersites thersites now they are clapper clawing one another ill go look on that dissembling abominable varlet diomed has got that same scurvy doting foolish young knaves 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 of a sleeve less 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 provd 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 today whereupon the grecians begin to proclaim barbarism and policy grows into an ill opinion enter diomedes troilus following soft here comes sleeve and tother troilus fly not for shouldst thou take the river styx i would swim after diomedes thou dost miscall retire i do not fly but advantageous care withdrew me from the odds of multitude have at thee thersites hold thy whore grecian now for thy whore trojan now the sleeve now the sleeve exeunt troilus and diomedes fighting enter hector hector what art thou greek art thou for hectors match art thou of blood and honour thersites no no i am a rascal a scurvy railing knave a very filthy rogue hector i do believe thee live exit thersites god a mercy that thou wilt believe me but a plague break thy neck for frighting me whats 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 ill seek them exit scene v another part of the plain enter diomedes and a servant diomedes 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 chastisd the amorous trojan and am her knight by proof servant i go my lord exit enter agamemnon agamemnon 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 amphimacus and thoas deadly hurt patroclus taen or slain and palamedes sore hurt and bruisd the dreadful sagittary appals our numbers haste we diomed to reinforcement or we perish all enter nestor nestor go bear patroclus body to achilles and bid the snail pacd 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 hes 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 mowers 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 calld impossibility enter ulysses ulysses o courage courage courage princes great achilles is arming weeping cursing vowing vengeance patroclus wounds have rousd his drowsy blood together with his mangled myrmidons that noseless handless hackd and chippd come to him crying on hector ajax hath lost a friend and foams at mouth and he is armd and at it roaring for troilus who hath done today mad and fantastic execution engaging and redeeming of himself with such a careless force and forceless care as if that lust in very spite of cunning bade him win all enter ajax ajax troilus thou coward troilus exit diomedes ay there there nestor so so we draw together exit enter achilles achilles where is this hector come come thou boy queller show thy face know what it is to meet achilles angry hector wheres hector i will none but hector exeunt scene vi another part of the plain enter ajax ajax troilus thou coward troilus show thy head enter diomedes diomedes troilus i say wheres troilus ajax what wouldst thou diomedes i would correct him ajax were i the general thou shouldst have my office ere that correction troilus i say what troilus enter troilus troilus o traitor diomed turn thy false face thou traitor and pay thy life thou owest me for my horse diomedes ha art thou there ajax ill fight with him alone stand diomed diomedes he is my prize i will not look upon troilus come both you cogging greeks have at you both exeunt fighting enter hector hector yea troilus o well fought my youngest brother enter achilles achilles now do i see thee ha have at thee hector hector pause if thou wilt achilles 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 exit hector fare thee well i would have been much more a fresher man had i expected thee re enter troilus how now my brother troilus ajax hath taen aeneas shall it be no by the flame of yonder glorious heaven he shall not carry him ill be taen too or bring him off fate hear me what i say i reck not though thou end my life today exit enter one in armour hector stand stand thou greek thou art a goodly mark no wilt thou not i like thy armour well ill frush it and unlock the rivets all but ill be master of it wilt thou not beast abide why then fly on ill hunt thee for thy hide exeunt scene vii another part of the plain enter achilles with myrmidons achilles 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 arms follow me sirs and my proceedings eye it is decreed hector the great must die exeunt enter menelaus and paris fighting then thersites thersites the cuckold and the cuckold maker are at it now bull now dog loo paris loo now my double hend spartan loo paris loo the bull has the game ware horns ho exeunt paris and menelaus enter margarelon margarelon turn slave and fight thersites what art thou margarelon a bastard son of priams thersites i am a bastard too i love bastards i am a bastard begot bastard instructed bastard in mind bastard in valour in everything illegitimate one bear will not bite another and wherefore should one bastard take heed the quarrels most ominous to us if the son of a whore fight for a whore he tempts judgement farewell bastard exit margarelon the devil take thee coward exit scene viii another part of the plain enter hector hector most putrified core so fair without thy goodly armour thus hath cost thy life now is my days work done ill take my breath rest sword thou hast thy fill of blood and death disarms enter achilles and myrmidons achilles look hector how the sun begins to set how ugly night comes breathing at his heels even with the vail and darkning of the sun to close the day up hectors life is done hector i am unarmd forego this vantage greek achilles strike fellows strike this is the man i seek hector falls 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 a retreat sounded hark a retire upon our grecian part myrmidon the trojan trumpets sound the like my lord achilles the dragon wing of night oerspreads the earth and stickler like the armies separates my half suppd sword that frankly would have fed pleasd with this dainty bait thus goes to bed sheathes his sword come tie his body to my horses tail along the field i will the trojan trail exeunt scene ix another part of the plain sound retreat shout enter agamemnon ajax menelaus nestor diomedes and the rest marching agamemnon hark hark what shout is this nestor peace drums soldiers within achilles achilles hectors slain achilles diomedes the bruit is hectors slain and by achilles ajax if it be so yet bragless let it be great hector was as good a man as he agamemnon 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 exeunt scene x another part of the plain enter aeneas paris antenor and deiphobus aeneas stand ho yet are we masters of the field never go home here starve we out the night enter troilus troilus hector is slain all hector the gods forbid troilus hes dead and at the murderers horses tail in beastly sort draggd 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 aeneas my lord you do discomfort all the host troilus 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 calld go in to troy and say there hectors 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 ill through and through you and thou great sizd coward no space of earth shall sunder our two hates ill haunt thee like a wicked conscience still that mouldeth goblins swift as frenzys thoughts strike a free march to troy with comfort go hope of revenge shall hide our inward woe enter pandarus pandarus but hear you hear you troilus hence broker lackey ignominy and shame pursue thy life and live aye with thy name exeunt all but pandarus pandarus a goodly medicine for my aching bones o world world thus is the poor agent despisd o traitors and bawds how earnestly are you set a work and how ill requited why should our endeavour be so lovd 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 subdud in armed trail sweet honey and sweet notes together fail good traders in the flesh set this in your painted cloths as many as be here of pandars hall your eyes half out weep out at pandars 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 ill sweat and seek about for eases and at that time bequeath you my diseases exit twelfth night or what you will dramatis personae orsino duke of illyria sebastian brother of viola antonio a sea captain friend of sebastian a sea captain friend of viola valentine gentleman attending on the duke curio gentleman attending on the duke sir toby belch uncle of olivia sir andrew aguecheek malvolio steward to olivia fabian servant to olivia feste a clown servant to olivia olivia a rich countess viola sister of sebastian maria olivias waiting woman lords priests sailors officers musicians and attendants scene a city in illyria and the sea coast near it act i scene i the dukes palace enter orsino duke of illyria curio and other lords musicians attending duke 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 oer 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 soeer but falls into abatement and low price even in a minute so full of shapes is fancy that it alone is high fantastical curio will you go hunt my lord duke what curio curio the hart duke why so i do the noblest that i have o when mine eyes did see olivia first methought she purgd the air of pestilence that instant was i turnd into a hart and my desires like fell and cruel hounds eer since pursue me enter valentine how now what news from her valentine 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 eye offending brine all this to season a brothers dead love which she would keep fresh and lasting in her sad remembrance duke 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 killd the flock of all affections else that live in her when liver brain and heart these sovereign thrones are all supplied and filld her sweet perfections with one self king away before me to sweet beds of flowrs love thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowrs exeunt scene ii the sea coast enter viola a captain and sailors viola what country friends is this captain this is illyria lady viola and what should i do in illyria my brother he is in elysium perchance he is not drownd what think you sailors captain it is perchance that you yourself were saved viola o my poor brother and so perchance may he be captain true madam and to comfort you with chance assure yourself after our ship did split when you and those poor number saved 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 livd upon the sea where like arion on the dolphins back i saw him hold acquaintance with the waves so long as i could see viola for saying so theres gold mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope whereto thy speech serves for authority the like of him knowst thou this country captain ay madam well for i was bred and born not three hours travel from this very place viola who governs here captain a noble duke in nature as in name viola what is his name captain orsino viola orsino i have heard my father name him he was a bachelor then captain 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 viola whats she captain 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 abjurd the company and sight of men viola o that i servd that lady and might not be delivered to the world till i had made mine own occasion mellow what my estate is captain that were hard to compass because she will admit no kind of suit no not the dukes viola 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 ill pay thee bounteously conceal me what i am and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent ill serve this duke thou shalt present me as an 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 silence to my wit captain be you his eunuch and your mute ill be when my tongue blabs then let mine eyes not see viola i thank thee lead me on exeunt scene iii olivias house enter sir toby belch and maria sir toby what a plague means my niece to take the death of her brother thus i am sure cares an enemy to life maria by my troth sir toby you must come in earlier o nights your cousin my lady takes great exceptions to your ill hours sir toby why let her except before excepted maria ay but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order sir toby confine ill 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 maria 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 sir toby who sir andrew aguecheek maria ay he sir toby hes as tall a man as anys in illyria maria whats that to th purpose sir toby why he has three thousand ducats a year maria ay but hell have but a year in all these ducats hes a very fool and a prodigal sir toby fie that youll say so he plays o th viol de gamboys and speaks three or four languages word for word without book and hath all the good gifts of nature maria he hath indeed almost natural for besides that hes a fool hes 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 sir toby by this hand they are scoundrels and subtractors that say so of him who are they maria they that add moreover hes drunk nightly in your company sir toby with drinking healths to my niece ill drink to her as long as there is a passage in my throat and drink in illyria hes a coward and a coystrill that will not drink to my niece till his brains turn o th toe like a parish top what wench castiliano vulgo for here comes sir andrew agueface enter sir andrew aguecheek aguecheek sir toby belch how now sir toby belch sir toby sweet sir andrew aguecheek bless you fair shrew maria and you too sir sir toby accost sir andrew accost aguecheek whats that sir toby my nieces chambermaid aguecheek good mistress accost i desire better acquaintance maria my name is mary sir aguecheek good mistress mary accost sir toby you mistake knight accost is front her board her woo her assail her aguecheek by my troth i would not undertake her in this company is that the meaning of accost maria fare you well gentlemen sir toby an thou let part so sir andrew would thou mightst never draw sword again aguecheek an you part so mistress i would i might never draw sword again fair lady do you think you have fools in hand maria sir i have not you by th hand aguecheek marry but you shall have and heres my hand maria now sir thought is free i pray you bring your hand to th buttry bar and let it drink aguecheek wherefore sweetheart whats your metaphor maria its dry sir aguecheek why i think so i am not such an ass but i can keep my hand dry but whats your jest maria a dry jest sir aguecheek are you full of them maria ay sir i have them at my fingers ends marry now i let go your hand i am barren exit maria sir toby o knight thou lackst a cup of canary when did i see thee so put down aguecheek 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 great eater of beef and i believe that does harm to my wit sir toby no question aguecheek an i thought that id forswear it ill ride home to morrow sir toby sir toby pourquoi my dear knight aguecheek 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 oh had i but followed the arts sir toby then hadst thou had an excellent head of hair aguecheek why would that have mended my hair sir toby past question for thou seest it will not curl by nature aguecheek but it becomes me well enough doest not sir toby excellent it hangs like flax on a distaff and i hope to see a huswife take thee between her legs and spin it off aguecheek faith ill home to morrow sir toby your niece will not be seen or if she be its four to one shell none of me the count himself here hard by woos her sir toby shell none o th count shell not match above her degree neither in estate years nor wit i have heard her sweart tut theres life int man aguecheek ill stay a month longer i am a fellow o th strangest mind i th world i delight in masques and revels sometimes altogether sir toby art thou good at these kickshawses knight aguecheek as any man in illyria whatsoever he be under the degree of my betters and yet i will not compare with an old man sir toby what is thy excellence in a galliard knight aguecheek faith i can cut a caper sir toby and i can cut the mutton tot aguecheek and i think i have the back trick simply as strong as any man in illyria sir toby wherefore are these things hid wherefore have these gifts a curtain before em are they like to take dust like mistress malls 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 formd under the star of a galliard aguecheek ay tis strong and it does indifferent well in flame colourd stock shall we set about some revels sir toby what shall we do else were we not born under taurus aguecheek taurus thats sides and heart sir toby no sir it is legs and thighs let me see the caper ha higher ha ha excellent exeunt scene iv the dukes palace enter valentine and viola in mans attire valentine if the duke continue these favours towards you cesario you are like to be much advancd he hath known you but three days and already you are no stranger viola 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 valentine no believe me enter duke curio and attendants viola i thank you here comes the count duke who saw cesario ho viola on your attendance my lord here duke stand you awhile aloof cesario thou knowst no less but all i have unclaspd 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 viola sure my noble lord if she be so abandond to her sorrow as it is spoke she never will admit me duke be clamorous and leap all civil bounds rather than make unprofited return viola say i do speak with her my lord what then duke 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 nuncios of more grave aspect viola i think not so my lord duke dear lad believe it for they shall yet belie thy happy years that say thou art a man dianas lip is not more smooth and rubious thy small pipe is as the maidens organ shrill and sound and all is semblative a womans 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 viola ill do my best to woo your lady aside yet a barful strife whoeer i woo myself would be his wife scene v olivias house enter maria and clown maria 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 clown let her hang me he that is well hangd in this world needs to fear no colours maria make that good clown he shall see none to fear maria a good lenten answer i can tell thee where that saying was born of i fear no colours clown where good mistress mary maria in the wars and that may you be bold to say in your foolery clown well god give them wisdom that have it and those that are fools let them use their talents maria yet you will be hangd for being so long absent or to be turnd away is not that as good as a hanging to you clown many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage and for turning away let summer bear it out maria you are resolute then clown not so neither but i am resolvd on two points maria that if one break the other will hold or if both break your gaskins fall clown apt in good faith very apt well go thy way if sir toby would leave drinking thou wert as witty a piece of eves flesh as any in illyria maria peace you rogue no more o that here comes my lady make your excuse wisely you were best exit enter olivia and malvolio clown wit ant 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 olivia take the fool away clown do you not hear fellows take away the lady olivia go to yare a dry fool ill no more of you besides you grow dishonest clown 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 anything thats mended is but patchd virtue that transgresses is but patchd with sin and sin that amends is but patchd 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 beautys a flower the lady bade take away the fool therefore i say again take her away olivia sir i bade them take away you clown misprision in the highest degree lady cucullus non facit monachum thats as much to say as i wear not motley in my brain good madonna give me leave to prove you a fool olivia can you do it clown dexteriously good madonna olivia make your proof clown i must catechize you for it madonna good my mouse of virtue answer me olivia well sir for want of other idleness ill bide your proof clown good madonna why mournst thou olivia good fool for my brothers death clown i think his soul is in hell madonna olivia i know his soul is in heaven fool clown the more fool madonna to mourn for your brothers soul being in heaven take away the fool gentlemen olivia what think you of this fool malvolio doth he not mend malvolio yes and shall do till the pangs of death shake him infirmity that decays the wise doth ever make the better fool clown 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 twopence that you are no fool olivia how say you to that malvolio 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 hes out of his guard already unless you laugh and minister occasion to him he is gaggd i protest i take these wise men that crow so at these set kind of fools no better than the fools zanies olivia o you are sick of self love malvolio and taste with a distemperd 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 allowd fool though he do nothing but rail nor no railing in known discreet man though he do nothing but reprove clown now mercury endue thee with leasing for thou speakst well of fools re enter maria maria madam there is at the gate a young gentleman much desires to speak with you olivia from the count orsino is it maria i know not madam tis a fair young man and well attended olivia who of my people hold him in delay maria sir toby madam your kinsman olivia fetch him off i pray you he speaks nothing but madman fie on him exit maria go you malvolio if it be a suit from the count i am sick or not at home what you will to dismiss it exit malvolio now you see sir how your fooling grows old and people dislike it clown thou hast spoke for us madonna as if thy eldest son should be a fool whose skull jove cram with brains for here he comes one of thy kin has a most weak pia mater enter sir toby olivia by mine honour half drunk what is he at the gate cousin sir toby a gentleman olivia a gentleman what gentleman sir toby tis a gentleman here hiccups a plague o these pickle herring how now sot clown good sir toby olivia cousin cousin how have you come so early by this lethargy sir toby lechery i defy lechery theres one at the gate olivia ay marry what is he sir toby let him be the devil an he will i care not give me faith say i well its all one exit olivia whats a drunken man like fool clown like a drownd man a fool and a madman one draught above heat makes him a fool the second mads him and a third drowns him olivia go thou and seek the crowner and let him sit o my coz for hes in the third degree of drink hes drownd go look after him clown he is but mad yet madonna and the fool shall look to the madman exit re enter malvolio malvolio 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 hes fortified against any denial olivia tell him he shall not speak with me malvolio has been told so and he says hell stand at your door like a sheriffs post and be the supporter to a bench but hell speak with you olivia what kind o man is he malvolio why of mankind olivia what manner of man malvolio of very ill manner hell speak with you will you or no olivia of what personage and years is he malvolio 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 favourd and he speaks very shrewishly one would think his mothers milk were scarce out of him olivia let him approach call in my gentlewoman malvolio gentlewoman my lady calls exit re enter maria olivia give me my veil come throw it oer my face well once more hear orsinos embassy enter viola viola the honourable lady of the house which is she olivia speak to me i shall answer for her your will viola 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 pennd 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 olivia whence came you sir viola i can say little more than i have studied and that questions 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 olivia are you a comedian viola 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 olivia if i do not usurp myself i am viola 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 olivia come to what is important int i forgive you the praise viola alas i took great pains to study it and tis poetical olivia it is the more like to be feigned i pray you keep it in i heard you were saucy at my gates and allowd 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 dialogue maria will you hoist sail sir here lies your way viola no good swabber i am to hull here a little longer some mollification for your giant sweet lady olivia tell me your mind viola i am a messenger olivia sure you have some hideous matter to deliver when the courtesy of it is so fearful speak your office viola 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 olivia yet you began rudely what are you what would you viola the rudeness that hath appeard in me have i learnd from my entertainment what i am and what i would are as secret as maidenhead to your cars divinity to any others profanation olivia give us the place alone we will hear this divinity exeunt maria and attendants now sir what is your text viola most sweet lady olivia a comfortable doctrine and much may be said of it where lies your text viola in orsinos bosom olivia in his bosom in what chapter of his bosom viola to answer by the method in the first of his heart olivia o i have read it it is heresy have you no more to say viola good madam let me see your face olivia 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 unveiling look you sir such a one i was this present ist not well done viola excellently done if god did all olivia tis in grain sir twill endure wind and weather viola tis beauty truly blent whose red and white natures own sweet and cunning hand laid on lady you are the cruellst she alive if you will lead these graces to the grave and leave the world no copy olivia 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 labelld 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 viola 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 recompensd though you were crownd the nonpareil of beauty olivia how does he love me viola with adorations fertile tears with groans that thunder love with sighs of fire olivia 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 divulgd free learnd 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 viola if i did love you in my masters flame with such a suffring such a deadly life in your denial i would find no sense i would not understand it olivia why what would you viola 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 halloo your name to the reverberate hals 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 olivia you might do much what is your parentage viola above my fortunes yet my state is well i am a gentleman olivia 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 viola i am no feed 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 masters be placd in contempt farewell fair cruelty exit olivia what is your parentage above my fortunes yet my state is well i am a gentleman ill 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 youths perfections with an invisible and subtle stealth to creep in at mine eyes well let it be what ho malvolio re enter malvolio malvolio here madam at your service olivia run after that same peevish messenger the countys man he left this ring behind him would i or not tell him ill none of it desire him not to flatter with his lord nor hold him up with hopes i am not for him if that the youth will come this way to morrow ill give him reasons fort hie thee malvolio malvolio madam i will exit olivia 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 exit act ii scene i the sea coast enter antonio and sebastian antonio will you stay no longer nor will you not that i go with you sebastian 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 antonio let me know of you whither you are bound sebastian 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 calld 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 pleasd would we had so ended but you sir alterd that for some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drownd antonio alas the day sebastian 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 mind that envy could not but call fair she is drownd already sir with salt water though i seem to drown her remembrance again with more antonio pardon me sir your bad entertainment sebastian o good antonio forgive me your trouble antonio if you will not murder me for my love let me be your servant sebastian if you will not undo what you have done that is kill him whom you have recoverd 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 orsinos court farewell exit antonio the gentleness of all the gods go with thee i have many cnemies in orsinos 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 exit scene ii a street enter viola and malvolio at several doors malvolio were you not evn now with the countess olivia viola even now sir on a moderate pace i have since arrivd but hither malvolio 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 lords taking of this receive it so viola she took the ring of me ill none of it malvolio come sir you peevishly threw it to her and her will is it should be so returnd if it be worth stooping for there it lies in your eye if not be it his that finds it exit viola i left no ring with her what means this lady fortune forbid my outside have not charmd her she made good view of me indeed so much that 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 lords 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 womens 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 masters 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 t untie exit scene iii olivias house enter sir toby and sir andrew sir toby approach sir andrew not to be abed after midnight is to be up betimes and diluculo surgere thou knowst aguecheek nay by my troth i know not but i know to be up late is to be up late sir toby a false conclusion i hate it as an unfilld 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 lives consist of the four elements aguecheek faith so they say but i think it rather consists of eating and drinking sir toby thart a scholar let us therefore eat and drink marian i say a stoup of wine enter clown aguecheek here comes the fool i faith clown how now my hearts did you never see the picture of we three sir toby welcome ass now lets have a catch aguecheek 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 spokst of pigrogromitus of the vapians passing the equinoctial of queubus twas very good i faith i sent thee sixpence for thy leman hadst it clown i did impeticos thy gratillity for malvolios nose is no whipstock my lady has a white hand and the myrmidons are no bottle ale houses aguecheek excellent why this is the best fooling when all is done now a song sir toby come on there is sixpence for you lets have a song aguecheek theres a testril of me too if one knight give a clown would you have a love song or a song of good life sir toby a love song a love song aguecheek ay ay i care not for good life clown sings o mistress mine where are you roaming o stay and hear your true loves coming that can sing both high and low trip no further pretty sweeting journeys end in lovers meeting every wise mans son doth know aguecheek excellent good i faith sir toby good good clown sings what is love tis not hereafter present mirth hath present laughter whats to come is still unsure in delay there lies no plenty then come kiss me sweet and twenty youths a stuff will not endure aguecheek a mellifluous voice as i am true knight sir toby a contagious breath aguecheek very sweet and contagious i faith sir toby 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 aguecheek an you love me lets dot i am dog at a catch clown byr lady sir and some dogs will catch well aguecheek most certain let our catch be thou knave clown hold thy peace thou knave knight i shall be constraind int to call thee knave knight aguecheek tis not the first time i have constrained one to call me knave begin fool it begins hold thy peace clown i shall never begin if i hold my peace aguecheek good i faith come begin catch sung enter maria maria what a caterwauling do you keep here if my lady have not calld up her steward malvolio and bid him turn you out of doors never trust me sir toby my ladys a cataian we are politicians malvolios a peg a ramsey and sings three merry men be we am not i consanguineous am i not of her blood tilly vally lady sings there dwelt a man in babylon lady lady clown beshrew me the knights in admirable fooling aguecheek ay he does well enough if he be disposd and so do i too he does it with a better grace but i do it more natural sir toby sings o the twelfth day of december maria for the love o god peace enter malvolio malvolio 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 ale house of my ladys 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 sir toby we did keep time sir in our catches sneck up malvolio sir toby i must be round with you my lady bade me tell you that though she harbours you as her kins man shes nothing allied to your disorders if you can separate yourself and your misdemeanours you are welcome to the house if not and it would please you to take leave of her she is very willing to bid you farewell sir toby sings farewell dear heart since i must needs be gone maria nay good sir toby clown sings his eyes do show his days are almost done malvolio ist even so sir toby sings but i will never die falls down clown sings sir toby there you lie malvolio this is much credit to you sir toby sings shall i bid him go clown sings what an if you do sir toby sings shall i bid him go and spare not clown sings o no no no no you dare not sir toby rising out o tune sir ye lie art any more than a steward dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale clown yes by saint anne and ginger shall be hot i th mouth too sir toby th art i th right go sir rub your chain with crumbs a stoup of wine maria malvolio mistress mary if you prizd my ladys favour at anything more than contempt you would not give means for this uncivil rule she shall know of it by this hand exit maria go shake your ears aguecheek twere as good a deed as to drink when a mans ahungry to challenge him the field and then to break promise with him and make a fool of him sir toby dot knight ill write thee a challenge or ill deliver thy indignation to him by word of mouth maria sweet sir toby be patient for to night since the youth of the counts 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 sir toby possess us possess us tell us something of him maria marry sir sometimes he is a kind of puritan aguecheek o if i thought that id beat him like a dog sir toby what for being a puritan thy exquisite reason dear knight aguecheek i have no exquisite reason fort but i have reason good enough maria the devil a puritan that he is or anything constantly but a time pleaser an affectiond ass that cons state without book and utters it by great swarths the best persuaded of himself so crammd as he thinks with excellencies that it is his grounds of faith that all that look on him love him and on that vice in him will my revenge find notable cause to work sir toby what wilt thou do maria 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 forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands sir toby excellent i smell a device aguecheek i havet in my nose too sir toby he shall think by the letters that thou wilt drop that they come from my niece and that shes in love with him maria my purpose is indeed a horse of that colour aguecheek and your horse now would make him an ass maria ass i doubt not aguecheek o twill be admirable maria 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 exit sir toby good night penthesilea aguecheek before me shes a good wench sir toby shes a beagle true bred and one that adores me what o that aguecheek i was adord once too sir toby lets to bed knight thou hadst need send for more money aguecheek if i cannot recover your niece i am a foul way out sir toby send for money knight if thou hast her not i th end call me cut aguecheek if i do not never trust me take it how you will sir toby come come ill go burn some sack tis too late to go to bed now come knight come knight exeunt scene iv the dukes palace enter duke viola curio and others duke 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 curio he is not here so please your lordship that should sing it duke who was it curio feste the jester my lord a fool that the lady olivias father took much delight in he is about the house duke seek him out and play the tune the while exit curio music plays 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 belovd how dost thou like this tune viola it gives a very echo to the seat where love is thrond duke thou dost speak masterly my life upont young though thou art thine eye hath stayd upon some favour that it loves hath it not boy viola a little by your favour duke what kind of woman ist viola of your complexion duke she is not worth thee then what years i faith viola about your years my lord duke too old by heaven let still the woman take an elder than herself so wears she to him so sways she level in her husbands heart for boy however we do praise ourselves our fancies are more giddy and unfirm more longing wavering sooner lost and won than womens are viola i think it well my lord duke then let thy love be younger than thyself or thy affection cannot hold the bent for women are as roses whose fair flowr being once displayd doth fall that very hour viola and so they are alas that they are so to die even when they to perfection grow re enter curio and clown duke 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 clown are you ready sir duke ay prithee sing music festes song 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 corpse where my bones shall be thrown a thousand thousand to save lay me o where sad true lover never find my grave to weep there duke theres for thy pains clown no pains sir i take pleasure in singing sir duke ill pay thy pleasure then clown truly sir and pleasure will be paid one time or another duke give me now leave to leave thee clown 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 thats it that always makes a good voyage of nothing farewell exit clown duke let all the rest give place exeunt curio and attendants 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 bestowd 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 viola but if she cannot love you sir duke i cannot be so answerd viola 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 answerd duke there is no womans sides can bide the beating of so strong a passion as love doth give my heart no womans heart so big to hold so much they lack retention alas their love may be calld 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 viola ay but i know duke what dost thou know viola too well what love women to men may owe in faith they are as true of heart as we my father had a daughter lovd a man as it might be perhaps were i a woman i should your lordship duke and whats her history viola a blank my lord she never told her love but let concealment like a worm i th bud feed on her damask cheek she pind 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 duke but died thy sister of her love my boy viola i am all the daughters of my fathers house and all the brothers too and yet i know not sir shall i to this lady duke ay thats the theme to her in haste give her this jewel say my love can give no place bide no denay exeunt scene v olivias garden enter sir toby sir andrew and fabian sir toby come thy ways signior fabian fabian nay ill come if i lose a scruple of this sport let me be boild to death with melancholy sir toby wouldst thou not be glad to have the niggardly rascally sheep biter come by some notable shame fabian i would exult man you know he brought me out o favour with my lady about a bear baiting here sir toby to anger him well have the bear again and we will fool him black and blue shall we not sir andrew aguecheek and we do not it is pity of our lives enter maria sir toby here comes the little villain how now my metal of india maria get ye all three into the box tree malvolios 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 as the men hide she drops a letter lie thou there for here comes the trout that must be caught with tickling exit enter malvolio malvolio 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 any one else that follows her what should i think ont sir toby heres an overweening rogue fabian o peace contemplation makes a rare turkey cock of him how he jets under his advancd plumes aguecheek slight i could so beat the rogue sir toby peace i say malvolio to be count malvolio sir toby ah rogue aguecheek pistol him pistol him sir toby peace peace malvolio there is example fort the lady of the strachy married the yeoman of the wardrobe aguecheek fie on him jezebel fabian o peace now hes deeply in look how imagination blows him malvolio having been three months married to her sitting in my state sir toby o for a stone bow to hit him in the eye malvolio calling my officers about me in my branchd velvet gown having come from a day bed where i have left olivia sleeping sir toby fire and brimstone fabian o peace peace malvolio 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 sir toby bolts and shackles fabian o peace peace peace now now malvolio 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 sir toby shall this fellow live fabian though our silence be drawn from us with cars yet peace malvolio i extend my hand to him thus quenching my familiar smile with an austere regard of control sir toby and does not toby take you a blow o the lips then malvolio saying cousin toby my fortunes having cast me on your niece give me this prerogative of speech sir toby what what malvolio you must amend your drunkenness sir toby out scab fabian nay patience or we break the sinews of our plot malvolio besides you waste the treasure of your time with a foolish knight aguecheek thats me i warrant you malvolio one sir andrew aguecheek i knew twas i for many do call me fool malvolio what employment have we here taking up the letter fabian now is the woodcock near the gin sir toby o peace and the spirit of humours intimate reading aloud to him malvolio by my life this is my ladys hand these be her very cs her us and her ts and thus makes she her great ps it is in contempt of question her hand aguecheek her cs her us and her ts why that malvolio reads to the unknown belovd 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 fabian this wins him liver and all malvolio reads jove knows i love but who lips do not move no man must know no man must know what follows the numbers alterd no man must know if this should be thee malvolio sir toby marry hang thee brock malvolio reads 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 fabian a fustian riddle sir toby excellent wench say i malvolio m o a i doth sway my life nay but first let me see let me see let me see fabian what dish o poison has she dressd him sir toby and with what wing the staniel checks at it malvolio 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 sir toby o ay make up that he is now at a cold scent fabian sowter will cry upont for all this though it be as rank as a fox malvolio m malvolio m why that begins my name fabian did not i say he would work it out the cur is excellent at faults malvolio m but then there is no consonancy in the sequel that suffers under probation a should follow but o does fabian and o shall end i hope sir toby ay or ill cudgel him and make him cry o malvolio and then i comes behind fabian ay an you had any eye behind you you might see more detraction at your heels than fortunes before you malvolio 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 reads 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 em 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 wishd to see thee ever cross garterd i say remember go to thou art made if thou desirst to be so if not let me see thee a steward still the fellow of servants and not worthy to touch fortunes fingers farewell she that would alter services with thee the fortunate unhappy daylight and champain 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 garterd 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 garterd even with the swiftness of putting on jove and my stars be praised here is yet a postscript reads thou canst not choose but know who i am if thou entertainst 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 exit fabian i will not give my part of this sport for a pension of thousands to be paid from the sophy sir toby i could marry this wench for this device aguecheek so could i too sir toby and ask no other dowry with her but such another jest enter maria aguecheek nor i neither fabian here comes my noble gull catcher sir toby wilt thou set thy foot o my neck aguecheek or o mine either sir toby shall i play my freedom at tray trip and become thy bond slave aguecheek i faith or i either sir toby why thou hast put him in such a dream that when the image of it leaves him he must run mad maria nay but say true does it work upon him sir toby like aqua vita with a midwife aiaria 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 garterd 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 sir toby to the gates of tartar thou most excellent devil of wit aguecheek ill make one too exeunt act iii scene i olivias garden enter viola and clown with a tabor viola save thee friend and thy music dost thou live by thy tabor clown no sir i live by the church viola art thou a churchman clown 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 viola 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 clown you have said sir to see this age a sentence is but a chevril glove to a good wit how quickly the wrong side may be turnd outward viola nay thats certain they that dally nicely with words may quickly make them wanton clown i would therefore my sister had had name sir viola why man clown why sir her names a word and to dally with that word might make my sister wanton but indeed words are very rascals since bonds disgracd them viola thy reason man clown troth sir i can yield you none without words and words are grown so false i am loath to prove reason with them viola i warrant thou art a merry fellow and carst for nothing clown 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 viola art not thou the lady olivias fool clown 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 pilchers are to herrings the husbands the bigger i am indeed not her fool but her corrupter of words viola i saw thee late at the count orsinos clown foolery sir does walk about the orb like the sun it shines everywhere i would be sorry sir but the fool should be as oft with your master as with my mistress think i saw your wisdom there viola nay an thou pass upon me ill no more with thee hold theres expenses for thee giving a coin clown now jove in his next commodity of hair send the a beard viola by my troth ill tell thee i am almost sick for one aside though i would not have it grow on my chin is thy lady within clown would not a pair of these have bred sir viola yes being kept together and put to use clown i would play lord pandarus of phrygia sir to bring a cressida to this troilus viola i understand you sir tis well beggd giving another coin clown the matter i hope is not great sir begging but a beggar cressida was a beggar my lady is within sir i will construe 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 exit clown viola this fellow is 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 mans art for folly that he wisely shows is fit but wise men folly falln quite taint their wit enter sir toby and sir andrew sir toby save you gentleman viola and you sir aguecheek dieu vous garde monsieur viola et vous aussi votre serviteur aguecheek i hope sir you are and i am yours sir toby will you encounter the house my niece is desirous you should enter if your trade be to her viola i am bound to your niece sir i mean she is the list of my voyage sir toby taste your legs sir put them to motion viola my legs do better understand me sir than i understand what you mean by bidding me taste my legs sir toby i mean to go sir to enter viola i will answer you with gait and entrance but we are prevented enter olivia and maria most excellent accomplishd lady the heavens rain odours on you aguecheek that youths a rare courtier rain odours well viola my matter hath no voice lady but to your own most pregnant and vouchsafed car aguecheek odours pregnant and vouchsafed ill get em all three all ready olivia let the garden door be shut and leave me to my hearing exeunt all but olivia and viola give me your hand sir viola my duty madam and most humble service olivia what is your name viola cesario is your servants name fair princess olivia my servant sir twas never merry world since lowly feigning was calld compliment yare servant to the count orsino youth viola and he is yours and his must needs be yours your servants servant is your servant madam olivia for him i think not on him for his thoughts would they were blanks rather than filld with me viola madam i come to whet your gentle thoughts on his behalf olivia 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 viola dear lady olivia 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 hides my heart so let me hear you speak viola i pity you olivia thats a degree to love viola no not a grize for tis a vulgar proof that very oft we pity enemies olivia 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 clock strikes 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 viola then westward ho grace and good disposition attend your ladyship youll nothing madam to my lord by me olivia stay i prithee tell me what thou thinkst of me viola that you do think you are not what you are olivia if i think so i think the same of you viola then think you right i am not what i am olivia i would you were as i would have you be viola would it be better madam than i am i wish it might for now i am your fool olivia o what a deal of scorn looks beautiful in the contempt and anger of his lip a murdrous guilt shows not itself more soon than love that would seem hid loves 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 given unsought is better viola 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 masters tears to you deplore olivia yet come again for thou perhaps mayst move that heart which now abhors to like his love exeunt scene ii olivias house enter sir toby sir andrew and fabian aguecheek no faith ill not stay a jot longer sir toby thy reason dear venom give thy reason fabian you must needs yield your reason sir andrew aguecheek marry i saw your niece do more favours to the counts servingman than ever she bestowd upon me i sawt i th orchard sir toby did she see thee the while old boy tell me that aguecheek as plain as i see you now fabian this was a great argument of love in her toward you aguecheek slight will you make an ass o me fabian i will prove it legitimate sir upon the oaths of judgment and reason sir toby and they have been grand jurymen since before noah was a sailor fabian 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 fire new from the mint you should have bangd the youth into dumbness this was lookd for at your hand and this was baulkd the double gilt of this opportunity you let time wash off and you are now saild into the north of my ladys opinion where you will hang like an icicle on dutchmans beard unless you do redeem it by some laudable attempt either of valour or policy aguecheek ant be any way it must be with valour for policy i hate i had as lief be a brownist as a politician sir toby why then build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valour challenge me the counts 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 mans commendation with woman than report of valour fabian there is no way but this sir andrew aguecheek will either of you bear me a challenge to him sir toby 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 license of ink if thou thoust 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 aguecheek where shall i find you sir toby well call thee at the cubiculo go exit sir andrew fabian this is a dear manakin to you sir toby sir toby i have been dear to him lad some two thousand strong or so fabian we shall have a rare letter from him but youll not delivert sir toby 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 opend and you find so much blood in his liver as will clog the foot of a flea ill eat the rest of th anatomy fabian and his opposite the youth bears in his visage no great presage of cruelty enter maria sir toby look where the youngest wren of nine comes maria 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 hes in yellow stockings sir toby and cross garterd maria most villainously like a pedant that keeps a school i th church i have doggd him like his murderer he does obey every point of the letter that i droppd to betray him he does smile his face into more lines than is 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 hell smile and taket for a great favour sir toby come bring us bring us where he is exeunt scene iii a street enter sebastian and antonio sebastian i would not by my will have troubled you but since you make your pleasure of your pains i will no further chide you antonio 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 sebastian my kind antonio i can no other answer make but thanks and thanks and ever thanks and oft good turns are shuffld off with such uncurrent pay but were my worth as is my conscience firm you should find better dealing whats to do shall we go see the reliques of this town antonio to morrow sir best first go see your lodging sebastian 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 antonio would youd 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 taen here it would scarce be answerd sebastian belike you slew great number of his people antonio th 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 answerd in repaying what we took from them which for traffics sake most of our city did only myself stood out for which if i be lapsed in this place i shall pay dear sebastian do not then walk too open antonio it doth not fit me hold sir heres 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 sebastian why i your purse antonio haply your eye shall light upon some toy you have desire to purchase and your store i think is not for idle markets sir sebastian ill be your purse bearer and leave you for an hour antonio to th elephant sebastian i do remember exeunt scene iv olivias garden enter olivia and maria olivia i have sent after him he says hell come how shall i feast him what bestow of him for youth is bought more oft than beggd or borrowd i speak too loud wheres malvolio he is sad and civil and suits well for a servant with my fortunes where is malvolio maria hes coming madam but in very strange manner he is sure possessd madam olivia why whats the matter does he rave maria 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 ins wits olivia go call him hither exit maria i am as mad as he if sad and merry madness equal be re enter maria with malvolio how now malvolio malvolio sweet lady ho ho olivia smilst thou i sent for thee upon a sad occasion malvolio sad lady i could be sad this does make some obstruction in the blood this cross gartering 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 olivia why how dost thou man what is the matter with thee malvolio 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 olivia wilt thou go to bed malvolio malvolio to bed ay sweetheart and ill come to thee olivia god comfort thee why dost thou smile so and kiss thy hand so oft maria how do you malvolio malvolio at your request yes nightingales answer daws maria why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady malvolio be not afraid of greatness twas well writ olivia what meanst thou by that malvolio aialvolio some are born great olivia ha malvolio some achieve greatness olivia what sayst thou malvolio and some have greatness thrust upon them olivia heaven restore thee malvolio remember who commended thy yellow stockings olivia thy yellow stockings malvolio and wishd to see thee cross garterd olivia cross garterd malvolio go to thou an made if thou desirst to be so olivia am i made malvolio if not let me see thee a servant still olivia why this is very midsummer madness enter servant servant madam the young gentleman of the count orsinos is returnd i could hardly entreat him back he attends your ladyships pleasure olivia ill come to him exit servant good maria let this fellow be lookd to wheres 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 exeunt olivia and maria malvolio o 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 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 limd her but it is joves doing and jove make me thankful and when she went away now let this fellow be lookd 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 re enter maria with sir toby and fabian sir toby which way is he in the name of sanctity if all the devils of hell be drawn in little and legion himself possessd him yet ill speak to him fabian here he is here he is how ist with you sir sir toby how ist with you man malvolio go off i discard you let me enjoy my private go off maria 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 malvolio ah ha does she so sir toby go to go to peace peace we must deal gently with him let me alone how do you malvolio how ist with you what man defy the devil consider hes an enemy to mankind malvolio do you know what you say maria la you an you speak ill of the devil how he takes it at heart pray god he be not bewitched fabian carry his water to th wise woman maria marry and it shall be done to morrow morning if i live my lady would not lose him for more than ill say malvolio how now mistress maria o lord sir toby prithee hold thy peace this is not the way do you not see you move him let me alone with him fabian no way but gentleness gently gently the fiend is rough and will not be roughly usd sir toby why how now my bawcock how dost thou chuck malvolio sir sir toby ay biddy come with me what man tis not for gravity to play at cherrypit with satan hang him foul collier maria get him to say his prayers good sir toby get him to pray malvolio my prayers minx maria no i warrant you he will not hear of godliness malvolio go hang yourselves all you are idle shallow things i am not of your element you shall know more hereafter exit sir toby ist possible fabian if this were playd upon a stage now i could condemn it as an improbable fiction sir toby his very genius hath taken the infection of the device man maria nay pursue him now lest the device take air and taint fabian why we shall make him mad indeed maria the house will be the quieter sir toby come well have him in a dark room and bound my niece is already in the belief that hes 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 enter sir andrew fabian more matter for a may morning aguecheek heres the challenge read it i warrant theres vinegar and pepper int fabian ist so saucy aguecheek ay ist i warrant him do but read sir toby give me reads youth whatsoever thou art thou art but a scurvy fellow fabian good and valiant sir toby reads wonder not nor admire not in thy mind why i do call thee so for i will show thee no reason fort fabian a good note that keeps you from the blow of the law sir toby reads thou comst 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 fabian very brief and to exceeding good sense less sir toby reads i will waylay thee going home where if it be thy chance to kill me fabian good sir toby thou killst me like a rogue and a villain fabian still you keep o th windy side of the law good sir toby reads 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 andrew aguecheek if this letter move him not his legs cannot ill givet him maria you may have very fit occasion fort he is now in some commerce with my lady and will by and by depart sir toby 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 drawst swear horrible for it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath with a swaggering accent sharply twangd off gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earnd him away aguecheek nay let me alone for swearing exit sir toby 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 notable report of valour and drive the gentleman as 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 re enter olivia with viola fabian here he comes with your niece give them way till he take leave and presently after him sir toby i will meditate the while upon some horrid message for a challenge exeunt sir toby fabian and maria olivia i have said too much unto a heart of stone and laid mine honour too unchary out theres something in me that reproves my fault but such a headstrong potent fault it is that it but mocks reproof viola with the same haviour that your passion bears goes on my masters griefs olivia 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 ill deny that honour savd may upon asking give viola nothing but this your true love for my master olivia how with mine honour may i give him that which i have given to you viola i will acquit you olivia well come again to morrow fare thee well a fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell exit re enter sir toby and sir fabian sir toby gentleman god save thee viola and you sir sir toby that defence thou hast betake thee tot 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 viola 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 sir toby youll 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 viola i pray you sir what is he sir toby he is knight dubbd with unhatchd rapier and on carpet consideration but he is a devil in private brawl souls and bodies hath he divorcd 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 givet or taket viola 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 toby 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 thats certain or forswear to wear iron about you viola 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 sir toby i will do so signior fabian stay you by this gentleman till my return exit sir toby viola pray you sir do you know of this matter fabian i know the knight is incensd against you even to a mortal arbitrement but nothing of the circumstance more viola i beseech you what manner of man is he fabian 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 viola i shall be much bound to you fort i am one that would rather go with sir priest than sir knight i care not who knows so much of my mettle exeunt re enter sir toby with sir andrew sir toby why man hes 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 aguecheek pox ont ill not meddle with him sir toby ay but he will not now be pacified fabian can scarce hold him yonder aguecheek plague ont an i thought he had been valiant and so cunning in fence id have seen him damnd ere id have challengd him let him let the matter slip and ill give him my horse grey capilet sir toby ill make the motion stand here make a good show ont this shall end without the perdition of souls aside marry ill ride your horse as well as i ride you re enter fabian and viola to fabian i have his horse to take up the quarrel i have persuaded him the youths a devil fabian to sir toby he is as horribly conceited of him and pants and looks pale as if a bear were at his heels sir toby to viola theres no remedy sir he will fight with you fors oath 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 viola aside pray god defend me a little thing would make me tell them how much i lack of a man fabian give ground if you see him furious sir toby come sir andrew theres no remedy the gentleman will for his honours sake have one bout with you he cannot by the duello avoid it but he has promisd me as he is a gentleman and a soldier he will not hurt you come on tot aguecheek pray god he keep his oath they draw enter antonio viola i do assure you tis against my will antonio 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 sir toby you sir why what are you antonio one sir that for his love dares yet do more than you have heard him brag to you he will sir toby nay if you be an undertaker i am for you they draw enter officers fabian o good sir toby hold here come the officers sir toby to antonio ill be with you anon viola pray sir put your sword up if you please aguecheek marry will i sir and for that i promisd you ill be as good as my word he will bear you easily and reins well first officer this is the man do thy office second officer antonio i arrest thee at the suit of count orsino antonio you do mistake me sir first officer 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 antonio i must obey to viola this comes with seeking you but theres 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 amazd but be of comfort second officer come sir away antonio i must entreat of you some of that money viola what money sir for the fair kindness you have showd me here and part being prompted by your present trouble out of my lean and low ability ill lend you something my having is not much ill make division of my present with you hold theres half my coffer antonio will you deny me now ist 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 viola 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 antonio o heavens themselves second officer come sir i pray you go antonio let me speak a little this youth that you see here i snatchd one half out of the jaws of death relievd him with such sanctity of love and to his image which methought did promise most venerable worth did i devotion first officer whats that to us the time goes by away antonio but o how vile an idol proves this god thou hast sebastian done good feature shame in nature theres no blemish but the mind none can be calld deformd but the unkind virtue is beauty but the beauteous evil are empty trunks oerflourishd by the devil first officer the man grows mad away with him come come sir antonio lead me on exit with officers viola 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 taen for you sir toby come hither knight come hither fabian well whisper oer a couplet or two of most sage saws viola he namd 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 exit sir toby 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 fabian a coward a most devout coward religious in it aguecheek slid ill after him again and beat him sir toby do cuff him soundly but never draw thy sword aguecheek and i do not exit fabian come lets see the event sir toby i dare lay any money twill be nothing yet exeunt act iv scene i before olivias house enter sebastian and clown clown will you make me believe that i am not sent for you sebastian go to go to thou art a foolish fellow let me be clear of thee clown 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 sebastian i prithee vent thy folly somewhere else thou knowst not me clown 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 sebastian i prithee foolish greek depart from me theres money for thee if you tarry longer i shall give worse payment clown by my troth thou hast an open hand these wise men that give fools money get themselves a good report after fourteen years purchase enter sir andrew sir toby and fabian aguecheek now sir have i met you again striking sebastian theres for you sebastian why theres for thee and there and there are all the people mad sir toby hold sir or ill throw your dagger oer the house holding sebastian clown this will i tell my lady straight i would not be in some of your coats for two pence exit sir toby come on sir hold aguecheek nay let him alone ill go another way to work with him ill have an action of battery against him if there be any law in illyria though i struck him first yet its no matter for that sebastian let go thy hand sir toby come sir i will not let you go come my young soldier put up your iron you are well fleshd come on sebastian i will be free from thee what wouldst thou now if thou darst tempt me further draw thy sword draws sir toby what what nay then i must have an ounce or two of this malapert blood from you draws enter olivia olivia hold toby on thy life i charge thee hold sir toby madam olivia will it be ever thus ungracious wretch fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves where manners neer were preachd out of my sight be not offended dear cesario rudesby be gone exeunt sir toby sir andrew and fabian 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 botchd 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 sebastian 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 olivia nay come i prithee would thoudst be ruld by me sebastian madam i will olivia o say so and so be exeunt scene ii olivias house enter maria and clown maria nay i prithee put on this gown and this beard make him believe thou art sir topas the curate do it quickly ill call sir toby the whilst exit clown well ill put it on and i will dissemble myself int 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 enter sir toby and maria sir toby jove bless thee master parson clown bonos dies sir toby for as the old hermit of prague that never saw pen and ink very wittily said to 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 sir toby to him sir topas clown what ho i say peace in this prison sir toby the knave counterfeits well a good knave malvolio within who calls there clown sir topas the curate who comes to visit malvolio the lunatic malvolio sir topas sir topas good sir topas go to my lady clown out hyperbolical fiend how vexest thou this man talkest thou nothing but of ladies sir toby well said master parson malvolio sir topas never was man thus wronged good sir topas do not think i am mad they have laid me here in hideous darkness clown 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 malvolio as hell sir topas clown 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 malvolio i am not mad sir topas i say to you this house is dark clown madman thou errest i say there is no darkness but ignorance in which thou art more puzzled than the egyptians in their fog malvolio i say this house is as dark as ignorance though ignorance were as dark as hell and i say there was never man thus abusd i am no more mad than you are make the trial of it in any constant question clown what is the opinion of pythagoras concerning wild fowl malvolio that the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird clown what thinkst thou of his opinion malvolio i think nobly of the soul and no way approve his opinion clown fare thee well remain thou still in darkness thou shalt hold th 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 malvolio sir topas sir topas sir toby my most exquisite sir topas clown nay i am for all waters maria thou mightst have done this without thy beard and gown he sees thee not sir toby to him in thine own voice and bring me word how thou findst him i would we were well rid of this knavery if he may be conveniently deliverd 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 exit with maria clown sings hey robin jolly robin tell me how thy lady does malvolio fool clown sings my lady is unkind perdy malvolio fool clown sings alas why is she so malvolio fool i say clown sings she loves another who calls ha malvolio 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 fort clown master malvolio malvolio ay good fool clown alas sir how fell you besides your five wits malvolio fool there was never man so notoriously abusd i am as well in my wits fool as thou art clown but as well then you are mad indeed if you be no better in your wits than a fool malvolio 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 clown advise you what you say the minister is here speaking as sir topas malvolio thy wits the heavens restore endeavour thyself to sleep and leave thy vain bibble babble malvolio sir topas clown maintain no words with him good fellow who i sir not i sir god buy you good sir topas marry amen i will sir i will malvolio fool fool fool i say clown alas sir be patient what say you sir i am shent for speaking to you malvolio 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 clown well a day that you were sir malvolio 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 clown i will help you tot but tell me true are you not mad indeed or do you but counterfeit malvolio believe me i am not i tell thee true clown nay ill neer believe a madman till i see his brains i will fetch you light and paper and ink malvolio fool ill requite it in the highest degree i prithe be gone clown singing i am gone sir and anon sir ill 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 ha to the devil like a mad lad pare thy nails dad adieu goodman devil exit scene iii olivias garden enter sebastian sebastian this is the air that is the glorious sun this pearl she gave me i do feelt and seet and though tis wonder that enwraps me thus yet tis not madness wheres 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 ladys 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 theres something int that is deceivable but here the lady comes enter olivia and priest olivia 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 fun 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 sebastian ill follow this good man and go with you and having sworn truth ever will be true olivia then lead the way good father and heavens so shine that they may fairly note this act of mine exeunt act v scene i before olivias house enter clown and fabian fabian now as thou lovst me let me see his letter clown good master fabian grant me another request fabian anything clown do not desire to see this letter fabian this is to give a dog and in recompense desire my dog again enter duke viola curio and lords duke belong you to the lady olivia friends clown ay sir we are some of her trappings duke i know thee well how dost thou my good fellow clown truly sir the better for my foes and the worse for my friends duke just the contrary the better for thy friends clown no sir the worse duke how can that be clown 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 duke why this is excellent clown by my troth sir no though it please you to be one of my friends duke thou shalt not be the worse for me theres gold clown but that it would be double dealing sir i would you could make it another duke o you give me ill counsel clown put your grace in your pocket sir for this once and let your flesh and blood obey it duke well i will be so much a sinner to be a double dealer theres another clown 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 duke 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 clown 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 exit enter antonio and officers viola here comes the man sir that did rescue me duke that face of his i do remember well yet when i saw it last it was besmeard as black as vulcan in the smoke of war a baubling vessel was he captain of for shallow draught and bulk unprizable with which such scathful grapple did he make with the most noble bottom of our fleet that very envy and the tongue of los cried fame and honour on him whats the matter first officer orsino this is that antonio that took the phoenix 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 viola he did me kindness sir drew on my side but in conclusion put strange speech upon me i know not what twas but distraction duke 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 antonio orsino noble sir be pleasd that i shake off these names you give me antonio never yet was thief or pirate though i confess on base and ground enough orsinos enemy a witchcraft drew me hither that most ingrateful boy there by your side from the rude seas enragd and foamy mouth did i redeem a wreck past hope he was his life i gave him and did thereto ad 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 viola how can this be duke when came he to this town antonio to day my lord and for three months before no intrim not a minutes vacancy both day and night did we keep company enter olivia and attendants duke 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 olivia what would my lord but that he may not have wherein olivia may seem serviceable cesario you do not keep promise with me viola madam duke gracious olivia olivia what do you say cesario good my lord viola my lord would speak my duty hushes me olivia if it be aught to the old tune my lord it is as fat and fulsome to mine ear as howling after music duke still so cruel olivia still so constant lord duke what to perverseness you uncivil lady to whose ingrate and unauspicious altars my soul the faithfullst offrings hath breathd out that eer devotion tenderd what shall i do olivia even what it please my lord that shall become him duke 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 sometime 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 masters spite come boy with me my thoughts are ripe in mischief ill sacrifice the lamb that i do love to spite a ravens heart within a dove viola and i most jocund apt and willingly to do you rest a thousand deaths would die olivia where goes cesario viola after him i love more than i love these eyes more than my life more by all mores than eer i shall love wife if i do feign you witnesses above punish my life for tainting of my love olivia ay me detested how am i beguild viola who does beguile you who does do you wrong olivia hast thou forgot thyself is it so long call forth the holy father exit an attendant duke come away olivia whither my lord cesario husband stay duke husband olivia ay husband can he that deny duke her husband sirrah viola no my lord not i olivia alas it is the baseness of thy fear that makes thee strangle thy propriety fear not cesario take thy fortunes up be that thou knowst thou art and then thou art as great as that thou fearst enter priest 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 passd between this youth and me priest a contract of eternal bond of love confirmd by mutual joinder of your hands attested by the holy close of lips strengthned by interchangement of your rings and all the ceremony of this compact seald in my function by my testimony since when my watch hath told me toward my grave i have travelld but two hours duke o thou dissembling cub what wilt thou be when time hath sowd 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 viola my lord i do protest olivia o do not swear hold little faith though thou has too much fear enter sir andrew aguecheek for the love of god a surgeon send one presently to sir toby olivia whats the matter aguecheek 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 olivia who has done this sir andrew aguecheek the counts gentleman one cesario we took him for a coward but hes the very devil incardinate duke my gentleman cesario aguecheek ods lifelings here he is you broke my head for nothing and that that did i was set on to dot by sir toby viola 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 enter sir toby and clown aguecheek 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 tickld you othergates than he did duke how now gentleman how ist with you sir toby thats all one has hurt me and theres th end ont sot didst see dick surgeon sot clown o hes drunk sir toby an hour agone his eyes were set at eight i th morning sir toby then hes a rogue and a passy measures pavin i hate a drunken rogue olivia away with him who hath made this havoc with them aguecheek ill help you sir toby because well be dressd together sir toby will you help an ass head and a coxcomb and a knave a thin facd knave a gull olivia get him to bed and let his hurt be lookd to exeunt clown fabian sir toby and sir andrew enter sebastian sebastian 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 duke one face one voice one habit and two persons a natural perspective that is and is not sebastian antonio o my dear antonio how have the hours rackd and torturd me since i have lost thee antonio sebastian are you sebastian fearst thou that antonio antonio how have you made division of yourself an apple cleft in two is not more twin than these two creatures which is sebastian olivia most wonderful sebastian do i stand there i never had a brother nor can there be that deity in my nature of here and everywhere i had a sister whom the blind waves and surges have devourd of charity what kin are you to me what countryman what name what parentage viola 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 sebastian 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 viola my father had a mole upon his brow sebastian and so had mine viola and died that day when viola from her birth had numbred thirteen years sebastian o that record is lively in my soul he finished indeed his mortal act that day that made my sister thirteen years viola if nothing lets to make us happy both but this my masculine usurpd attire do not embrace me till each circumstance of place time fortune do cohere and jump that i am viola which to confirm ill bring you to a captain in this town where lie my maiden weeds by whose gentle help i was preservd to serve this noble count all the occurrence of my fortune since hath been between this lady and this lord sebastian to olivia 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 deceivd you are betrothd both to a maid and man duke be not amazd right noble is his blood if this be so as yet the glass seems true i shall have share in this most happy wreck to viola boy thou hast said to me a thousand times thou never shouldst love woman like to me viola and all those sayings will i overswear and all those swearings keep as true in soul as doth that orbed continent the fire that severs day from night duke give me thy hand and let me see thee in thy womans weeds viola the captain that did bring me first on shore hath my maids garments he upon some action is now in durance at malvolios suit a gentleman and follower of my ladys olivia he shall enlarge him fetch malvolio hither and yet alas now i remember me they say poor gentleman hes much distract re enter clown with a letter and fabian a most extracting frenzy of mine own from my remembrance clearly banishd his how does he sirrah clown truly madam he holds belzebub at the staves end as well as a man in his case may do has here writ a letter to you i should have given t you to day morning but as a madmans epistles are no gospels so it skills not much when they are deliverd olivia opent and read it clown look then to be well edified when the fool delivers the madman reads madly by the lord madam olivia how now art thou mad clown no madam i do but read madness an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be you must allow vox olivia prithee read i thy right wits clown so i do madonna but to read his right wits is to read thus therefore perpend my princess and give ear olivia to fabian read it you sirrah fabian reads 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 usd malvolio olivia did he write this clown ay madam duke this savours not much of distraction olivia see him deliverd fabian bring him hither exit fabian my lord so please you these things further thought on to think me as well a sister as a wife one day shall crown th alliance ont so please you here at my house and at my proper cost duke madam i am most apt t embrace your offer to viola 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 calld me master for so long here is my hand you shall from this time be you masters mistress olivia a sister you are she re enter fabian with malvolio duke is this the madman olivia ay my lord this same how now malvolio malvolio madam you have done me wrong notorious wrong olivia have i malvolio no malvolio 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 not 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 garterd 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 sufferd me to be imprisond kept in a dark house visited by the priest and made the most notorious geck and gul that eer invention playd on tell me why olivia alas malvolio this is not my writing though i confess much like the character but out of question tis marias hand and now i do bethink me it was she first told me thou wast mad then camst in smiling and in such forms which here were presupposd upon thee in the letter prithee be content this practice hath most shrewdly passd 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 fabian good madam hear me speak and let no quarrel nor no brawl to come taint the condition of this present hour which i have wondred 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 conceivd against him maria writ the letter at sir tobys great importance in recompense whereof he hath married her how with a sportful malice it was followd may rather pluck on laughter than revenge if that the injuries be justly weighd that have on both sides passd olivia alas poor fool how have they baffld thee clown 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 thats 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 hes gaggd and thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges malvolio ill be revengd on the whole pack of you exit olivia he hath been most notoriously abusd duke 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 orsinos mistress and his fancys queen exeunt all but the clown clown sings 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 mans estate with hey ho the wind and the rain gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate 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 thats all one our play is done and well strive to please you every day exit the end the two gentlemen of verona dramatis personae duke of milan father to silvia valentine one of the two gentlemen proteus antonio father to proteus thurio a foolish rival to valentine eglamour agent for silvia in her escape speed a clownish servant to valentine launce the like to proteus panthino servant to antonio host where julia lodges in milan outlaws with valentine julia a lady of verona beloved of proteus silvia the dukes daughter beloved of valentine lucetta waiting woman to julia servants musicians scene verona milan the frontiers of mantua act i scene i verona an open place enter valentine and proteus valentine cease to persuade my loving proteus home keeping youth have ever homely wits weret not affection chains thy tender days to the sweet glances of thy honourd love i rather would entreat thy company to see the wonders of the world abroad than living dully sluggardizd at home wear out thy youth with shapeless idleness but since thou lovst love still and thrive therein even as i would when i to love begin proteus wilt thou be gone sweet valentine adieu think on thy proteus when thou haply seest some rare noteworthy 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 headsman valentine valentine and on a love book pray for my success proteus upon some book i love ill pray for thee valentine thats on some shallow story of deep love how young leander crossd the hellespont proteus thats a deep story of a deeper love for he was more than over shoes in love valentine tis true for you are over boots in love and yet you never swum the hellespont proteus over the boots nay give me not the boots valentine no i will not for it boots thee not proteus what valentine to be in love where scorn is bought with groans coy looks with heart sore sighs one fading moments 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 proteus so by your circumstance you call me fool valentine so by your circumstance i fear youll prove proteus tis love you cavil at i am not love valentine love is your master for he masters you and he that is so yoked by a fool methinks should not be chronicled for wise proteus yet writers say as in the sweetest bud the eating canker dwells so eating love inhabits in the finest wits of all valentine 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 turnd 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 the that art a votary to fond desire once more adieu my father at the road expects my coming there to see me shippd proteus and thither will i bring thee valentine 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 proteus all happiness bechance to thee in milan valentine as much to you at home and so farewell exit valentine proteus 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 metamorphisd 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 enter speed speed sir proteus save you saw you my master proteus but now he parted hence to embark for milan speed twenty to one then he is shippd already and i have playd the sheep in losing him proteus indeed a sheep doth very often stray an if the shepherd be awhile away speed you conclude that my master is a shepherd then and i a sheep proteus i do speed why then my horns are his horns whether i wake or sleep proteus a silly answer and fitting well a sheep speed this proves me still a sheep proteus true and thy master a shepherd speed nay that i can deny by a circumstance proteus it shall go hard but ill prove it by another speed 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 proteus 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 speed such another proof will make me cry baa proteus but dost thou hear gavst thou my letter to julia speed ay sir i a lost mutton gave your letter to her a lacd mutton and she a lacd mutton gave me a lost mutton nothing for my labour proteus heres too small a pasture for such store of muttons speed if the ground be overchargd you were best stick her proteus nay in that you are astray twere best pound you speed nay sir less than a pound shall serve me for carrying your letter proteus you mistake i mean the pound a pinfold speed from a pound to a pin fold it over and over tis threefold too little for carrying a letter to your lover proteus but what said she speed nodding ay proteus nod ay why thats noddy speed you mistook sir i say she did nod and you ask me if she did nod and i say ay proteus and that set together is noddy speed now you have taken the pains to set it together take it for your pains proteus no no you shall have it for bearing the letter speed well i perceive i must be fain to bear with you proteus why sir how do you bear with me speed marry sir the letter very orderly having nothing but the word noddy for my pains proteus beshrew me but you have a quick wit speed and yet it cannot overtake your slow purse proteus come come open the matter in brief what said she speed open your purse that the money and the matter may be both at once delivered proteus well sir here is for your pains what said she speed truly sir i think youll hardly win her proteus why couldst thou perceive so much from her speed 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 shell prove as hard to you in telling your mind give her no token but stones for shes as hard as steel proteus what said she nothing speed no not so much as take this for thy pains to testify your bounty i thank you you have testernd me in requital whereof henceforth carry your letters yourself and so sir ill commend you to my master proteus go go be gone to save your ship from wreck which cannot perish having thee aboard being destind to a drier death on shore exit speed i must go send some better messenger i fear my julia would not deign my lines receiving them from such a worthless post exit scene ii verona the garden of julias house enter julia and lucetta julia but say lucetta now we are alone wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love lucetta ay madam so you stumble not unheedfully julia of all the fair resort of gentlemen that every day with parle encounter me in thy opinion which is worthiest love lucetta please you repeat their names ill show my mind according to my shallow simple skill julia what thinkst thou of the fair sir eglamour lucetta as of a knight well spoken neat and fine but were i you he never should be mine julia what thinkst thou of the rich mercatio lucetta well of his wealth but of himself so so julia what thinkst thou of the gentle proteus lucetta lord lord to see what folly reigns in us julia how now what means this passion at his name lucetta pardon dear madam tis a passing shame that i unworthy body as i am should censure thus on lovely gentlemen julia why not on proteus as of all the rest lucetta then thus of many good i think him best julia your reason lucetta i have no other but a womans reason i think him so because i think him so julia and wouldst thou have me cast my love on him lucetta ay if you thought your love not cast away julia why he of all the rest hath never movd me lucetta yet he of all the rest i think best loves ye julia his little speaking shows his love but small lucetta fire thats closest kept burns most of all julia they do not love that do not show their love lucetta o they love least that let men know their love julia i would i knew his mind lucetta peruse this paper madam julia to julia say from whom lucetta that the contents will show julia say say who gave it thee lucetta sir valentines 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 julia 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 returnd or else return no more into my sight lucetta to plead for love deserves more fee than hate julia will ye be gone lucetta that you may ruminate exit julia and yet i would i had oerlookd 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 chid lucetta hence when willingly i would have had her here how angerly i taught my brow to frown when inward joy enforcd my heart to smile my penance is to call lucetta back and ask remission for my folly past what ho lucetta re enter lucetta lucetta what would your ladyship julia ist near dinner time lucetta i would it were that you might kill your stomach on your meat and not upon your maid julia what ist that you took up so gingerly lucetta nothing julia why didst thou stoop then lucetta to take a paper up that i let fall julia and is that paper nothing lucetta nothing concerning me julia then let it lie for those that it concerns lucetta madam it will not lie where it concerns unless it have a false interpreter julia some love of yours hath writ to you in rhyme lucetta that i might sing it madam to a tune give me a note your ladyship can set julia as little by such toys as may be possible best sing it to the tune of light o love lucetta it is too heavy for so light a tune julia heavy belike it hath some burden then lucetta ay and melodious were it would you sing it julia and why not you lucetta i cannot reach so high julia lets see your song lucetta withholds the letter how now minion lucetta keep tune there still so you will sing it out and yet methinks i do not like this tune julia you do not lucetta no madam tis too sharp julia you minion are too saucy lucetta nay now you are too flat and mar the concord with too harsh a descant there wanteth but a mean to fill your song julia the mean is drownd with your unruly bass lucetta indeed i bid the base for proteus julia this babble shall not henceforth trouble me here is a coil with protestation tears the letter go get you gone and let the papers lie you would be fingring them to anger me lucetta she makes it strange but she would be best pleasd to be so angred with another letter exit julia nay would i were so angred 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 ill 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 heald 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 ill 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 re enter lucetta lucetta madam dinner is ready and your father stays julia well let us go lucetta what shall these papers lie like tell tales here julia if you respect them best to take them up lucetta nay i was taken up for laying them down yet here they shall not lie for catching cold julia i see you have a months mind to them lucetta ay madam you may say what sights you see i see things too although you judge i wink julia come come willt please you go exeunt scene iii verona antonios house enter antonio and panthino antonio tell me panthino what sad talk was that wherewith my brother held you in the cloister panthino twas of his nephew proteus your son antonio why what of him panthino he wondred 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 no travel in his youth antonio nor needst thou much importune me to that whereon this month i have been hammering i have considerd well his loss of time and how he cannot be a perfect man not being tried and tutord in the world experience is by industry achievd and perfected by the swift course of time then tell me whither were i best to send him panthino i think your lordship is not ignorant how his companion youthful valentine attends the emperor in his royal court antonio i know it well panthino twere good i think your lordship sent him thither there shall he practise tilts and tournaments hear sweet discourse converse with noblemen and be in eye of every exercise worthy his youth and nobleness of birth antonio i like thy counsel well hast thou advisd 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 emperors court panthino 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 antonio good company with them shall proteus go enter proteus and in good time now will we break with him proteus sweet love sweet lines sweet life here is her hand the agent of her heart here is her oath for love her honours pawn o that our fathers would applaud our loves to seal our happiness with their consents o heavenly julia antonio how now what letter are you reading there proteus mayt please your lordship tis a word or two of commendations sent from valentine deliverd by a friend that came from him antonio lend me the letter let me see what news proteus there is no news my lord but that he writes how happily he lives how well belovd and daily graced by the emperor wishing me with him partner of his fortune antonio and how stand you affected to his wish proteus as one relying on your lordships will and not depending on his friendly wish antonio 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 resolvd that thou shalt spend some time with valentinus in the emperors 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 proteus my lord i cannot be so soon provided please you deliberate a day or two antonio look what thou wantst shall be sent after thee no more of stay to morrow thou must go come on panthino you shall be employd to hasten on his expedition exeunt antonio and panthino proteus thus have i shunnd the fire for fear of burning and drenchd me in the sea where i am drownd i feard to show my father julias 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 an by a cloud takes all away re enter panthino panthino sir proteus your father calls for you he is in haste therefore i pray you go proteus why this it is my heart accords thereto and yet a thousand times it answers no exeunt act ii scene i milan the dukes palace enter valentine and speed speed sir your glove valentine not mine my gloves are on speed why then this may be yours for this is but one valentine ha let me see ay give it me its mine sweet ornament that decks a thing divine ah silvia silvia speed calling madam silvia madam silvia valentine how now sirrah speed she is not within hearing sir valentine why sir who bade you call her speed your worship sir or else i mistook valentine well youll still be too forward speed and yet i was last chidden for being too slow valentine go to sir tell me do you know madam silvia speed she that your worship loves valentine why how know you that i am in love speed marry by these special marks first you have learnd like sir proteus to wreath your arms like a malcontent to relish a love song like a robin redbreast to walk alone like one that had the pestilence to sigh like a school boy 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 walkd to walk like one of the lions when you fasted it was presently after dinner when you lookd sadly it was for want of money and now you are metamorphisd with a mistress that when i look on you i can hardly think you my master valentine are all these things perceivd in me speed they are all perceivd without ye valentine without me they cannot speed without you nay thats 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 valentine but tell me dost thou know my lady silvia speed she that you gaze on so as she sits at supper valentine hast thou observd that even she i mean speed why sir i know her not valentine dost thou know her by my gazing on her and yet knowst her not speed is she not hard favourd sir valentine not so fair boy as well favourd speed sir i know that well enough valentine what dost thou know speed that she is not so fair as of you well favourd valentine i mean that her beauty is exquisite but her favour infinite speed thats because the one is painted and the other out of all count valentine how painted and how out of count speed marry sir so painted to make her fair that no man counts of her beauty valentine how esteemst thou me i account of her beauty speed you never saw her since she was deformd valentine how long hath she been deformd speed ever since you lovd her valentine i have lovd her ever since i saw her and still i see her beautiful speed if you love her you cannot see her valentine why speed 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 ungarterd valentine what should i see then speed 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 valentine belike boy then you are in love for last morning you could not see to wipe my shoes speed true sir i was in love with my bed i thank you you swingd me for my love which makes me the bolder to chide you for yours valentine in conclusion i stand affected to her speed i would you were set so your affection would cease valentine last night she enjoind me to write some lines to one she loves speed and have you valentine i have speed are they not lamely writ valentine no boy but as well as i can do them enter silvia peace here she comes speed aside o excellent motion o exceeding puppet now will he interpret to her valentine madam and mistress a thousand good morrows speed aside o give ye good evn heres a million of manners silvia sir valentine and servant to you two thousand speed aside he should give her interest and she gives it him valentine as you enjoind 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 silvia i thank you gentle servant tis very clerkly done valentine now trust me madam it came hardly off for being ignorant to whom it goes i writ at random very doubtfully silvia perchance you think too much of so much pains valentine no madam so it stead you i will write please you command a thousand times as much and yet silvia 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 speed aside and yet you will and yet another yet valentine what means your ladyship do you not like it silvia yes yes the lines are very quaintly writ but since unwillingly take them again nay take them gives hack the letter valentine madam they are for you silvia 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 valentine please you ill write your ladyship another silvia and when its writ for my sake read it over and if it please you so if not why so valentine if it please me madam what then silvia why if it please you take it for your labour and so good morrow servant exit silvia speed o jest unseen inscrutable invisible as a nose on a mans 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 valentine how now sir what are you reasoning with yourself speed nay i was rhyming tis you that have the reason valentine to do what speed to be a spokesman from madam silvia valentine to whom speed to yourself why she woos you by a figure valentine what figure speed by a letter i should say valentine why she hath not writ to me speed what need she when she hath made you write to yourself why do you not perceive the jest valentine no believe me speed no believing you indeed sir but did you perceive her earnest valentine she gave me none except an angry word speed why she hath given you a letter valentine thats the letter i writ to her friend speed and that letter hath she deliverd and there an end valentine i would it were no worse speed ill 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 valentine i have dind speed ay but hearken sir though the chameleon love can feed on the air i am one that am nourishd by my victuals and would fain have meat o be not like your mistress be moved be moved exeunt scene ii verona julias house enter proteus and julia proteus have patience gentle julia julia i must where is no remedy proteus when possibly i can i will return julia if you turn not you will return the sooner keep this remembrance for thy julias sake giving a ring proteus why then well make exchange here take you this julia and seal the bargain with a holy kiss proteus here is my hand for my true constancy and when that hour oerslips me in the day wherein i sigh not julia for thy sake the next ensuing hour some foul mischance torment me for my loves 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 exit julia what gone without a word ay so true love should do it cannot speak for truth hath better deeds than words to grace it enter panthino panthino sir proteus you are stayd for proteus go i come i come alas this parting strikes poor lovers dumb exeunt scene iii verona a street enter launce leading a dog launce nay twill be this hour ere i have done weeping all the kind of the launces have this very fault i have receivd my proportion like the prodigious son and am going with sir proteus to the imperials 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 ill show you the manner of it this shoe is my father no this left shoe is my father no no 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 it 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 heres my mothers 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 enter panthino panthino launce away away aboard thy master is shippd and thou art to post after with oars whats the matter why weepst thou man away ass youll lose the tide if you tarry any longer launce it is no matter if the tied were lost for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied panthino whats the unkindest tide launce why he thats tied here crab my dog panthino tut man i mean thoult 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 launce for fear thou shouldst lose thy tongue panthino where should i lose my tongue launce in thy tale panthino in thy tail launce 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 panthino come come away man i was sent to call thee launce sir call me what thou darst panthino will thou go launce well i will go exeunt scene iv milan the dukes palace enter silvia valentine thurio and speed silvia servant valentine mistress speed master sir thurio frowns on you valentine ay boy its for love speed not of you valentine of my mistress then speed twere good you knockd him exit silvia servant you are sad valentine indeed madam i seem so thurio seem you that you are not valentine haply i do thurio so do counterfeits valentine so do you thurio what seem i that i am not valentine wise thurio what instance of the contrary valentine your folly thurio and how quote you my folly valentine i quote it in your jerkin thurio my jerkin is a doublet valentine well then ill double your folly thurio how silvia what angry sir thurio do you change colour valentine give him leave madam he is a kind of chameleon thurio that hath more mind to feed on your blood than live in your air valentine you have said sir thurio ay sir and done too for this time valentine i know it well sir you always end ere you begin silvia a fine volley of words gentlemen and quickly shot off valentine tis indeed madam we thank the giver silvia who is that servant valentine yourself sweet lady for you gave the fire sir thurio borrows his wit from your ladyships looks and spends what he borrows kindly in your company thurio sir if you spend word for word with me i shall make your wit bankrupt valentine 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 enter duke silvia no more gentlemen no more here comes my father duke now daughter silvia you are hard beset sir valentine your father is in good health what say you to a letter from your friends of much good news valentine my lord i will be thankful to any happy messenger from thence duke know ye don antonio your countryman valentine ay my good lord i know the gentleman to be of worth and worthy estimation and not without desert so well reputed duke hath he not a son valentine ay my good lord a son that well deserves the honour and regard of such a father duke you know him well valentine i knew him as myself for from our infancy we have conversd 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 thats his name made use and fair advantage of his days his years but young but his experience old his head unmellowed but his judgment ripe and in a word for far behind his worth comes all the praises that i now bestow he is complete in feature and in mind with all good grace to grace a gentleman duke beshrew me sir but if he make this good he is as worthy for an empress love as meet to be an emperors 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 valentine should i have wishd a thing it had been he duke 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 will send him hither to you presently exit duke valentine this is the gentleman i told your ladyship had come along with me but that his mistresss did hold his eyes lockd in her crystal looks silvia belike that now she hath enfranchisd them upon some other pawn for fealty valentine nay sure i think she holds them prisoners still silvia nay then he should be blind and being blind how could he see his way to seek out you valentine why lady love hath twenty pair of eyes thurio they say that love hath not an eye at all valentine to see such lovers thurio as yourself upon a homely object love can wink exit thurio enter proteus silvia have done have done here comes the gentleman valentine welcome dear proteus mistress i beseech you confirm his welcome with some special favour silvia his worth is warrant for his welcome hither if this be he you oft have wishd to hear from valentine mistress it is sweet lady entertain him to be my fellow servant to your ladyship silvia too low a mistress for so high a servant proteus not so sweet lady but too mean a servant to have a look of such a worthy mistress valentine leave off discourse of disability sweet lady entertain him for your servant proteus my duty will i boast of nothing else silvia and duty never yet did want his meed servant you are welcome to a worthless mistress proteus ill die on him that says so but yourself silvia that you are welcome proteus that you are worthless re enter thurio thurio madam my lord your father would speak with you silvia i wait upon his pleasure come sir thurio go with me once more new servant welcome ill leave you to confer of home affairs when you have done we look to hear from you proteus well both attend upon your ladyship exeunt silvia and thurio valentine now tell me how do all from whence you came proteus your friends are well and have them much commended valentine and how do yours proteus i left them all in health valentine how does your lady and how thrives your love proteus my tales of love were wont to weary you i know you joy not in a love discourse valentine ay proteus but that life is alterd now i have done penance for contemning love whose high imperious thoughts have punishd 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 chasd sleep from my enthralled eyes and made them watchers of mine own hearts sorrow o gentle proteus loves 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 proteus enough i read your fortune in your eye was this the idol that you worship so valentine even she and is she not a heavenly saint proteus no but she is an earthly paragon valentine call her divine proteus i will not flatter her valentine o flatter me for love delights in praises proteus when i was sick you gave me bitter pills and i must minister the like to you valentine then speak the truth by her if not divine yet let her be a principality sovereign to all the creatures on the earth proteus except my mistress valentine sweet except not any except thou wilt except against my love proteus have i not reason to prefer mine own valentine and i will help thee to prefer her too she shall be dignified with this high honour to bear my ladys 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 flowr and make rough winter everlastingly proteus why valentine what braggardism is this valentine pardon me proteus all i can is nothing to her whose worth makes other worthies nothing she is alone proteus then let her alone valentine 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 seest 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 knowst is full of jealousy proteus but she loves you valentine ay and we are betrothd nay more our marriage hour with all the cunning manner of our flight determind 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 proteus go on before i shall enquire you forth i must unto the road to disembark some necessaries that i needs must use and then ill presently attend you valentine will you make haste proteus i will exit valentine 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 my mind or valentinus praise her true perfection or my false transgression that makes me reasonless to reason thus she is fair and so is julia that i love that i did love for now my love is thawd 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 thats 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 reasons 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 ill use my skill exit scene v milan a street enter speed and launce severally speed launce by mine honesty welcome to padua launce forswear not thyself sweet youth for i am not welcome i reckon this always that a man is never undone till he be hangd nor never welcome to a place till some certain shot be paid and the hostess say welcome speed come on you madcap ill 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 launce marry after they closd in earnest they parted very fairly in jest speed but shall she marry him launce no speed how then shall he marry her launce no neither speed what are they broken launce no they are both as whole as a fish speed why then how stands the matter with them launce marry thus when it stands well with him it stands well with her speed what an ass art thou i understand thee not launce what a block art thou that thou canst not my staff understands me speed what thou sayst launce ay and what i do too look thee ill but lean and my staff understands me speed it stands under thee indeed launce why stand under and under stand is all one speed but tell me true willt be a match launce 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 speed the conclusion is then that it will launce thou shalt never get such a secret from me but by a parable speed tis well that i get it so but launce how sayst thou that my master is become a notable lover launce i never knew him otherwise speed than how launce a notable lubber as thou reportest him to be speed why thou whoreson ass thou mistakst me launce why fool i meant not thee i meant thy master speed i tell thee my master is become a hot lover launce why i tell thee i care not though he burn himself in love if thou wilt go with me to the alehouse if not thou art an hebrew a jew and not worth the name of a christian speed why launce because thou hast not so much charity in thee as to go to the ale with a christian wilt thou go speed at thy service exeunt scene vi milan the dukes palace enter proteus proteus 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 evn that powr 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 sinnd 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 t exchange the bad for better fie fie unreverend tongue to call her bad whose sovereignty so oft thou hast preferrd 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 remembring that my love to her is dead and valentine ill hold an enemy aiming at silvia as a sweeter friend i cannot now prove constant to myself without some treachery usd to valentine this night he meaneth with a corded ladder to climb celestial silvias chamber window myself in counsel his competitor now presently ill give her father notice of their disguising and pretended flight who all enragd will banish valentine for thurio he intends shall wed his daughter but valentine being gone ill quickly cross by some sly trick blunt thurios dull proceeding love lend me wings to make my purpose swift as thou hast lent me wit to plot this drift exit scene vii verona julias house enter julia and lucetta julia counsel lucetta gentle girl assist me and evn in kind love i do conjure thee who art the table wherein all my thoughts are visibly characterd and engravd to lesson me and tell me some good mean how with my honour i may undertake a journey to my loving proteus lucetta alas the way is wearisome and long julia a true devoted pilgrim is not weary to measure kingdoms with his feeble steps much less shall she that hath loves wings to fly and when the flight is made to one so dear of such divine perfection as sir proteus lucetta better forbear till proteus make return julia o knowst thou not his looks are my souls 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 lucetta i do not seek to quench your loves hot fire but qualify the fires extreme rage lest it should burn above the bounds of reason julia the more thou damst it up the more it burns the current that with gentle murmur glides thou knowst being stoppd impatiently doth rage but when his fair course is not hindered he makes sweet music with th enamelld 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 ill 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 ill rest as after much turmoil a blessed soul doth in elysium lucetta but in what habit will you go along julia 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 lucetta why then your ladyship must cut your hair julia no girl ill 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 lucetta what fashion madam shall i make your breeches julia that fits as well as tell me good my lord what compass will you wear your farthingale why evn what fashion thou best likes lucetta lucetta you must needs have them with a codpiece madam julia out out lucetta that will be ill favourd lucetta a round hose madam nows not worth a pin unless you have a codpiece to stick pins on julia lucetta as thou lovst me let me have what thou thinkst 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 scandalizd lucetta if you think so then stay at home and go not julia nay that i will not lucetta then never dream on infamy but go if proteus like your journey when you come no matter whos displeasd when you are gone i fear me he will scarce be pleasd withal julia 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 lucetta all these are servants to deceitful men julia 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 lucetta pray heavn he prove so when you come to him julia now as thou lovst 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 exeunt act iii scene i milan the dukes palace enter duke thurio and proteus duke sir thurio give us leave i pray awhile we have some secrets to confer about exit thurio now tell me proteus whats your will with me proteus 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 determind to bestow her on thurio whom your gentle daughter hates and should she thus be stoln away from you it would be much vexation to your age thus for my dutys 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 duke 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 judgd me fast asleep and oftentimes have purposd 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 shunnd i gave him gentle looks thereby to find that which thyself hast now disclosd 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 towr the key whereof myself have ever kept and thence she cannot be conveyd away proteus know noble lord they have devisd 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 duke upon mine honour he shall never know that i had any light from thee of this proteus adieu my lord sir valentine is coming exit enter valentine duke sir valentine whither away so fast valentine please it your grace there is a messenger that stays to bear my letters to my friends and i am going to deliver them duke be they of much import valentine the tenour of them doth but signify my health and happy being at your court duke 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 valentine 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 duke 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 cherishd by her childlike duty i now am full resolvd to take a wife and turn her out to who will take her in then let her beauty be her wedding dowr for me and my possessions she esteems not valentine what would your grace have me to do in this duke there is a lady in 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 changd how and which way i may bestow myself to be regarded in her sun bright eye valentine win her with gifts if she respect not words dumb jewels often in their silent kind more than quick words do move a womans mind duke but she did scorn a present that i sent her valentine a woman sometime scorns what best contents her send her another never give her oer 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 neer 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 duke but she i mean is promisd 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 valentine why then i would resort to her by night duke ay but the doors be lockd and keys kept safe that no man hath recourse to her by night valentine what lets but one may enter at her window duke her chamber is aloft far from the ground and built so shelving that one cannot climb it without apparent hazard of his life valentine why then a ladder quaintly made of cords to cast up with a pair of anchoring hooks would serve to scale another heros towr so bold leander would adventure it duke now as thou art a gentleman of blood advise me where i may have such a ladder valentine when would you use it pray sir tell me that duke this very night for love is like a child that longs for everything that he can come by valentine by seven oclock ill get you such a ladder duke but hark thee i will go to her alone how shall i best convey the ladder thither valentine it will be light my lord that you may bear it under a cloak that is of any length duke a cloak as long as thine will serve the turn valentine ay my good lord duke then let me see thy cloak ill get me one of such another length valentine why any cloak will serve the turn my lord duke how shall i fashion me to wear a cloak i pray thee let me feel thy cloak upon me what letter is this same whats here to silvia and here an engine fit for my proceeding ill be so bold to break the seal for once reads 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 blest them because myself do want my servants fortune i curse myself for they are sent by me that they should harbour where their lord should be whats here silvia this night i will enfranchise thee tis so and heres 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 base intruder over weening 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 bestowd 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 bore my daughter or thyself be gone i will not hear thy vain excuse but as thou lovst thy life make speed from hence exit valentine and why not death rather than living torment to die is to be banishd from myself and silvia is myself banishd 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 fosterd illumind cherishd 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 enter proteus and launce proteus run boy run run seek him out launce so ho so ho proteus what seest thou launce him we go to find theres not a hair on s head but tis a valentine proteus valentine valentine no proteus who then his spirit valentine neither proteus what then valentine nothing launce can nothing speak master shall i strike proteus who wouldst thou strike launce nothing proteus villain forbear launce why sir ill strike nothing i pray you proteus sirrah i say forbear friend valentine a word valentine my ears are stoppd and cannot hear good news so much of bad already hath possessd them proteus then in dumb silence will i bury mine for they are harsh untuneable and bad valentine is silvia dead proteus no valentine valentine no valentine indeed for sacred silvia hath she forsworn me proteus no valentine valentine no valentine if silvia have forsworn me what is your news launce sir there is a proclamation that you are vanished proteus that thou art banished o thats the news from hence from silvia and from me thy friend valentine o i have fed upon this woe already and now excess of it will make me surfeit doth silvia know that i am banished proteus ay ay and she hath offered to the doom which unreversd stands in effectual force a sea of melting pearl which some call tears those at her fathers churlish feet she tenderd 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 taen must die besides her intercession chafd him so when she for thy repeal was suppliant that to close prison he commanded her with many bitter threats of biding there valentine no more unless the next word that thou speakst have some malignant power upon my life if so i pray thee breathe it in mine ear as ending anthem of my endless dolour proteus cease to lament for that thou canst not help and study help for that which thou lamentst 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 lovers 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 deliverd even in the milk white bosom of thy love the time now serves not to expostulate come ill 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 lovst silvia though not for thyself regard thy danger and along with me valentine i pray thee launce an if thou seest my boy bid him make haste and meet me at the northgate proteus go sirrah find him out come valentine valentine o my dear silvia hapless valentine exeunt valentine and proteus launce i am but a fool look you and yet i have the wit to think my master is a kind of a knave but thats 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 masters maid and serves for wages she hath more qualities than a water spaniel which is much in a bare christian here is the cate log pulling out a paper of her condition inprimis 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 enter speed speed how now signior launce what news with your mastership launce with my masters ship why it is at sea speed well your old vice still mistake the word what news then in your paper launce the blackst news that ever thou heardst speed why man how black launce why as black as ink speed let me read them launce fie on thee jolt head thou canst not read speed thou liest i can launce i will try thee tell me this who begot thee speed marry the son of my grandfather launce o illiterate loiterer it was the son of thy grandmother this proves that thou canst not read speed come fool come try me in thy paper launce handing over the paper there and saint nicholas be thy speed speed reads inprimis she can milk launce ay that she can speed item she brews good ale launce and thereof comes the proverb blessing of your heart you brew good ale speed item she can sew launce thats as much as to say can she so speed item she can knit launce what need a man care for a stock with a wench when she can knit him a stock speed item she can wash and scour launce a special virtue for then she need not be washd and scourd speed item she can spin launce then may i set the world on wheels when she can spin for her living speed item she hath many nameless virtues launce thats as much as to say bastard virtues that indeed know not their fathers and therefore have no names speed here follow her vices launce close at the heels of her virtues speed item she is not to be kissd fasting in respect of her breath launce well that fault may be mended with a breakfast read on speed item she hath a sweet mouth launce that makes amends for her sour breath speed item she doth talk in her sleep launce its no matter for that so she sleep not in her talk speed item she is slow in words launce o villain that set this down among her vices to be slow in words is a womans only virtue i pray thee out witht and place it for her chief virtue speed item she is proud launce out with that too it was eves legacy and cannot be taen from her speed item she hath no teeth launce i care not for that neither because i love crusts speed item she is curst launce well the best is she hath no teeth to bite speed item she will often praise her liquor launce if her liquor be good she shall if she will not i will for good things should be praised speed item she is too liberal launce of her tongue she cannot for thats writ down she is slow of of her purse she shall not for that ill keep shut now of another thing she may and that cannot i help well proceed speed item she hath more hair than wit and more faults than hairs and more wealth than faults launce stop there ill have her she was mine and not mine twice or thrice in that last article rehearse that once more speed item she hath more hair than wit launce more hair than wit it may be ill 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 whats next speed and more faults than hairs launce thats monstrous o that that were out speed and more wealth than faults launce why that word makes the faults gracious well ill have her an if it be a match as nothing is impossible speed what then launce why then will i tell thee that thy master stays for thee at the northgate speed for me launce for thee ay who art thou he hath stayd for a better man than thee speed and must i go to him launce thou must run to him for thou hast stayd so long that going will scarce serve the turn speed why didst not tell me sooner pox of your love letters exit launce now will he be swingd for reading my letter an unmannerly slave that will thrust himself into secrets ill after to rejoice in the boys correction exit scene ii milan the dukes palace enter duke and thurio duke sir thurio fear not but that she will love you now valentine is banishd from her sight thurio since his exile she hath despisd me most forsworn my company and raild at me that i am desperate of obtaining her duke this weak impress of love is as a figure trenched in ice which with an hours heat dissolves to water and doth lose his form a little time will melt her frozen thoughts and worthless valentine shall be forgot enter proteus how now sir proteus is your countryman according to our proclamation gone proteus gone my good lord duke my daughter takes his going grievously proteus a little time my lord will kill that grief duke 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 proteus longer than i prove loyal to your grace let me not live to look upon your grace duke thou knowst how willingly i would effect the match between sir thurio and my daughter proteus i do my lord duke and also i think thou art not ignorant how she opposes her against my will proteus she did my lord when valentine was here duke ay and perversely she persevers so what might we do to make the girl forget the love of valentine and love sir thurio proteus the best way is to slander valentine with falsehood cowardice and poor descent three things that women highly hold in hate duke ay but shell think that it is spoke in hate proteus ay if his enemy deliver it therefore it must with circumstance be spoken by one whom she esteemeth as his friend duke then you must undertake to slander him proteus and that my lord i shall be loath to do tis an ill office for a gentleman especially against his very friend duke 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 proteus you have prevaild 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 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 duke and proteus we dare trust you in this kind because we know on valentines report you are already loves 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 friends sake will be glad of you where you may temper her by your persuasion to hate young valentine and love my friend proteus 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 rhymes should be full fraught with serviceable vows duke ay much is the force of heaven bred poesy proteus 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 ladys chamber window with some sweet consort to their instruments tune a deploring dump the nights dead silence will well become such sweet complaining grievance this or else nothing will inherit her duke this discipline shows thou hast been in love thurio and thy advice this night ill put in practice therefore sweet proteus my direction giver let us into the city presently to sort some gentlemen well skilld in music i have a sonnet that will serve the turn to give the onset to thy good advice duke about it gentlemen proteus well wait upon your grace till after supper and afterward determine our proceedings duke even now about it i will pardon you exeunt act iv scene i the frontiers of mantua a forest enter certain outlaws first outlaw fellows stand fast i see a passenger second outlaw if there be ten shrink not but down with em enter valentine and speed third outlaw stand sir and throw us that you have about ye if not well make you sit and rifle you speed sir we are undone these are the villains that all the travellers do fear so much valentine my friends first outlaw thats not so sir we are your enemies second outlaw peace well hear him third outlaw ay by my beard will we for he is a proper man valentine then know that i have little wealth to lose a man i am crossd 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 second outlaw whither travel you valentine to verona first outlaw whence came you valentine from milan third outlaw have you long sojournd there valentine some sixteen months and longer might have stayd if crooked fortune had not thwarted me first outlaw what were you banishd thence valentine i was second outlaw for what offence valentine for that which now torments me to rehearse i killd a man whose death i much repent but yet i slew him manfully in fight without false vantage or base treachery first outlaw why neer repent it if it were done so but were you banishd for so small a fault valentine i was and held me glad of such a doom second outlaw have you the tongues valentine my youthful travel therein made me happy or else i often had been miserable third outlaw by the bare scalp of robin hoods fat friar this fellow were a king for our wild faction first outlaw well have him sirs a word speed master be one of them its an honourable kind of thievery valentine peace villain second outlaw tell us this have you anything to take to valentine nothing but my fortune third outlaw know then that some of us are gentlemen such as the fury of ungovernd 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 second outlaw and i from mantua for a gentleman who in my mood i stabbd unto the heart first outlaw and i for such like petty crimes as these but to the purpose for we cite our faults that they may hold excusd 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 second outlaw indeed because you are a banishd 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 third outlaw what sayst thou wilt thou be of our consort say ay and be the captain of us all well do thee homage and be ruld by thee love thee as our commander and our king first outlaw but if thou scorn our courtesy thou diest second outlaw thou shalt not live to brag what we have offerd valentine i take your offer and will live with you provided that you do no outrages on silly women or poor passengers third outlaw no we detest such vile base practices come go with us well bring thee to our crews and show thee all the treasure we have got which with ourselves all rest at thy dispose exeunt scene ii milan outside the dukes palace under silvias window enter proteus proteus 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 lovd and notwithstanding all her sudden quips the least whereof would quell a lovers hope yet spaniel like the more she spurns my love the more it grows and fawneth on her still enter thurio and musicians but here comes thurio now must we to her window and give some evening music to her ear thurio how now sir proteus are you crept before us proteus ay gentle thurio for you know that love will creep in service where it cannot go thurio ay but i hope sir that you love not here proteus sir but i do or else i would be hence thurio who silvia proteus ay silvia for your sake thurio i thank you for your own now gentlemen lets tune and to it lustily awhile enter at a distance host and julia in boys clothes host now my young guest methinks youre allycholly i pray you why is it julia marry mine host because i cannot be merry host come well have you merry ill bring you where you shall hear music and see the gentleman that you askd for julia but shall i hear him speak host ay that you shall music plays julia that will be music host hark hark julia is he among these host ay but peace lets hear em song 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 helpd 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 host how now are you sadder than you were before how do you man the music likes you not julia you mistake the musician likes me not host why my pretty youth julia he plays false father host how out of tune on the strings julia not so but yet so false that he grieves my very heart strings host you have a quick ear julia ay i would i were deaf it makes me have a slow heart host i perceive you delight not in music julia not a whit when it jars so host hark what fine change is in the music julia ay that change is the spite host you would have them always play but one thing julia i would always have one play but one thing but host doth this sir proteus that we talk on often resort unto this gentlewoman host i tell you what launce his man told me he lovd her out of all nick julia where is launce host gone to seek his dog which to morrow by his masters command he must carry for a present to his lady julia peace stand aside the company parts proteus sir thurio fear not you i will so plead that you shall say my cunning drift excels thurio where meet we proteus at saint gregorys well thurio farewell exeunt thurio and musicians enter silvia above at her window proteus madam good evn to your ladyship silvia i thank you for your music gentlemen who is that that spake proteus one lady if you knew his pure hearts truth you would quickly learn to know him by his voice silvia sir proteus as i take it proteus sir proteus gentle lady and your servant silvia whats your will proteus that i may compass yours silvia you have your wish my will is even this that presently you hie you home to bed thou subtle perjurd false disloyal man thinkst thou i am so shallow so conceitless to be seduced by thy flattery that hast deceivd 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 proteus i grant sweet love that i did love a lady but she is dead julia aside twere false if i should speak it for i am sure she is not buried silvia say that she be yet valentine thy friend survives to whom thyself art witness i am betrothd and art thou not ashamd to wrong him with thy importunacy proteus i likewise hear that valentine is dead silvia and so suppose am i for in his grave assure thyself my love is buried proteus sweet lady let me rake it from the earth silvia go to thy ladys grave and call hers thence or at the least in hers sepulchre thine julia aside he heard not that proteus 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 ill speak to that ill 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 julia aside if twere a substance you would sure deceive it and make it but a shadow as i am silvia 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 ill send it and so good rest proteus as wretches have oernight that wait for execution in the morn exeunt proteus and silvia julia host will you go host by my halidom i was fast asleep julia pray you where lies sir proteus host marry at my house trust me i think tis almost day julia not so but it hath been the longest night that eer i watchd and the most heaviest exeunt scene iii under silvias window enter eglamour eglamour this is the hour that madam silvia entreated me to call and know her mind theres some great matter shed employ me in madam madam enter silvia above at her window silvia who calls eglamour your servant and your friend one that attends your ladyships command silvia sir eglamour a thousand times good morrow eglamour as many worthy lady to yourself according to your ladyships impose i am thus early come to know what service it is your pleasure to command me in silvia o eglamour thou art a gentleman think not i flatter for i swear i do not valiant wise remorseful well accomplishd thou art not ignorant what dear good will i bear unto the banishd valentine nor how my father would enforce me marry vain thurio whom my very soul abhors thyself hast lovd 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 vowdst 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 fathers anger eglamour but think upon my grief a ladys 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 eglamour madam i pity much your grievances which since i know they virtuously are placd 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 silvia this evening coming eglamour where shall i meet you silvia at friar patricks cell where i intend holy confession eglamour i will not fail your ladyship good morrow gentle lady silvia good morrow kind sir eglamour exeunt scene iv under silvias window enter launce with his dog launce when a mans servant shall play the cur with him look you it goes hard one that i brought up of a puppy one that i savd 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 i would 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 capons 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 hangd fort sure as i live he had sufferd fort you shall judge he thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman like dogs under the dukes 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 ill be sworn i have sat in the stock for puddings he hath stoln otherwise he had been executed i have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killd otherwise he had sufferd fort thou thinkst not of this now nay i remember the trick you servd 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 gentlewomans farthingale didst thou ever see me do such a trick enter proteus and julia in boys clothes proteus sebastian is thy name i like thee well and will employ thee in some service presently julia in what you please ill do what i can proteus i hope thou wilt to launce how now you whoreson peasant where have you been these two days loitering launce marry sir i carried mistress silvia the dog you bade me proteus and what says she to my little jewel launce marry she says your dog was a cur and tells you currish thanks is good enough for such a present proteus but she receivd my dog launce no indeed did she not here have i brought him back again proteus what didst thou offer her this from me launce ay sir the other squirrel was stoln from me by the hangmans boys in the market place and then i offerd her mine own who is a dog as big as ten of yours and therefore the gift the greater proteus go get thee hence and find my dog again or neer return again into my sight away i say stayest thou to vex me here exit launce 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 tis 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 lovd me well deliverd it to me julia it seems you lovd not her to leave her token she is dead belike proteus not so i think she lives julia alas proteus why dost thou cry alas julia i cannot choose but pity her proteus wherefore shouldst thou pity her julia because methinks that she lovd 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 proteus well give her that ring and therewithal this letter thats 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 exit proteus julia how many women would do such a message alas poor proteus thou hast entertaind 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 refusd to praise his faith which i would have dispraisd i am my masters 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 enter silvia attended gentlewoman good day i pray you be my mean to bring me where to speak with madam silvia silvia what would you with her if that i be she julia if you be she i do entreat your patience to hear me speak the message i am sent on silvia from whom julia from my master sir proteus madam silvia o he sends you for a picture julia ay madam silvia 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 julia madam please you peruse this letter pardon me madam i have unadvisd deliverd you a paper that i should not this is the letter to your ladyship silvia i pray thee let me look on that again julia it may not be good madam pardon me silvia there hold i will not look upon your masters lines i know they are stuffd with protestations and full of new found oaths which he wul break as easily as i do tear his paper julia madam he sends your ladyship this ring silvia 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 profand the ring mine shall not do his julia so much wrong julia she thanks you silvia what sayst thou julia i thank you madam that you tender her poor gentlewoman my master wrongs her much silvia dost thou know her julia almost as well as i do know myself to think upon her woes i do protest that i have wept a hundred several times silvia belike she thinks that proteus hath forsook her julia i think she doth and thats her cause of sorrow silvia is she not passing fair julia she hath been fairer madam than she is when she did think my master lovd 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 starvd the roses in her cheeks and pinchd the lily tincture of her face that now she is become as black as i silvia how tall was she julia about my stature for at pentecost when all our pageants of delight were playd our youth got me to play the womans part and i was trimmd in madam julias gown which served me as fit by all mens 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 a good 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 silvia 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 lovst her farewell exit silvia with attendants julia and she shall thank you fort if eer you know her a virtuous gentlewoman mild and beautiful i hope my masters 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 flatterd 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 ill get me such a colourd periwig her eyes are grey as glass and so are mine ay but her foreheads low and mines 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 worshippd kissd lovd and adord and were there sense in his idolatry my substance should be statue in thy stead ill use thee kindly for thy mistress sake that usd me so or else by jove i vow i should have scratchd out your unseeing eyes to make my master out of love with thee exit act v scene i milan an abbey enter eglamour eglamour the sun begins to gild the western sky and now it is about the very hour that silvia at friar patricks 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 enter silvia see where she comes lady a happy evening silvia amen amen go on good eglamour out at the postern by the abbey wall i fear i am attended by some spies eglamour fear not the forest is not three leagues off if we recover that we are sure enough exeunt scene ii milan the dukes palace enter thurio proteus and julia as sebastian thurio sir proteus what says silvia to my suit proteus o sir i find her milder than she was and yet she takes exceptions at your person thurio what that my leg is too long proteus no that it is too little thurio ill wear a boot to make it somewhat rounder julia aside but love will not be spurrd to what it loathes thurio what says she to my face proteus she says it is a fair one thurio nay then the wanton lies my face is black proteus but pearls are fair and the old saying is black men are pearls in beauteous ladies eyes julia aside tis true such pearls as put out ladies eyes for i had rather wink than look on them thurio how likes she my discourse proteus ill when you talk of war thurio but well when i discourse of love and peace julia aside but better indeed when you hold your peace thurio what says she to my valour proteus o sir she makes no doubt of that julia aside she needs not when she knows it cowardice thurio what says she to my birth proteus that you are well derivd julia aside true from a gentleman to a fool thurio considers she my possessions proteus o ay and pities them thurio wherefore julia aside that such an ass should owe them proteus that they are out by lease julia here comes the duke enter duke duke how now sir proteus how now thurio which of you saw sir eglamour of late thurio not i proteus nor i duke saw you my daughter proteus neither duke why then shes fled unto that peasant valentine and eglamour is in her company tis true for friar lawrence met them both as he in penance wanderd through the forest him he knew well and guessd that it was she but being maskd he was not sure of it besides she did intend confession at patricks 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 toward mantua whither they are fled dispatch sweet gentlemen and follow me exit thurio why this it is to be a peevish girl that flies her fortune when it follows her ill after more to be revengd on eglamour than for the love of reckless silvia exit proteus and i will follow more for silvias love than hate of eglamour that goes with her exit julia and i will follow more to cross that love than hate for silvia that is gone for love exit scene iii the frontiers of mantua the forest enter outlaws with silva first outlaw come come be patient we must bring you to our captain silvia a thousand more mischances than this one have learnd me how to brook this patiently second outlaw come bring her away first outlaw where is the gentleman that was with her second outlaw 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 well follow him thats fled the thicket is beset he cannot scape first outlaw come i must bring you to our captains cave fear not he bears an honourable mind and will not use a woman lawlessly silvia o valentine this i endure for thee exeunt scene iv another part of the forest enter valentine valentine how use doth breed a habit in a man this shadowy desert unfrequented woods i better brook than flourishing peopled towns here can i sit alone unseen of any and to the nightingales 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 whos this comes here steps aside enter proteus silvia and julia as sebastian proteus 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 forcd 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 valentine aside how like a dream is this i see and hear love lend me patience to forbear awhile silvia o miserable unhappy that i am proteus unhappy were you madam ere i came but by my coming i have made you happy silvia by thy approach thou makst me most unhappy julia aside and me when he approacheth to your presence silvia 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 lifes as tender to me as my soul and full as much for more there cannot be i do detest false perjurd proteus therefore be gone solicit me no more proteus what dangerous action stood it next to death would i not undergo for one calm look o tis the curse in love and still approvd when women cannot love where theyre belovd silvia when proteus cannot love where hes belovd read over julias 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 thoudst two and thats far worse than none better have none than plural faith which is too much by one thou counterfeit to thy true friend proteus in love who respects friend silvia all men but proteus proteus nay if the gentle spirit of moving words can no way change you to a milder form ill woo you like a soldier at arms end and love you gainst the nature of love force ye silvia o heaven proteus ill force thee yield to my desire valentine ruffian let go that rude uncivil touch thou friend of an ill fashion proteus valentine valentine thou common friend thats without faith or love for such is a friend now treacherous man thou hast beguild my hopes nought 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 when ones own right hand is perjured 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 deepest o time most accurst mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst proteus my shame and guilt confounds me forgive me valentine if hearty sorrow be a sufficient ransom for offence i tender t here i do as truly suffer as eer i did commit valentine 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 pleasd by penitence th eternals wraths appeasd and that my love may appear plain and free all that was mine in silvia i give thee julia o me unhappy swoons proteus look to the boy valentine why boy why wag how now whats the matter look up speak julia o good sir my master chargd me to deliver a ring to madam silvia which out of my neglect was never done proteus where is that ring boy julia here tis this is it proteus how let me see why this is the ring i gave to julia julia o cry you mercy sir i have mistook this is the ring you sent to silvia proteus but how camst thou by this ring at my depart i gave this unto julia julia and julia herself did give it me and julia herself have brought it hither proteus how julia julia behold her that gave aim to all thy oaths and entertaind em deeply in her heart how oft hast thou with perjury cleft the root o proteus let this habit make thee blush be thou ashamd 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 proteus 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 th sins inconstancy falls off ere it begins what is in silvias face but i may spy more fresh in julias with a constant eye valentine come come a hand from either let me be blest to make this happy close twere pity two such friends should be long foes proteus bear witness heaven i have my wish for ever julia and i mine enter outlaws with duke and thurio outlaw a prize a prize a prize valentine forbear forbear i say it is my lord the duke your grace is welcome to a man disgracd banished valentine duke sir valentine thurio yonder is silvia and silvias mine valentine 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 thurio 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 duke 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 unrivalld merit to which i thus subscribe sir valentine thou art a gentleman and well derivd take thou thy silvia for thou hast deservd her valentine i thank your grace the gift hath made me happy i now beseech you for your daughters sake to grant one boon that i shall ask of you duke i grant it for thine own whateer it be valentine these banishd men that i have kept withal are men endud with worthy qualities forgive them what they have committed here and let them be recalld from their exile they are reformed civil full of good and fit for great employment worthy lord duke thou hast prevaild i pardon them and thee dispose of them as thou knowst their deserts come let us go we will include all jars with triumphs mirth and rare solemnity valentine 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 duke i think the boy hath grace in him he blushes valentine i warrant you my lord more grace than boy duke what mean you by that saying valentine please you ill 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 exeunt the end the two noble kinsmen presented at the blackfriers by the kings maiesties servants with great applause written by the memorable worthies of their time mr john fletcher gent and mr william shakspeare gent printed at london by tho cotes for john waterson and are to be sold at the signe of the crowne in pauls church yard the persons represented in the play hymen theseus hippolita bride to theseus emelia sister to theseus emelias woman nymphs three queens three valiant knights palamon and arcite the two noble kinsmen in love with fair emelia valerius perithous a herald a gentleman a messenger a servant wooer keeper jaylor his daughter in love with palamon his brother a doctor countreymen friends of the jaylor knights nel and other wenches a taborer gerrold a schoolmaster prologue florish new playes and maydenheads are neare a kin much followd both for both much mony gyn if they stand sound and well and a good play whose modest sceanes blush on his marriage day and shake to loose his honour is like hir that after holy tye and first nights stir yet still is modestie and still retaines more of the maid to sight than husbands paines we pray our play may be so for i am sure it has a noble breeder and a pure a learned and a poet never went more famous yet twixt po and silver trent chaucer of all admird the story gives there constant to eternity it lives if we let fall the noblenesse of this and the first sound this child heare be a hisse how will it shake the bones of that good man and make him cry from under ground o fan from me the witles chaffe of such a wrighter that blastes my bayes and my famd workes makes lighter then robin hood this is the feare we bring for to say truth it were an endlesse thing and too ambitious to aspire to him weake as we are and almost breathlesse swim in this deepe water do but you hold out your helping hands and we shall take about and something doe to save us you shall heare sceanes though below his art may yet appeare worth two houres travell to his bones sweet sleepe content to you if this play doe not keepe a little dull time from us we perceave our losses fall so thicke we must needs leave florish act i scene athens before a temple enter hymen with a torch burning a boy in a white robe before singing and strewing flowres after hymen a nimph encompast in her tresses bearing a wheaten garland then theseus betweene two other nimphs with wheaten chaplets on their heades then hipolita the bride lead by pirithous and another holding a garland over her head her tresses likewise hanging after her emilia holding up her traine artesius and attendants the song musike roses their sharpe spines being gon not royall in their smels alone but in their hew maiden pinckes of odour faint dazies smel lesse yet most quaint and sweet time true prim rose first borne child of ver merry spring times herbinger with her bels dimme oxlips in their cradles growing mary golds on death beds blowing larkes heeles trymme all deere natures children sweete ly fore bride and bridegroomes feete strew flowers blessing their sence not an angle of the aire bird melodious or bird faire is absent hence the crow the slaundrous cuckoe nor the boding raven nor chough hore nor chattring pie may on our bridehouse pearch or sing or with them any discord bring but from it fly enter queenes in blacke with vailes staind with imperiall crownes the queene fals downe at the foote of theseus the fals downe at the foote of hypolita the before emilia queen for pitties sake and true gentilities heare and respect me queen for your mothers sake and as you wish your womb may thrive with faire ones heare and respect me queen now for the love of him whom iove hath markd the honour of your bed and for the sake of cleere virginity be advocate for us and our distresses this good deede shall raze you out oth booke of trespasses all you are set downe there theseus sad lady rise hippolita stand up emilia no knees to me what woman i may steed that is distrest does bind me to her theseus whats your request deliver you for all queen we are queenes whose soveraignes fel before the wrath of cruell creon who endured the beakes of ravens tallents of the kights and pecks of crowes in the fowle feilds of thebs he will not suffer us to burne their bones to urne their ashes nor to take th offence of mortall loathsomenes from the blest eye of holy phoebus but infects the windes with stench of our slaine lords o pitty duke thou purger of the earth draw thy feard sword that does good turnes toth world give us the bones of our dead kings that we may chappell them and of thy boundles goodnes take some note that for our crowned heades we have no roofe save this which is the lyons and the beares and vault to every thing theseus pray you kneele not i was transported with your speech and sufferd your knees to wrong themselves i have heard the fortunes of your dead lords which gives me such lamenting as wakes my vengeance and revenge forem king capaneus was your lord the day that he should marry you at such a season as now it is with me i met your groome by marsis altar you were that time faire not iunos mantle fairer then your tresses nor in more bounty spread her your wheaten wreathe was then nor threashd nor blasted fortune at you dimpled her cheeke with smiles hercules our kinesman then weaker than your eies laide by his club he tumbled downe upon his nemean hide and swore his sinews thawd o greife and time fearefull consumers you will all devoure queen o i hope some god some god hath put his mercy in your manhood whereto heel infuse powre and presse you forth our undertaker theseus o no knees none widdow vnto the helmeted belona use them and pray for me your souldier troubled i am turnes away queen honoured hypolita most dreaded amazonian that hast slaine the sith tuskd bore that with thy arme as strong as it is white wast neere to make the male to thy sex captive but that this thy lord borne to uphold creation in that honour first nature stilde it in shrunke thee into the bownd thou wast ore flowing at once subduing thy force and thy affection soldiresse that equally canst poize sternenes with pitty whom now i know hast much more power on him then ever he had on thee who owst his strength and his love too who is a servant for the tenour of thy speech deere glasse of ladies bid him that we whom flaming war doth scortch vnder the shaddow of his sword may coole us require him he advance it ore our heades speakt in a womans key like such a woman as any of us three weepe ere you faile lend us a knee but touch the ground for us no longer time then a doves motion when the heads pluckt off tell him if he ith blood cizd field lay swolne showing the sun his teeth grinning at the moone what you would doe hippolita poore lady say no more i had as leife trace this good action with you as that whereto i am going and never yet went i so willing way my lord is taken hart deepe with your distresse let him consider ile speake anon queen o my petition was kneele to emilia set downe in yce which by hot greefe uncandied melts into drops so sorrow wanting forme is prest with deeper matter emilia pray stand up your greefe is written in your cheeke queen o woe you cannot reade it there there through my teares like wrinckled peobles in a glassie streame you may behold em lady lady alacke he that will all the treasure know oth earth must know the center too he that will fish for my least minnow let him lead his line to catch one at my heart o pardon me extremity that sharpens sundry wits makes me a foole emilia pray you say nothing pray you who cannot feele nor see the raine being int knowes neither wet nor dry if that you were the ground peece of some painter i would buy you tinstruct me gainst a capitall greefe indeed such heart peircd demonstration but alas being a naturall sifter of our sex your sorrow beates so ardently upon me that it shall make a counter reflect gainst my brothers heart and warme it to some pitty though it were made of stone pray have good comfort theseus forward toth temple leave not out a iot oth sacred ceremony queen o this celebration will long last and be more costly then your suppliants war remember that your fame knowles in the eare oth world what you doe quickly is not done rashly your first thought is more then others laboured meditance your premeditating more then their actions but oh iove your actions soone as they mooves as asprayes doe the fish subdue before they touch thinke deere duke thinke what beds our slaine kings have queen what greifes our beds that our deere lords have none queen none fit for th dead those that with cordes knives drams precipitance weary of this worlds light have to themselves beene deathes most horrid agents humaine grace affords them dust and shaddow queen but our lords ly blistring fore the visitating sunne and were good kings when living theseus it is true and i will give you comfort to give your dead lords graves the which to doe must make some worke with creon queen and that worke presents it selfe toth doing now twill take forme the heates are gone to morrow then booteles toyle must recompence it selfe with its owne sweat now hes secure not dreames we stand before your puissance wrinching our holy begging in our eyes to make petition cleere queen now you may take him drunke with his victory queen and his army full of bread and sloth theseus artesius that best knowest how to draw out fit to this enterprise the primst for this proceeding and the number to carry such a businesse forth and levy our worthiest instruments whilst we despatch this grand act of our life this daring deede of fate in wedlocke queen dowagers take hands let us be widdowes to our woes delay commends us to a famishing hope all farewell queen we come unseasonably but when could greefe cull forth as unpanged judgement can fitst time for best solicitation theseus why good ladies this is a service whereto i am going greater then any was it more imports me then all the actions that i have foregone or futurely can cope queen the more proclaiming our suit shall be neglected when her armes able to locke iove from a synod shall by warranting moone light corslet thee oh when her twyning cherries shall their sweetnes fall vpon thy tastefull lips what wilt thou thinke of rotten kings or blubberd queenes what care for what thou feelst not what thou feelst being able to make mars spurne his drom o if thou couch but one night with her every howre int will take hostage of thee for a hundred and thou shalt remember nothing more then what that banket bids thee too hippolita though much unlike kneeling you should be so transported as much sorry i should be such a suitour yet i thinke did i not by thabstayning of my joy which breeds a deeper longing cure their surfeit that craves a present medcine i should plucke all ladies scandall on me therefore sir as i shall here make tryall of my prayres either presuming them to have some force or sentencing for ay their vigour dombe prorogue this busines we are going about and hang your sheild afore your heart about that necke which is my ffee and which i freely lend to doe these poore queenes service all queens oh helpe now our cause cries for your knee emilia if you grant not kneeling my sister her petition in that force with that celerity and nature which shee makes it in from henceforth ile not dare to aske you any thing nor be so hardy ever to take a husband theseus pray stand up i am entreating of my selfe to doe that which you kneele to have me pyrithous leade on the bride get you and pray the gods for successe and returne omit not any thing in the pretended celebration queenes follow your soldier as before hence you to artesius and at the banckes of aulis meete us with the forces you can raise where we shall finde the moytie of a number for a busines more bigger lookt since that our theame is haste i stamp this kisse upon thy currant lippe sweete keepe it as my token set you forward for i will see you gone exeunt towards the temple farewell my beauteous sister pyrithous keepe the feast full bate not an howre ont perithous sir ile follow you at heeles the feasts solempnity shall want till your returne theseus cosen i charge you boudge not from athens we shall be returning ere you can end this feast of which i pray you make no abatement once more farewell all queen thus dost thou still make good the tongue oth world queen and earnst a deity equal with mars queen if not above him for thou being but mortall makest affections bend to godlike honours they themselves some say grone under such a mastry theseus as we are men thus should we doe being sensually subdude we loose our humane tytle good cheere ladies florish now turne we towards your comforts exeunt scene thebs enter palamon and arcite arcite deere palamon deerer in love then blood and our prime cosen yet unhardned in the crimes of nature let us leave the citty thebs and the temptings int before we further sully our glosse of youth and here to keepe in abstinence we shame as in incontinence for not to swim ith aide oth current were almost to sincke at least to frustrate striving and to follow the common streame twold bring us to an edy where we should turne or drowne if labour through our gaine but life and weakenes palamon your advice is cride up with example what strange ruins since first we went to schoole may we perceive walking in thebs skars and bare weedes the gaine oth martialist who did propound to his bold ends honour and golden ingots which though he won he had not and now flurted by peace for whom he fought who then shall offer to marsis so scornd altar i doe bleede when such i meete and wish great iuno would resume her ancient fit of ielouzie to get the soldier worke that peace might purge for her repletion and retaine anew her charitable heart now hard and harsher then strife or war could be arcite are you not out meete you no ruine but the soldier in the cranckes and turnes of thebs you did begin as if you met decaies of many kindes perceive you none that doe arowse your pitty but thun considerd soldier palamon yes i pitty decaies where ere i finde them but such most that sweating in an honourable toyle are paide with yce to coole em arcite tis not this i did begin to speake of this is vertue of no respect in thebs i spake of thebs how dangerous if we will keepe our honours it is for our resyding where every evill hath a good cullor where every seeming goods a certaine evill where not to be evn iumpe as they are here were to be strangers and such things to be meere monsters palamon tis in our power vnlesse we feare that apes can tutors to be masters of our manners what neede i affect anothers gate which is not catching where there is faith or to be fond upon anothers way of speech when by mine owne i may be reasonably conceivd savd too speaking it truly why am i bound by any generous bond to follow him followes his taylor haply so long untill the followd make pursuit or let me know why mine owne barber is unblest with him my poore chinne too for tis not cizard iust to such a favorites glasse what cannon is there that does command my rapier from my hip to danglet in my hand or to go tip toe before the streete be foule either i am the fore horse in the teame or i am none that draw ith sequent trace these poore sleight sores neede not a plantin that which rips my bosome almost toth hearts arcite our vncle creon palamon he a most unbounded tyrant whose successes makes heaven unfeard and villany assured beyond its power theres nothing almost puts faith in a feavour and deifies alone voluble chance who onely attributes the faculties of other instruments to his owne nerves and act commands men service and what they winne int boot and glory on e that feares not to do harm good dares not let the blood of mine thats sibbe to him be suckt from me with leeches let them breake and fall off me with that corruption arcite cleere spirited cozen lets leave his court that we may nothing share of his lowd infamy for our milke will relish of the pasture and we must be vile or disobedient not his kinesmen in blood unlesse in quality palamon nothing truer i thinke the ecchoes of his shames have deaft the eares of heavnly iustice widdows cryes descend againe into their throates and have not enter valerius due audience of the gods valerius valerius the king cals for you yet be leaden footed till his great rage be off him phebus when he broke his whipstocke and exclaimd against the horses of the sun but whisperd too the lowdenesse of his fury palamon small windes shake him but whats the matter valerius theseus who where he threates appals hath sent deadly defyance to him and pronounces ruine to thebs who is at hand to seale the promise of his wrath arcite let him approach but that we feare the gods in him he brings not a jot of terrour to us yet what man thirds his owne worth the case is each of ours when that his actions dregd with minde assurd tis bad he goes about palamon leave that unreasond our services stand now for thebs not creon yet to be neutrall to him were dishonour rebellious to oppose therefore we must with him stand to the mercy of our fate who hath bounded our last minute arcite so we must ist sed this warres a foote or it shall be on faile of some condition valerius tis in motion the intelligence of state came in the instant with the defier palamon lets to the king who were he a quarter carrier of that honour which his enemy come in the blood we venture should be as for our health which were not spent rather laide out for purchase but alas our hands advancd before our hearts what will the fall oth stroke doe damage arcite let thevent that never erring arbitratour tell us when we know all our selves and let us follow the becking of our chance exeunt scene before the gates of athens enter pirithous hipolita emilia perithous no further hippolita sir farewell repeat my wishes to our great lord of whose succes i dare not make any timerous question yet i wish him exces and overflow of power andt might be to dure ill dealing fortune speede to him store never hurtes good gouernours perithous though i know his ocean needes not my poore drops yet they must yeild their tribute there my precious maide those best affections that the heavens infuse in their best temperd peices keepe enthroand in your deare heart emilia thanckes sir remember me to our all royall brother for whose speede the great bellona ile sollicite and since in our terrene state petitions are not without giftes understood ile offer to her what i shall be advised she likes our hearts are in his army in his tent hippolita ins bosome we have bin soldiers and wee cannot weepe when our friends don their helmes or put to sea or tell of babes broachd on the launce or women that have sod their infants in and after eate them the brine they wept at killing em then if you stay to see of us such spincsters we should hold you here for ever perithous peace be to you as i pursue this war which shall be then beyond further requiring exit pir emilia how his longing followes his friend since his depart his sportes though craving seriousnes and skill past slightly his careles execution where nor gaine made him regard or losse consider but playing one busines in his hand another directing in his head his minde nurse equall to these so diffring twyns have you observd him since our great lord departed hippolita with much labour and i did love him fort they two have cabind in many as dangerous as poore a corner perill and want contending they have skift torrents whose roring tyranny and power ith least of these was dreadfull and they have fought out together where deaths selfe was lodgd yet fate hath brought them off their knot of love tide weaud intangled with so true so long and with a finger of so deepe a cunning may be outworne never undone i thinke theseus cannot be umpire to himselfe cleaving his conscience into twaine and doing each side like iustice which he loves best emilia doubtlesse there is a best and reason has no manners to say it is not you i was acquainted once with a time when i enjoyd a play fellow you were at wars when she the grave enrichd who made too proud the bed tooke leave o th moone which then lookt pale at parting when our count was each eleven hippolita twas flaui n a emilia yes you talke of pirithous and theseus love theirs has more ground is more maturely seasond more buckled with strong iudgement and their needes the one of thother may be said to water hearses ready with palamon and arcite the queenes theseus and his lordes ready their intertangled rootes of love but i and shee i sigh and spoke of were things innocent loud for we did and like the elements that know not what nor why yet doe effect rare issues by their operance our soules did so to one another what she likd was then of me approovd what not condemd no more arraignment the flowre that i would plucke and put betweene my breasts then but beginning to swell about the blossome oh she would long till shee had such another and commit it to the like innocent cradle where phenix like they dide in perfume on my head no toy but was her patterne her affections pretty though happely her careles were i followed for my most serious decking had mine eare stolne some new aire or at adventure humd on from musicall coynadge why it was a note whereon her spirits would sojourne rather dwell on and sing it in her slumbers this rehearsall which evry innocent wots well comes in like old importments bastard has this end that the true love tweene mayde and mayde may be more then in sex idividuall hippolita yare out of breath and this high speeded pace is but to say that you shall never like the maide flavina love any thats calld man emilia i am sure i shall not hippolita now alacke weake sister i must no more beleeve thee in this point though int i know thou dost beleeve thy selfe then i will trust a sickely appetite that loathes even as it longs but sure my sister if i were ripe for your perswasion you have saide enough to shake me from the arme of the all noble theseus for whose fortunes i will now in and kneele with great assurance that we more then his pirothous possesse the high throne in his heart emilia i am not against your faith yet i continew mine exeunt cornets scene a field before thebes dead bodies lying on the ground a battaile strooke within then a retrait florish then enter theseus victor herald and attendants the three queenes meete him and fall on their faces before him queen to thee no starre be darke queen both heaven and earth friend thee for ever queen all the good that may be wishd upon thy head i cry amen toot theseus thimparciall gods who from the mounted heavens view us their mortall heard behold who erre and in their time chastice goe and finde out the bones of your dead lords and honour them with treble ceremonie rather then a gap should be in their deere rights we would supplyt but those we will depute which shall invest you in your dignities and even each thing our hast does leave imperfect so adiew and heavens good eyes looke on you what are those exeunt queenes herald men of great quality as may be judgd by their appointment sone of thebs have tolds they are sisters children nephewes to the king theseus byth helme of mars i saw them in the war like to a paire of lions smeard with prey make lanes in troopes agast i fixt my note constantly on them for they were a marke worth a gods view what prisoner wast that told me when i enquired their names herald wileave theyr called arcite and palamon theseus tis right those those they are not dead herald nor in a state of life had they bin taken when their last hurts were given twas possible hearses ready they might have bin recovered yet they breathe and haue the name of men theseus then like men use em the very lees of such millions of rates exceede the wine of others all our surgions convent in their behoofe our richest balmes rather then niggard waft their lives concerne us much more then thebs is worth rather then have em freed of this plight and in their morning state sound and at liberty i would em dead but forty thousand fold we had rather have em prisoners to us then death beare em speedily from our kinde aire to them unkinde and minister what man to man may doe for our sake more since i have knowne frights fury friends beheastes loves provocations zeale a mistris taske desire of liberty a feavour madnes hath set a marke which nature could not reach too without some imposition sicknes in will or wrastling strength in reason for our love and great appollos mercy all our best their best skill tender leade into the citty where having bound things scatterd we will post florish to athens for e our army exeunt musicke scene another part of the same enter the queenes with the hearses of their knightes in a funerall solempnity etc vrnes and odours bring away vapours sighes darken the day our dole more deadly lookes than dying balmes and gummes and heavy cheeres sacred vials filld with teares and clamors through the wild ayre flying come all sad and solempne showes that are quick eyd pleasures foes we convent nought else but woes we convent etc queen this funeral path brings to your housholds grave ioy ceaze on you againe peace sleepe with him queen and this to yours queen yours this way heavens lend a thousand differing waies to one sure end queen this worlds a citty full of straying streetes and deaths the market place where each one meetes exeunt severally act ii scene athens a garden with a prison in the background enter iailor and wooer iailor i may depart with little while i live some thing i may cast to you not much alas the prison i keepe though it be for great ones yet they seldome come before one salmon you shall take a number of minnowes i am given out to be better lynd then it can appeare to me report is a true speaker i would i were really that i am deliverd to be marry what i have be it what it will i will assure upon my daughter at the day of my death wooer sir i demaund no more then your owne offer and i will estate your daughter in what i have promised iailor wel we will talke more of this when the solemnity is past but have you a full promise of her when that shall be seene i tender my consent enter daughter wooer i have sir here shee comes iailor your friend and i have chanced to name you here upon the old busines but no more of that now so soone as the court hurry is over we will have an end of it ith meane time looke tenderly to the two prisoners i can tell you they are princes daughter these strewings are for their chamber tis pitty they are in prison and twer pitty they should be out i doe thinke they have patience to make any adversity ashamd the prison it selfe is proud of em and they have all the world in their chamber iailor they are famd to be a paire of absolute men daughter by my troth i think fame but stammers em they stand a greise above the reach of report iailor i heard them reported in the battaile to be the only doers daughter nay most likely for they are noble suffrers i mervaile how they would have lookd had they beene victors that with such a constant nobility enforce a freedome out of bondage making misery their mirth and affliction a toy to jest at iailor doe they so daughter it seemes to me they have no more sence of their captivity then i of ruling athens they eate well looke merrily discourse of many things but nothing of their owne restraint and disasters yet sometime a devided sigh martyrd as twer ith deliverance will breake from one of them when the other presently gives it so sweete a rebuke that i could wish my selfe a sigh to be so chid or at least a sigher to be comforted wooer i never saw em iailor the duke himselfe came privately in the night enter palamon and arcite above and so did they what the reason of it is i know not looke yonder they are thats arcite lookes out daughter no sir no thats palamon arcite is the lower of the twaine you may perceive a part of him iailor goe too leave your pointing they would not make us their object out of their sight daughter it is a holliday to looke on them lord the diffrence of men exeunt scene the prison enter palamon and arcite in prison palamon how doe you noble cosen arcite how doe you sir palamon why strong inough to laugh at misery and beare the chance of warre yet we are prisoners i feare for ever cosen arcite i beleeve it and to that destiny have patiently laide up my houre to come palamon o cosen arcite where is thebs now where is our noble country where are our friends and kindreds never more must we behold those comforts never see the hardy youthes strive for the games of honour hung with the painted favours of their ladies like tall ships under saile then start amongst em and as an eastwind leave en all behinde us like lazy clowdes whilst palamon and arcite even in the wagging of a wanton leg out stript the peoples praises won the garlands ere they have time to wish em ours o never shall we two exercise like twyns of honour our armes againe and feele our fyry horses like proud seas under us our good swords now better the red eyd god of war nevr wore ravishd our sides like age must run to rust and decke the temples of those gods that hate us these hands shall never drawem out like lightning to blast whole armies more arcite no palamon those hopes are prisoners with us here we are and here the graces of our youthes must wither like a too timely spring here age must finde us and which is heaviest palamon unmarried the sweete embraces of a loving wife loden with kisses armd with thousand cupids shall never claspe our neckes no issue know us no figures of our selves shall we evr see to glad our age and like young eagles teach em boldly to gaze against bright armes and say remember what your fathers were and conquer the faire eyd maides shall weepe our banishments and in their songs curse ever blinded fortune till shee for shame see what a wrong she has done to youth and nature this is all our world we shall know nothing here but one another heare nothing but the clocke that tels our woes the vine shall grow but we shall never see it sommer shall come and with her all delights but dead cold winter must inhabite here still palamon tis too true arcite to our theban houndes that shooke the aged forrest with their ecchoes no more now must we halloa no more shake our pointed iavelyns whilst the angry swine flyes like a parthian quiver from our rages strucke with our well steeld darts all valiant uses the foode and nourishment of noble mindes in us two here shall perish we shall die which is the curse of honour lastly children of greife and ignorance arcite yet cosen even from the bottom of these miseries from all that fortune can inflict upon us i see two comforts rysing two meere blessings if the gods please to hold here a brave patience and the enjoying of our greefes together whilst palamon is with me let me perish if i thinke this our prison palamon certeinly tis a maine goodnes cosen that our fortunes were twynd together tis most true two soules put in two noble bodies let em suffer the gaule of hazard so they grow together will never sincke they must not say they could a willing man dies sleeping and alls done arcite shall we make worthy uses of this place that all men hate so much palamon how gentle cosen arcite lets thinke this prison holy sanctuary to keepe us from corruption of worse men we are young and yet desire the waies of honour that liberty and common conversation the poyson of pure spirits might like women wooe us to wander from what worthy blessing can be but our imaginations may make it ours and heere being thus together we are an endles mine to one another we are one anothers wife ever begetting new birthes of love we are father friends acquaintance we are in one another families i am your heire and you are mine this place is our inheritance no hard oppressour dare take this from us here with a little patience we shall live long and loving no surfeits seeke us the hand of war hurts none here nor the seas swallow their youth were we at liberty a wife might part us lawfully or busines quarrels consume us envy of ill men grave our acquaintance i might sicken cosen where you should never know it and so perish without your noble hand to close mine eies or praiers to the gods a thousand chaunces were we from hence would seaver us palamon you have made me i thanke you cosen arcite almost wanton with my captivity what a misery it is to live abroade and every where tis like a beast me thinkes i finde the court here i am sure a more content and all those pleasures that wooe the wils of men to vanity i see through now and am sufficient to tell the world tis but a gaudy shaddow that old time as he passes by takes with him what had we bin old in the court of creon where sin is iustice lust and ignorance the vertues of the great ones cosen arcite had not the loving gods found this place for us we had died as they doe ill old men unwept and had their epitaphes the peoples curses shall i say more arcite i would heare you still palamon ye shall is there record of any two that lovd better then we doe arcite arcite sure there cannot palamon i doe not thinke it possible our friendship should ever leave us arcite till our deathes it cannot enter emilia and her woman below and after death our spirits shall be led to those that love eternally speake on sir emilia this garden has a world of pleasures int what flowre is this woman tis calld narcissus madam emilia that was a faire boy certaine but a foole to love himselfe were there not maides enough arcite pray forward palamon yes emilia or were they all hard hearted woman they could not be to one so faire emilia thou wouldst not woman i thinke i should not madam emilia thats a good wench but take heede to your kindnes though woman why madam emilia men are mad things arcite will ye goe forward cosen emilia canst not thou worke such flowers in silke wench woman yes emilia ile have a gowne full of em and of these this is a pretty colour wilt not doe rarely upon a skirt wench woman deinty madam arcite cosen cosen how doe you sir why palamon palamon never till now i was in prison arcite arcite why whats the matter man palamon behold and wonder by heaven shee is a goddesse arcite ha palamon doe reverence she is a goddesse arcite emilia of all flowres me thinkes a rose is best woman why gentle madam emilia it is the very embleme of a maide for when the west wind courts her gently how modestly she blowes and paints the sun with her chaste blushes when the north comes neere her rude and impatient then like chastity shee lockes her beauties in her bud againe and leaves him to base briers woman yet good madam sometimes her modesty will blow so far she fals fort a mayde if shee have any honour would be loth to take example by her emilia thou art wanton arcite she is wondrous faire palamon she is beauty extant emilia the sun grows high lets walk in keep these flowers weele see how neere art can come neere their colours i am wondrous merry hearted i could laugh now woman i could lie downe i am sure emilia and take one with you woman thats as we bargaine madam emilia well agree then exeunt emilia and woman palamon what thinke you of this beauty arcite tis a rare one palamon ist but a rare one arcite yes a matchles beauty palamon might not a man well lose himselfe and love her arcite i cannot tell what you have done i have beshrew mine eyes fort now i feele my shackles palamon you love her then arcite who would not palamon and desire her arcite before my liberty palamon i saw her first arcite thats nothing palamon but it shall be arcite i saw her too palamon yes but you must not love her arcite i will not as you doe to worship her as she is heavenly and a blessed goddes i love her as a woman to enjoy her so both may love palamon you shall not love at all arcite not love at all who shall deny me palamon i that first saw her i that tooke possession first with mine eyes of all those beauties in her reveald to mankinde if thou loust her or entertainst a hope to blast my wishes thou art a traytour arcite and a fellow false as thy title to her friendship blood and all the tyes betweene us i disclaime if thou once thinke upon her arcite yes i love her and if the lives of all my name lay on it i must doe so i love her with my soule if that will lose ye farewell palamon i say againe i love and in loving her maintaine i am as worthy and as free a lover and have as just a title to her beauty as any palamon or any living that is a mans sonne palamon have i cald thee friend arcite yes and have found me so why are you movd thus let me deale coldly with you am not i part of your blood part of your soule you have told me that i was palamon and you were arcite palamon yes arcite am not i liable to those affections those joyes greifes angers feares my friend shall suffer palamon ye may be arcite why then would you deale so cunningly so strangely so vnlike a noble kinesman to love alone speake truely doe you thinke me vnworthy of her sight palamon no but unjust if thou pursue that sight arcite because an other first sees the enemy shall i stand still and let mine honour downe and never charge palamon yes if he be but one arcite but say that one had rather combat me palamon let that one say so and use thy freedome els if thou pursuest her be as that cursed man that hates his country a branded villaine arcite you are mad palamon i must be till thou art worthy arcite it concernes me and in this madnes if i hazard thee and take thy life i deale but truely arcite fie sir you play the childe extreamely i will love her i must i ought to doe so and i dare and all this justly palamon o that now that now thy false selfe and thy friend had but this fortune to be one howre at liberty and graspe our good swords in our hands i would quickly teach thee what twer to filch affection from another thou art baser in it then a cutpurse put but thy head out of this window more and as i have a soule ile naile thy life toot arcite thou darst not foole thou canst not thou art feeble put my head out ile throw my body out and leape the garden when i see her next enter keeper and pitch between her armes to anger thee palamon no more the keepers comming i shall live to knocke thy braines out with my shackles arcite doe keeper by your leave gentlemen palamon now honest keeper keeper lord arcite you must presently toth duke the cause i know not yet arcite i am ready keeper keeper prince palamon i must awhile bereave you of your faire cosens company exeunt arcite and keeper palamon and me too even when you please of life why is he sent for it may be he shall marry her hes goodly and like enough the duke hath taken notice both of his blood and body but his falsehood why should a friend be treacherous if that get him a wife so noble and so faire let honest men nere love againe once more i would but see this faire one blessed garden and fruite and flowers more blessed that still blossom as her bright eies shine on ye would i were for all the fortune of my life hereafter yon little tree yon blooming apricocke how i would spread and fling my wanton armes in at her window i would bring her fruite fit for the gods to feed on youth and pleasure still as she tasted should be doubled on her and if she be not heavenly i would make her so neere the gods in nature they should feare her enter keeper and then i am sure she would love me how now keeper whers arcite keeper banishd prince pirithous obtained his liberty but never more vpon his oth and life must he set foote vpon this kingdome palamon hees a blessed man he shall see thebs againe and call to armes the bold yong men that when he bids em charge fall on like fire arcite shall have a fortune if he dare make himselfe a worthy lover yet in the feild to strike a battle for her and if he lose her then hes a cold coward how bravely may he beare himselfe to win her if he be noble arcite thousand waies were i at liberty i would doe things of such a vertuous greatnes that this lady this blushing virgine should take manhood to her and seeke to ravish me keeper my lord for you i have this charge too palamon to discharge my life keeper no but from this place to remoove your lordship the windowes are too open palamon devils take em that are so envious to me prethee kill me keeper and hang fort afterward palamon by this good light had i a sword i would kill thee keeper why my lord palamon thou bringst such pelting scuruy news continually thou art not worthy life i will not goe keeper indeede you must my lord palamon may i see the garden keeper noe palamon then i am resolud i will not goe keeper i must constraine you then and for you are dangerous ile clap more yrons on you palamon doe good keeper ile shake em so ye shall not sleepe ile make ye a new morrisse must i goe keeper there is no remedy palamon farewell kinde window may rude winde never hurt thee o my lady if ever thou hast felt what sorrow was dreame how i suffer come now bury me exeunt palamon and keeper scene the country near athens enter arcite arcite banishd the kingdome tis a benefit a mercy i must thanke em for but banishd the free enjoying of that face i die for oh twas a studdied punishment a death beyond imagination such a vengeance that were i old and wicked all my sins could never plucke upon me palamon thou hast the start now thou shalt stay and see her bright eyes breake each morning gainst thy window and let in life into thee thou shalt feede vpon the sweetenes of a noble beauty that nature nevr exceeded nor nevr shall good gods what happines has palamon twenty to one heele come to speake to her and if she be as gentle as shes faire i know shes his he has a tongue will tame tempests and make the wild rockes wanton come what can come the worst is death i will not leave the kingdome i know mine owne is but a heape of ruins and no redresse there if i goe he has her i am resolud an other shape shall make me or end my fortunes either way i am happy ile see her and be neere her or no more enter country people one with a garlond before them countreyman my masters ile be there thats certaine countreyman and ile be there countreyman and i countreyman why then have with ye boyes tis but a chiding let the plough play to day ile ticklt out of the iades tailes to morrow countreyman i am sure to have my wife as jealous as a turkey but thats all one ile goe through let her mumble countreyman clap her aboard to morrow night and stoa her and alls made up againe countreyman i doe but put a feskue in her fist and you shall see her take a new lesson out and be a good wench doe we all hold against the maying countreyman hold what should aile us countreyman arcas will be there countreyman and sennois and rycas and better lads nevr dancd under green tree and yee know what wenches ha but will the dainty domine the schoolemaster keep touch doe you thinke for he dos all ye know countreyman heel eate a hornebooke ere he faile goe too the matters too farre driven betweene him and the tanners daughter to let slip now and she must see the duke and she must daunce too countreyman shall we be lusty countreyman all the boyes in athens blow wind ith breech ons and heere ile be and there ile be for our towne and here againe and there againe ha boyes heigh for the weavers countreyman this must be done ith woods countreyman o pardon me countreyman by any meanes our thing of learning saies so where he himselfe will edifie the duke most parlously in our behalfes hees excellent ith woods bring him toth plaines his learning makes no cry countreyman weele see the sports then every man tos tackle and sweete companions lets rehearse by any meanes before the ladies see us and doe sweetly and god knows what may come ont countreyman content the sports once ended weel performe away boyes and hold arcite by your leaves honest friends pray you whither goe you countreyman whither why what a questions that arcite yes tis a question to me that know not countreyman to the games my friend countreyman where were you bred you know it not arcite not farre sir are there such games to day countreyman yes marry are there and such as you neuer saw the duke himselfe will be in person there arcite what pastimes are they countreyman wrastling and running tis a pretty fellow countreyman thou wilt not goe along arcite not yet sir countreyman well sir take your owne time come boyes countreyman my minde misgives me this fellow has a vengance tricke oth hip marke how his bodis made fort countreyman ile be hangd though if he dare venture hang him plumb porredge he wrastle he rost eggs come lets be gon lads exeunt arcite this is an offerd oportunity i durst not wish for well i could have wrestled the best men calld it excellent and run swifter the winde upon a feild of corne curling the wealthy eares never flew ile venture and in some poore disguize be there who knowes whether my browes may not be girt with garlands and happines preferre me to a place where i may ever dwell in sight of her exit arcite scene athens a room in the prison enter iailors daughter alone daughter why should i love this gentleman tis odds he never will affect me i am base my father the meane keeper of his prison and he a prince to marry him is hopelesse to be his whore is witles out upont what pushes are we wenches driven to when fifteene once has found us first i saw him i seeing thought he was a goodly man he has as much to please a woman in him if he please to bestow it so as ever these eyes yet lookt on next i pittied him and so would any young wench o my conscience that ever dreamd or vowd her maydenhead to a yong hansom man then i lovd him extreamely lovd him infinitely lovd him and yet he had a cosen faire as he too but in my heart was palamon and there lord what a coyle he keepes to heare him sing in an evening what a heaven it is and yet his songs are sad ones fairer spoken was never gentleman when i come in to bring him water in a morning first he bowes his noble body then salutes me thus faire gentle mayde good morrow may thy goodnes get thee a happy husband once he kist me i lovd my lips the better ten daies after would he would doe so evry day he greives much and me as much to see his misery what should i doe to make him know i love him for i would faine enjoy him say i venturd to set him free what saies the law then thus much for law or kindred i will doe it and this night or to morrow he shall love me exit scene an open place in athens enter theseus hipolita pirithous emilia arcite with a garland etc this short florish of cornets and showtes within theseus you have done worthily i have not seene since hercules a man of tougher synewes what ere you are you run the best and wrastle that these times can allow arcite i am proud to please you theseus what countrie bred you arcite this but far off prince theseus are you a gentleman arcite my father said so and to those gentle uses gave me life theseus are you his heire arcite his yongest sir theseus your father sure is a happy sire then what prooves you arcite a little of all noble quallities i could have kept a hawke and well have holload to a deepe crie of dogges i dare not praise my feat in horsemanship yet they that knew me would say it was my best peece last and greatest i would be thought a souldier theseus you are perfect perithous vpon my soule a proper man emilia he is so perithous how doe you like him ladie hippolita i admire him i have not seene so yong a man so noble if he say true of his sort emilia beleeve his mother was a wondrous handsome woman his face me thinkes goes that way hippolita but his body and firie minde illustrate a brave father perithous marke how his vertue like a hidden sun breakes through his baser garments hippolita hees well got sure theseus what made you seeke this place sir arcite noble theseus to purchase name and doe my ablest service to such a well found wonder as thy worth for onely in thy court of all the world dwells faire eyd honor perithous all his words are worthy theseus sir we are much endebted to your travell nor shall you loose your wish perithous dispose of this faire gentleman perithous thankes theseus what ere you are yar mine and i shall give you to a most noble service to this lady this bright yong virgin pray observe her goodnesse you have honourd hir faire birth day with your vertues and as your due yar hirs kisse her faire hand sir arcite sir yar a noble giver dearest bewtie thus let me seale my vowd faith when your servant your most unworthie creature but offends you command him die he shall emilia that were too cruell if you deserve well sir i shall soone seet yar mine and somewhat better than your rancke ile use you perithous ile see you furnishd and because you say you are a horseman i must needs intreat you this after noone to ride but tis a rough one arcite i like him better prince i shall not then freeze in my saddle theseus sweet you must be readie and you emilia and you friend and all to morrow by the sun to doe observance to flowry may in dians wood waite well sir vpon your mistris emely i hope he shall not goe a foote emilia that were a shame sir while i have horses take your choice and what you want at any time let me but know it if you serve faithfully i dare assure you youl finde a loving mistris arcite if i doe not let me finde that my father ever hated disgrace and blowes theseus go leade the way you have won it it shall be so you shall receave all dues fit for the honour you have won twer wrong else sister beshrew my heart you have a servant that if i were a woman would be master but you are wise florish emilia i hope too wise for that sir exeunt omnes scene before the prison enter iaylors daughter alone daughter let all the dukes and all the divells rore he is at liberty i have venturd for him and out i have brought him to a little wood a mile hence i have sent him where a cedar higher than all the rest spreads like a plane fast by a brooke and there he shall keepe close till i provide him fyles and foode for yet his yron bracelets are not off o love what a stout hearted child thou art my father durst better have indurd cold yron than done it i love him beyond love and beyond reason or wit or safetie i have made him know it i care not i am desperate if the law finde me and then condemne me fort some wenches some honest harted maides will sing my dirge and tell to memory my death was noble dying almost a martyr that way he takes i purpose is my way too sure he cannot be so unmanly as to leave me here if he doe maides will not so easily trust men againe and yet he has not thankd me for what i have done no not so much as kist me and that me thinkes is not so well nor scarcely could i perswade him to become a freeman he made such scruples of the wrong he did to me and to my father yet i hope when he considers more this love of mine will take more root within him let him doe what he will with me so he use me kindly for use me so he shall or ile proclaime him and to his face no man ile presently provide him necessaries and packe my cloathes up and where there is a patch of ground ile venture so hee be with me by him like a shadow ile ever dwell within this houre the whoobub will be all ore the prison i am then kissing the man they looke for farewell father get many more such prisoners and such daughters and shortly you may keepe your selfe now to him act iii scene a forest near athens cornets in sundry places noise and hallowing as people a maying enter arcite alone arcite the duke has lost hypolita each tooke a severall land this is a solemne right they owe bloomd may and the athenians pay it toth heart of ceremony o queene emilia fresher then may sweeter then hir gold buttons on the bowes or all thenamelld knackes oth meade or garden yea we challenge too the bancke of any nymph that makes the streame seeme flowers thou o iewell oth wood oth world hast likewise blest a place with thy sole presence in thy rumination that i poore man might eftsoones come betweene and chop on some cold thought thrice blessed chance to drop on such a mistris expectation most giltlesse ont tell me o lady fortune next after emely my soveraigne how far i may be prowd she takes strong note of me hath made me neere her and this beuteous morne the primst of all the yeare presents me with a brace of horses two such steeds might well be by a paire of kings backt in a field that their crownes titles tride alas alas poore cosen palamon poore prisoner thou so little dreamst upon my fortune that thou thinkst thy selfe the happier thing to be so neare emilia me thou deemst at thebs and therein wretched although free but if thou knewst my mistris breathd on me and that i eard her language livde in her eye o coz what passion would enclose thee enter palamon as out of a bush with his shackles bends his fist at arcite palamon traytor kinesman thou shouldst perceive my passion if these signes of prisonment were off me and this hand but owner of a sword by all othes in one i and the iustice of my love would make thee a confest traytor o thou most perfidious that ever gently lookd the voydest of honour that eur bore gentle token falsest cosen that ever blood made kin callst thou hir thine ile prove it in my shackles with these hands void of appointment that thou lyst and art a very theefe in love a chaffy lord nor worth the name of villaine had i a sword and these house clogges away arcite deere cosin palamon palamon cosoner arcite give me language such as thou hast shewd me feate arcite not finding in the circuit of my breast any grosse stuffe to forme me like your blazon holds me to this gentlenesse of answer tis your passion that thus mistakes the which to you being enemy cannot to me be kind honor and honestie i cherish and depend on how so evr you skip them in me and with them faire coz ile maintaine my proceedings pray be pleasd to shew in generous termes your griefes since that your questions with your equall who professes to cleare his owne way with the minde and sword of a true gentleman palamon that thou durst arcite arcite my coz my coz you have beene well advertisd how much i dare yave seene me use my sword against thadvice of feare sure of another you would not heare me doubted but your silence should breake out though ith sanctuary palamon sir i have seene you move in such a place which well might justifie your manhood you were calld a good knight and a bold but the whole weekes not faire if any day it rayne their valiant temper men loose when they encline to trecherie and then they fight like coupelld beares would fly were they not tyde arcite kinsman you might as well speake this and act it in your glasse as to his eare which now disdaines you palamon come up to me quit me of these cold gyves give me a sword though it be rustie and the charity of one meale lend me come before me then a good sword in thy hand and doe but say that emily is thine i will forgive the trespasse thou hast done me yea my life if then thou carryt and brave soules in shades that have dyde manly which will seeke of me some newes from earth they shall get none but this that thou art brave and noble arcite be content againe betake you to your hawthorne house with counsaile of the night i will be here with wholesome viands these impediments will i file off you shall have garments and perfumes to kill the smell oth prison after when you shall stretch your selfe and say but arcite i am in plight there shall be at your choyce both sword and armour palamon oh you heavens dares any so noble beare a guilty busines none but onely arcite therefore none but arcite in this kinde is so bold arcite sweete palamon palamon i doe embrace you and your offer for your offer doot i onely sir your person without hipocrisy i may not wish winde hornes of cornets more then my swords edge ont arcite you heare the hornes enter your musite least this match betweens be crost er met give me your hand farewell ile bring you every needfull thing i pray you take comfort and be strong palamon pray hold your promise and doe the deede with a bent brow most certaine you love me not be rough with me and powre this oile out of your language by this ayre i could for each word give a cuffe my stomach not reconcild by reason arcite plainely spoken yet pardon me hard language when i spur winde hornes my horse i chide him not content and anger in me have but one face harke sir they call the scatterd to the banket you must guesse i have an office there palamon sir your attendance cannot please heaven and i know your office vnjustly is atcheevd arcite if a good title i am perswaded this question sicke betweens by bleeding must be curd i am a suitour that to your sword you will bequeath this plea and talke of it no more palamon but this one word you are going now to gaze upon my mistris for note you mine she is arcite nay then palamon nay pray you you talke of feeding me to breed me strength you are going now to looke upon a sun that strengthens what it lookes on there you have a vantage ore me but enjoyt till i may enforce my remedy farewell exeunt scene another part of the forest enter iaylors daughter alone daughter he has mistooke the brake i meant is gone after his fancy tis now welnigh morning no matter would it were perpetuall night and darkenes lord oth world harke tis a woolfe in me hath greife slaine feare and but for one thing i care for nothing and thats palamon i wreake not if the wolves would jaw me so he had this file what if i hallowd for him i cannot hallow if i whoopd what then if he not answeard i should call a wolfe and doe him but that service i have heard strange howles this live long night why mayt not be they have made prey of him he has no weapons he cannot run the iengling of his gives might call fell things to listen who have in them a sence to know a man unarmd and can smell where resistance is ile set it downe hes torne to peeces they howld many together and then they fed on him so much for that be bold to ring the bell how stand i then alls chard when he is gone no no i lye my fathers to be hangd for his escape my selfe to beg if i prizd life so much as to deny my act but that i would not should i try death by dussons i am mopt food tooke i none these two daies sipt some water i have not closd mine eyes save when my lids scowrd off their brine alas dissolue my life let not my sence unsettle least i should drowne or stab or hang my selfe o state of nature faile together in me since thy best props are warpt so which way now the best way is the next way to a grave each errant step beside is torment loe the moone is down the cryckets chirpe the schreichowle calls in the dawne all offices are done save what i faile in but the point is this an end and that is all exit scene same as scene i enter arcite with meate wine and files arcite i should be neere the place hoa cosen palamon enter palamon palamon arcite arcite the same i have brought you foode and files come forth and feare not heres no theseus palamon nor none so honest arcite arcite thats no matter weel argue that hereafter come take courage you shall not dye thus beastly here sir drinke i know you are faint then ile talke further with you palamon arcite thou mightst now poyson me arcite i might but i must feare you first sit downe and good now no more of these vaine parlies let us not having our ancient reputation with us make talke for fooles and cowards to your health etc palamon doe arcite pray sit downe then and let me entreate you by all the honesty and honour in you no mention of this woman twill disturbe us we shall have time enough palamon well sir ile pledge you arcite drinke a good hearty draught it breeds good blood man doe not you feele it thaw you palamon stay ile tell you after a draught or two more arcite spare it not the duke has more cuz eate now palamon yes arcite i am glad you have so good a stomach palamon i am gladder i have so good meate toot arcite ist not mad lodging here in the wild woods cosen palamon yes for them that have wilde consciences arcite how tasts your vittails your hunger needs no sawce i see palamon not much but if it did yours is too tart sweete cosen what is this arcite venison palamon tis a lusty meate giue me more wine here arcite to the wenches we have known in our daies the lord stewards daughter doe you remember her arcite after you cuz palamon she lovd a black haird man arcite she did so well sir palamon and i have heard some call him arcite and arcite out witht faith palamon she met him in an arbour what did she there cuz play oth virginals arcite something she did sir palamon made her groane a moneth fort or or or arcite the marshals sister had her share too as i remember cosen else there be tales abroade youl pledge her palamon yes arcite a pretty broune wench tis there was a time when yong men went a hunting and a wood and a broade beech and thereby hangs a tale heigh ho palamon for emily upon my life foole away with this straind mirth i say againe that sigh was breathd for emily base cosen darst thou breake first arcite you are wide palamon by heaven and earth thers nothing in thee honest arcite then ile leave you you are a beast now palamon as thou makst me traytour arcite thers all things needfull files and shirts and perfumes ile come againe some two howres hence and bring that that shall quiet all palamon a sword and armour arcite feare me not you are now too fowle farewell get off your trinkets you shall want nought palamon sir ha arcite ile heare no more exit palamon if he keepe touch he dies fort exit scene another part of the forest enter iaylors daughter daughter i am very cold and all the stars are out too the little stars and all that looke like aglets the sun has seene my folly palamon alas no hees in heaven where am i now yonders the sea and thers a ship howt tumbles and thers a rocke lies watching under water now now it beates upon it now now now thers a leak sprung a sound one how they cry spoon her before the winde youl loose all els vp with a course or two and take about boyes good night good night yar gone i am very hungry would i could finde a fine frog he would tell me newes from all parts oth world then would i make a carecke of a cockle shell and sayle by east and north east to the king of pigmes for he tels fortunes rarely now my father twenty to one is trust up in a trice to morrow morning ile say never a word sing for ile cut my greene coat a foote above my knee and ile clip my yellow lockes an inch below mine eie hey nonny nonny nonny hes buy me a white cut forth for to ride and ile goe seeke him throw the world that is so wide hey nonny nonny nonny o for a pricke now like a nightingale to put my breast against i shall sleepe like a top else exit scene another part of the forest enter a schoole master countrymen and bavian or wenches with a taborer schoolmaster fy fy what tediosity disensanity is here among ye have my rudiments bin labourd so long with ye milkd unto ye and by a figure even the very plumbroth marrow of my understanding laid upon ye and do you still cry where and how wherfore you most course freeze capacities ye jane iudgements have i saide thus let be and there let be and then let be and no man understand mee proh deum medius fidius ye are all dunces for why here stand i here the duke comes there are you close in the thicket the duke appeares i meete him and unto him i utter learned things and many figures he heares and nods and hums and then cries rare and i goe forward at length i fling my cap up marke there then do you as once did meleager and the bore break comly out before him like true lovers cast your selves in a body decently and sweetly by a figure trace and turne boyes countreyman and sweetly we will doe it master gerrold countreyman draw up the company wheres the taborour countreyman why timothy taborer here my mad boyes have at ye schoolmaster but i say wheres their women countreyman heres friz and maudline countreyman and little luce with the white legs and bouncing barbery countreyman and freckeled nel that never faild her master schoolmaster wher be your ribands maids swym with your bodies and carry it sweetly and deliverly and now and then a fauour and a friske nel let us alone sir schoolmaster whers the rest oth musicke countreyman dispersd as you commanded schoolmaster couple then and see whats wanting whers the bavian my friend carry your taile without offence or scandall to the ladies and be sure you tumble with audacity and manhood and when you barke doe it with judgement bavian yes sir schoolmaster quo usque tandem here is a woman wanting countreyman we may goe whistle all the fats ith fire schoolmaster we have as learned authours utter washd a tile we have beene fatuus and laboured vainely countreyman this is that scornefull peece that scurvy hilding that gave her promise faithfully she would be here cicely the sempsters daughter the next gloves that i give her shall be dog skin nay and she faile me once you can tell arcas she swore by wine and bread she would not breake schoolmaster an eele and woman a learned poet sayes unles byth taile and with thy teeth thou hold will either faile in manners this was false position countreyman a fire ill take her dos she flinch now countreyman what shall we determine sir schoolmaster nothing our busines is become a nullity yea and a woefull and a pittious nullity countreyman now when the credite of our towne lay on it now to be frampall now to pisse oth nettle goe thy waies ile remember thee ile fit thee enter iaylors daughter daughter sings the george alow came from the south from the coast of barbary a and there he met with brave gallants of war by one by two by three a well haild well haild you jolly gallants and whither now are you bound a o let me have your company chaire and stooles out till i come to the sound a there was three fooles fell out about an howlet the one sed it was an owle the other he sed nay the third he sed it was a hawke and her bels wer cut away countreyman thers a dainty mad woman m aiste r comes ith nick as mad as a march hare if wee can get her daunce wee are made againe i warrant her sheel doe the rarest gambols countreyman a mad woman we are made boyes schoolmaster and are you mad good woman daughter i would be sorry else give me your hand schoolmaster why daughter i can tell your fortune you are a foole tell ten i have pozd him buz friend you must eate no whitebread if you doe your teeth will bleede extreamely shall we dance ho i know you yar a tinker sirha tinker stop no more holes but what you should schoolmaster dij boni a tinker damzell daughter or a conjurer raise me a devill now and let him play quipassa oth bels and bones schoolmaster goe take her and fluently perswade her to a peace et opus exegi quod nec iouis ira nec ignis strike up and leade her in countreyman come lasse lets trip it daughter ile leade winde hornes countreyman doe doe schoolmaster perswasively and cunningly away boyes ex all but schoolemaster i heare the hornes give me some meditation and marke your cue pallas inspire me enter thes pir hip emil arcite and traine theseus this way the stag tooke schoolmaster stay and edifie theseus what have we here perithous some countrey sport upon my life sir theseus well sir goe forward we will edifie ladies sit downe weel stay it schoolmaster thou doughtie duke all haile all haile sweet ladies theseus this is a cold beginning schoolmaster if you but favour our country pastime made is we are a few of those collected here that ruder tongues distinguish villager and to say veritie and not to fable we are a merry rout or else a rable or company or by a figure choris that fore thy dignitie will dance a morris and i that am the rectifier of all by title pedagogus that let fall the birch upon the breeches of the small ones and humble with a ferula the tall ones doe here present this machine or this frame and daintie duke whose doughtie dismall fame from dis to dedalus from post to pillar is blowne abroad helpe me thy poore well willer and with thy twinckling eyes looke right and straight vpon this mighty morr of mickle waight is now comes in which being glewd together makes morris and the cause that we came hether the body of our sport of no small study i first appeare though rude and raw and muddy to speake before thy noble grace this tenner at whose great feete i offer up my penner the next the lord of may and lady bright the chambermaid and servingman by night that seeke out silent hanging then mine host and his fat spowse that welcomes to their cost the gauled traveller and with a beckning informes the tapster to inflame the reckning then the beast eating clowne and next the foole the bavian with long tayle and eke long toole cum multis alijs that make a dance say i and all shall presently advance theseus i i by any meanes deere domine perithous produce schoolmaster intrate filij come forth and foot it musicke dance knocke for schoole enter the dance ladies if we have beene merry and have pleasd yee with a derry and a derry and a downe say the schoolemasters no clowne duke if we have pleasd thee too and have done as good boyes should doe give us but a tree or twaine for a maypole and againe ere another yeare run out weel make thee laugh and all this rout theseus take domine how does my sweet heart hippolita never so pleasd sir emilia twas an excellent dance and for a preface i never heard a better theseus schoolemaster i thanke you one seeem all rewarded perithous and heers something to paint your pole withall theseus now to our sports againe schoolmaster may the stag thou huntst stand long and thy dogs be swift and strong may they kill him without lets and the ladies eate his dowsets come we are all made winde hornes dij deoeq ue omnes ye have dancd rarely wenches exeunt scene same as scene iii enter palamon from the bush palamon about this houre my cosen gave his faith to visit me againe and with him bring two swords and two good armors if he faile hes neither man nor souldier when he left me i did not thinke a weeke could have restord my lost strength to me i was growne so low and crest falne with my wants i thanke thee arcite thou art yet a faire foe and i feele my selfe with this refreshing able once againe to out dure danger to delay it longer would make the world think when it comes to hearing that i lay fatting like a swine to fight and not a souldier therefore this blest morning shall be the last and that sword he refuses if it but hold i kill him with tis iustice so love and fortune for me o good morrow enter arcite with armors and swords arcite good morrow noble kinesman palamon i have put you to too much paines sir arcite that too much faire cosen is but a debt to honour and my duty palamon would you were so in all sir i could wish ye as kinde a kinsman as you force me finde a beneficiall foe that my embraces might thanke ye not my blowes arcite i shall thinke either well done a noble recompence palamon then i shall quit you arcite defy me in these faire termes and you show more then a mistris to me no more anger as you love any thing thats honourable we were not bred to talke man when we are armd and both upon our guards then let our fury like meeting of two tides fly strongly from us and then to whom the birthright of this beauty truely pertaines without obbraidings scornes dispisings of our persons and such powtings fitter for girles and schooleboyes will be seene and quickly yours or mine wilt please you arme sir or if you feele your selfe not fitting yet and furnishd with your old strength ile stay cosen and evry day discourse you into health as i am spard your person i am friends with and i could wish i had not saide i lovd her though i had dide but loving such a lady and justifying my love i must not fly fromt palamon arcite thou art so brave an enemy that no man but thy cosens fit to kill thee i am well and lusty choose your armes arcite choose you sir palamon wilt thou exceede in all or dost thou doe it to make me spare thee arcite if you thinke so cosen you are deceived for as i am a soldier i will not spare you palamon thats well said arcite youl finde it palamon then as i am an honest man and love with all the justice of affection ile pay thee soundly this ile take arcite thats mine then ile arme you first palamon do pray thee tell me cosen where gotst thou this good armour arcite tis the dukes and to say true i stole it doe i pinch you palamon noe arcite ist not too heavie palamon i have worne a lighter but i shall make it serve arcite ile bucklt close palamon by any meanes arcite you care not for a grand guard palamon no no weel use no horses i perceave you would faine be at that fight arcite i am indifferent palamon faith so am i good cosen thrust the buckle through far enough arcite i warrant you palamon my caske now arcite will you fight bare armd palamon we shall be the nimbler arcite but use your gauntlets though those are oth least prethee take mine good cosen palamon thanke you arcite how doe i looke am i falne much away arcite faith very little love has usd you kindly palamon ile warrant thee ile strike home arcite doe and spare not ile give you cause sweet cosen palamon now to you sir me thinkes this armors very like that arcite thou worst the day the kings fell but lighter arcite that was a very good one and that day i well remember you outdid me cosen i never saw such valour when you chargd vpon the left wing of the enemie i spurd hard to come up and under me i had a right good horse palamon you had indeede a bright bay i remember arcite yes but all was vainely labourd in me you outwent me nor could my wishes reach you yet a little i did by imitation palamon more by vertue you are modest cosen arcite when i saw you charge first me thought i heard a dreadfull clap of thunder breake from the troope palamon but still before that flew the lightning of your valour stay a little is not this peece too streight arcite no no tis well palamon i would have nothing hurt thee but my sword a bruise would be dishonour arcite now i am perfect palamon stand off then arcite take my sword i hold it better palamon i thanke ye no keepe it your life lyes on it heres one if it but hold i aske no more for all my hopes my cause and honour guard me they bow severall wayes then advance and stand arcite and me my love is there ought else to say palamon this onely and no more thou art mine aunts son and that blood we desire to shed is mutuall in me thine and in thee mine my sword is in my hand and if thou killst me the gods and i forgive thee if there be a place prepard for those that sleepe in honour i wish his wearie soule that falls may win it fight bravely cosen give me thy noble hand arcite here palamon this hand shall never more come neare thee with such friendship palamon i commend thee arcite if i fall curse me and say i was a coward for none but such dare die in these just tryalls once more farewell my cosen palamon farewell arcite fight hornes within they stand arcite loe cosen loe our folly has undon us palamon why arcite this is the duke a hunting as i told you if we be found we are wretched o retire for honours sake and safety presently into your bush agen sir we shall finde too many howres to dye in gentle cosen if you be seene you perish instantly for breaking prison and i if you reveale me for my contempt then all the world will scorne us and say we had a noble difference but base disposers of it palamon no no cosen i will no more be hidden nor put off this great adventure to a second tryall i know your cunning and i know your cause he that faints now shame take him put thy selfe vpon thy present guard arcite you are not mad palamon or i will make thadvantage of this howre mine owne and what to come shall threaten me i feare lesse then my fortune know weake cosen i love emilia and in that ile bury thee and all crosses else arcite then come what can come thou shalt know palamon i dare as well die as discourse or sleepe onely this feares me the law will have the honour of our ends have at thy life palamon looke to thine owne well arcite fight againe hornes enter theseus hipolita emilia perithous and traine theseus what ignorant and mad malicious traitors are you that gainst the tenor of my lawes are making battaile thus like knights appointed without my leave and officers of armes by castor both shall dye palamon hold thy word theseus we are certainly both traitors both despisers of thee and of thy goodnesse i am palamon that cannot love thee he that broke thy prison thinke well what that deserves and this is arcite a bolder traytor never trod thy ground a falser neur seemd friend this is the man was begd and banishd this is he contemnes thee and what thou darst doe and in this disguise against thy owne edict followes thy sister that fortunate bright star the faire emilia whose servant if there be a right in seeing and first bequeathing of the soule to justly i am and which is more dares thinke her his this treacherie like a most trusty lover i calld him now to answer if thou beest as thou art spoken great and vertuous the true descider of all injuries say fight againe and thou shalt see me theseus doe such a iustice thou thy selfe wilt envie then take my life ile wooe thee toot perithous o heaven what more then man is this theseus i have sworne arcite we seeke not thy breath of mercy theseus tis to me a thing as soone to dye as thee to say it and no more movd where this man calls me traitor let me say thus much if in love be treason in service of so excellent a beutie as i love most and in that faith will perish as i have brought my life here to confirme it as i have servd her truest worthiest as i dare kill this cosen that denies it so let me be most traitor and ye please me for scorning thy edict duke aske that lady why she is faire and why her eyes command me stay here to love her and if she say traytor i am a villaine fit to lye unburied palamon thou shalt have pitty of us both o theseus if unto neither thou shew mercy stop as thou art just thy noble eare against us as thou art valiant for thy cosens soule whose strong labours crowne his memory lets die together at one instant duke onely a little let him fall before me that i may tell my soule he shall not have her theseus i grant your wish for to say true your cosen has ten times more offended for i gave him more mercy then you found sir your offenses being no more then his none here speake for em for ere the sun set both shall sleepe for ever hippolita alas the pitty now or never sister speake not to be denide that face of yours will beare the curses else of after ages for these lost cosens emilia in my face deare sister i finde no anger to em nor no ruyn the misadventure of their owne eyes kill em yet that i will be woman and have pitty my knees shall grow toth ground but ile get mercie helpe me deare sister in a deede so vertuous the powers of all women will be with us most royall brother hippolita sir by our tye of marriage emilia by your owne spotlesse honour hippolita by that faith that faire hand and that honest heart you gave me emilia by that you would have pitty in another by your owne vertues infinite hippolita by valour by all the chaste nights i have ever pleasd you theseus these are strange conjurings perithous nay then ile in too by all our friendship sir by all our dangers by all you love most warres and this sweet lady emilia by that you would have trembled to deny a blushing maide hippolita by your owne eyes by strength in which you swore i went beyond all women almost all men and yet i yeelded theseus perithous to crowne all this by your most noble soule which cannot want due mercie i beg first hippolita next heare my prayers emilia last let me intreate sir perithous for mercy hippolita mercy emilia mercy on these princes theseus ye make my faith reele say i felt compassion toem both how would you place it emilia vpon their lives but with their banishments theseus you are a right woman sister you have pitty but want the vnderstanding where to use it if you desire their lives invent a way safer then banishment can these two live and have the agony of love about em and not kill one another every day theyld fight about you howrely bring your honour in publique question with their swords be wise then and here forget em it concernes your credit and my oth equally i have said they die better they fall byth law then one another bow not my honor emilia o my noble brother that oth was rashly made and in your anger your reason will not hold it if such vowes stand for expresse will all the world must perish beside i have another oth gainst yours of more authority i am sure more love not made in passion neither but good heede theseus what is it sister perithous vrge it home brave lady emilia that you would nevr deny me any thing fit for my modest suit and your free granting i tye you to your word now if ye fall int thinke how you maime your honour for now i am set a begging sir i am deafe to all but your compassion how their lives might breed the ruine of my name opinion shall any thing that loves me perish for me that were a cruell wisedome doe men proyne the straight yong bowes that blush with thousand blossoms because they may be rotten o duke theseus the goodly mothers that have groand for these and all the longing maides that ever lovd if your vow stand shall curse me and my beauty and in their funerall songs for these two cosens despise my crueltie and cry woe worth me till i am nothing but the scorne of women for heavens sake save their lives and banish em theseus on what conditions emilia sweareem never more to make me their contention or to know me to tread upon thy dukedome and to be where ever they shall travel ever strangers to one another palamon ile be cut a peeces before i take this oth forget i love her o all ye gods dispise me then thy banishment i not mislike so we may fairely carry our swords and cause along else never trifle but take our lives duke i must love and will and for that love must and dare kill this cosen on any peece the earth has theseus will you arcite take these conditions palamon hes a villaine then perithous these are men arcite no never duke tis worse to me than begging to take my life so basely though i thinke i never shall enjoy her yet ile preserve the honour of affection and dye for her make death a devill theseus what may be done for now i feele compassion perithous let it not fall agen sir theseus say emilia if one of them were dead as one must are you content to take thother to your husband they cannot both enjoy you they are princes as goodly as your owne eyes and as noble as ever fame yet spoke of looke upon em and if you can love end this difference i give consent are you content too princes both with all our soules theseus he that she refuses must dye then both any death thou canst invent duke palamon if i fall from that mouth i fall with favour and lovers yet unborne shall blesse my ashes arcite if she refuse me yet my grave will wed me and souldiers sing my epitaph theseus make choice then emilia i cannot sir they are both too excellent for me a hayre shall never fall of these men hippolita what will become of em theseus thus i ordaine it and by mine honor once againe it stands or both shall dye you shall both to your countrey and each within this moneth accompanied with three faire knights appeare againe in this place in which ile plant a pyramid and whether before us that are here can force his cosen by fayre and knightly strength to touch the pillar he shall enjoy her the other loose his head and all his friends nor shall he grudge to fall nor thinke he dies with interest in this lady will this content yee palamon yes here cosen arcite i am friends againe till that howre arcite i embrace ye theseus are you content sister emilia yes i must sir els both miscarry theseus come shake hands againe then and take heede as you are gentlemen this quarrell sleepe till the howre prefixt and hold your course palamon we dare not faile thee theseus theseus come ile give ye now usage like to princes and to friends when ye returne who wins ile settle heere who looses yet ile weepe upon his beere exeunt act iv scene athens a room in the prison enter iailor and his friend iailor heare you no more was nothing saide of me concerning the escape of palamon good sir remember friend nothing that i heard for i came home before the busines was fully ended yet i might perceive ere i departed a great likelihood of both their pardons for hipolita and faire eyd emilie upon their knees begd with such hansom pitty that the duke me thought stood staggering whether he should follow his rash oth or the sweet compassion of those two ladies and to second them that truely noble prince perithous halfe his owne heart set in too that i hope all shall be well neither heard i one question of your name or his scape enter friend iailor pray heaven it hold so friend be of good comfort man i bring you newes good newes iailor they are welcome friend palamon has cleerd you and got your pardon and discoverd how and by whose meanes he escapt which was your daughters whose pardon is procurd too and the prisoner not to be held ungratefull to her goodnes has given a summe of money to her marriage a large one ile assure you iailor ye are a good man and ever bring good newes friend how was it ended friend why as it should be they that nevr begd but they prevaild had their suites fairely granted the prisoners have their lives friend i knew twould be so friend but there be new conditions which youl heare of at better time iailor i hope they are good friend they are honourable how good theyl prove i know not enter wooer friend twill be knowne wooer alas sir whers your daughter iailor why doe you aske wooer o sir when did you see her friend how he lookes iailor this morning wooer was she well was she in health sir when did she sleepe friend these are strange questions iailor i doe not thinke she was very well for now you make me minde her but this very day i askd her questions and she answered me so farre from what she was so childishly so sillily as if she were a foole an inocent and i was very angry but what of her sir wooer nothing but my pitty but you must know it and as good by me as by an other that lesse loves her iailor well sir friend not right friend not well wooer no sir not well tis too true she is mad friend it cannot be wooer beleeve youl finde it so iailor i halfe suspected what you have told me the gods comfort her either this was her love to palamon or feare of my miscarrying on his scape or both wooer tis likely iailor but why all this haste sir wooer ile tell you quickly as i late was angling in the great lake that lies behind the pallace from the far shore thicke set with reedes and sedges as patiently i was attending sport i heard a voyce a shrill one and attentive i gave my eare when i might well perceive twas one that sung and by the smallnesse of it a boy or woman i then left my angle to his owne skill came neere but yet perceivd not who made the sound the rushes and the reeds had so encompast it i laide me downe and listned to the words she sung for then through a small glade cut by the fisher men i saw it was your daughter iailor pray goe on sir wooer she sung much but no sence onely i heard her repeat this often palamon is gone is gone toth wood to gather mulberies ile finde him out to morrow friend pretty soule wooer his shackles will betray him heel be taken and what shall i doe then ile bring a beavy a hundred blacke eyd maides that love as i doe with chaplets on their heads of daffadillies with cherry lips and cheekes of damaske roses and all weel daunce an antique fore the duke and beg his pardon then she talkd of you sir that you must loose your head to morrow morning and she must gather flowers to bury you and see the house made handsome then she sung nothing but willow willow willow and betweene ever was palamon faire palamon and palamon was a tall yong man the place was knee deepe where she sat her careles tresses a wreathe of bull rush rounded about her stucke thousand fresh water flowers of severall cullors that me thought she appeard like the faire nimph that feedes the lake with waters or as iris newly dropt downe from heaven rings she made of rushes that grew by and to em spoke the prettiest posies thus our true loves tide this you may loose not me and many a one and then she wept and sung againe and sighd and with the same breath smild and kist her hand friend alas what pitty it is wooer i made in to her she saw me and straight sought the flood i savd her and set her safe to land when presently she slipt away and to the citty made with such a cry and swiftnes that beleeve me shee left me farre behinde her three or foure i saw from farre off crosse her one of em i knew to be your brother where she staid and fell scarce to be got away i left them with her enter brother daughter and others and hether came to tell you here they are daughter sings may you never more enjoy the light etc is not this a fine song brother o a very fine one daughter i can sing twenty more brother i thinke you can daughter yes truely can i i can sing the broome and bony robin are not you a tailour brother yes daughter whers my wedding gowne brother ile bring it to morrow daughter doe very rarely i must be abroad else to call the maides and pay the minstrels for i must loose my maydenhead by cock light twill never thrive else singes o faire oh sweete etc brother you must evn take it patiently iailor tis true daughter good evn good men pray did you ever heare of one yong palamon iailor yes wench we know him daughter ist not a fine yong gentleman iailor tis love brother by no meane crosse her she is then distemperd far worse then now she showes friend yes hes a fine man daughter o is he so you have a sister friend yes daughter but she shall never have him tell her so for a tricke that i know yhad best looke to her for if she see him once shes gone shes done and undon in an howre all the young maydes of our towne are in love with him but i laugh at em and let em all alone ist not a wise course friend yes daughter there is at least two hundred now with child by him there must be fowre yet i keepe close for all this close as a cockle and all these must be boyes he has the tricke ont and at ten yeares old they must be all gelt for musitians and sing the wars of theseus friend this is strange daughter as ever you heard but say nothing friend no daughter they come from all parts of the dukedome to him ile warrant ye he had not so few last night as twenty to dispatch heel ticklt up in two howres if his hand be in iailor shes lost past all cure brother heaven forbid man daughter come hither you are a wise man friend dos she know him friend no would she did daughter you are master of a ship iailor yes daughter whers your compasse iailor heere daughter set it tooth north and now direct your course toth wood wher palamon lyes longing for me for the tackling let me alone come waygh my hearts cheerely all owgh owgh owgh tis up the winds faire top the bowling out with the maine saile whers your whistle master brother lets get her in iailor vp to the top boy brother whers the pilot friend heere daughter what kenst thou friend a faire wood daughter beare for it master take about singes when cinthia with her borrowed light etc exeunt scene a room in the palace enter emilia alone with pictures emilia yet i may binde those wounds up that must open and bleed to death for my sake else ile choose and end their strife two such yong hansom men shall never fall for me their weeping mothers following the dead cold ashes of their sonnes shall never curse my cruelty good heaven what a sweet face has arcite if wise nature with all her best endowments all those beuties she sowes into the birthes of noble bodies were here a mortall woman and had in her the coy denialls of yong maydes yet doubtles she would run mad for this man what an eye of what a fyry sparkle and quick sweetnes has this yong prince here love himselfe sits smyling iust such another wanton ganimead set jove a fire with and enforcd the god snatch up the goodly boy and set him by him a shining constellation what a brow of what a spacious majesty he carries archd like the great eyd iunos but far sweeter smoother then pelops shoulder fame and honour me thinks from hence as from a promontory pointed in heaven should clap their wings and sing to all the under world the loves and fights of gods and such men neere em palamon is but his foyle to him a meere dull shadow hees swarth and meagre of an eye as heavy as if he had lost his mother a still temper no stirring in him no alacrity of all this sprightly sharpenes not a smile yet these that we count errours may become him narcissus was a sad boy but a heavenly oh who can finde the bent of womans fancy i am a foole my reason is lost in me i have no choice and i have lyd so lewdly that women ought to beate me on my knees i aske thy pardon palamon thou art alone and only beutifull and these the eyes these the bright lamps of beauty that command and threaten love and what yong mayd dare crosse em what a bold gravity and yet inviting has this browne manly face o love this only from this howre is complexion lye there arcite thou art a changling to him a meere gipsey and this the noble bodie i am sotted vtterly lost my virgins faith has fled me for if my brother but even now had askd me whether i lovd i had run mad for arcite now if my sister more for palamon stand both together now come aske me brother alas i know not aske me now sweet sister i may goe looke what a meere child is fancie that having two faire gawdes of equall sweetnesse cannot distinguish but must crie for both enter a gent leman emilia how now sir gentleman from the noble duke your brother madam i bring you newes the knights are come emilia to end the quarrell gentleman yes emilia would i might end first what sinnes have i committed chast diana that my unspotted youth must now be soyld with blood of princes and my chastitie be made the altar where the lives of lovers two greater and two better never yet made mothers joy must be the sacrifice to my unhappy beautie enter theseus hipolita perithous and attendants theseus bring em in quickly by any meanes i long to see em your two contending lovers are returnd and with them their faire knights now my faire sister you must love one of them emilia i had rather both so neither for my sake should fall untimely enter messenger curtis theseus who saw em perithous i a while gentleman and i theseus from whence come you sir messenger from the knights theseus pray speake you that have seene them what they are messenger i will sir and truly what i thinke six braver spirits then these they have brought if we judge by the outside i never saw nor read of he that stands in the first place with arcite by his seeming should be a stout man by his face a prince his very lookes so say him his complexion nearer a browne than blacke sterne and yet noble which shewes him hardy fearelesse proud of dangers the circles of his eyes show fire within him and as a heated lyon so he lookes his haire hangs long behind him blacke and shining like ravens wings his shoulders broad and strong armd long and round and on his thigh a sword hung by a curious bauldricke when he frownes to seale his will with better omy conscience was never souldiers friend theseus thou hast well describde him perithous yet a great deale short me thinkes of him thats first with palamon theseus pray speake him friend perithous i ghesse he is a prince too and if it may be greater for his show has all the ornament of honour int hees somewhat bigger then the knight he spoke of but of a face far sweeter his complexion is as a ripe grape ruddy he has felt without doubt what he fights for and so apter to make this cause his owne ins face appeares all the faire hopes of what he undertakes and when hes angry then a setled valour not tainted with extreames runs through his body and guides his arme to brave things feare he cannot he shewes no such soft temper his heads yellow hard hayrd and curld thicke twind like ivy tods not to undoe with thunder in his face the liverie of the warlike maide appeares pure red and white for yet no beard has blest him and in his rowling eyes sits victory as if she ever ment to court his valour his nose stands high a character of honour his red lips after fights are fit for ladies emilia must these men die too perithous when he speakes his tongue sounds like a trumpet all his lyneaments are as a man would wish em strong and cleane he weares a well steeld axe the staffe of gold his age some five and twenty messenger thers another a little man but of a tough soule seeming as great as any fairer promises in such a body yet i never lookd on perithous o he thats freckle facd messenger the same my lord are they not sweet ones perithous yes they are well messenger me thinkes being so few and well disposd they show great and fine art in nature hes white haird not wanton white but such a manly colour next to an aborne tough and nimble set which showes an active soule his armes are brawny linde with strong sinewes to the shoulder peece gently they swell like women new conceavd which speakes him prone to labour never fainting vnder the waight of armes stout harted still but when he stirs a tiger hes gray eyd which yeelds compassion where he conquers sharpe to spy advantages and where he finds em hes swift to make em his he dos no wrongs nor takes none hes round facd and when he smiles he showes a lover when he frownes a souldier about his head he weares the winners oke and in it stucke the favour of his lady his age some six and thirtie in his hand he beares a charging staffe embost with silver theseus are they all thus perithous they are all the sonnes of honour theseus now as i have a soule i long to seeem lady you shall see men fight now hippolita i wish it but not the cause my lord they would show bravely about the titles of two kingdomes tis pitty love should be so tyrannous o my soft harted sister what thinke you weepe not till they weepe blood wench it must be theseus you have steeld em with your beautie honord friend to you i give the feild pray order it fitting the persons that must use it perithous yes sir theseus come ile goe visit em i cannot stay their fame has fird me so till they appeare good friend be royall perithous there shall want no bravery emilia poore wench goe weepe for whosoever wins looses a noble cosen for thy sins exeunt scene a room in the prison enter iailor wooer doctor doctor her distraction is more at some time of the moone then at other some is it not iailor she is continually in a harmelesse distemper sleepes little altogether without appetite save often drinking dreaming of another world and a better and what broken peece of matter soere shes about the name palamon lardes it that she farces evry busines withall fyts it to every question enter daughter looke where shee comes you shall perceive her behaviour daughter i have forgot it quite the burden ont was downe a downe a and pend by no worse man then giraldo emilias schoolemaster hes as fantasticall too as ever he may goe upons legs for in the next world will dido see palamon and then will she be out of love with eneas doctor what stuffs here pore soule iailor evn thus all day long daughter now for this charme that i told you of you must bring a peece of silver on the tip of your tongue or no ferry then if it be your chance to come where the blessed spirits as thers a sight now we maids that have our lyvers perishd crakt to peeces with love we shall come there and doe nothing all day long but picke flowers with proserpine then will i make palamon a nosegay then let him marke me then doctor how prettily shes amisse note her a little further daughter faith ile tell you sometime we goe to barly breake we of the blessed alas tis a sore life they have ith other place such burning frying boyling hissing howling chattring cursing oh they have shrowd measure take heede if one be mad or hang or drowne themselves thither they goe iupiter blesse vs and there shall we be put in a caldron of lead and vsurers grease amongst a whole million of cutpurses and there boyle like a gamon of bacon that will never be enough exit doctor how her braine coynes daughter lords and courtiers that have got maids with child they are in this place they shall stand in fire up to the navle and in yce up toth hart and there thoffending part burnes and the deceaving part freezes in troth a very greevous punishment as one would thinke for such a trifle beleve me one would marry a leaprous witch to be rid ont ile assure you doctor how she continues this fancie tis not an engraffed madnesse but a most thicke and profound mellencholly daughter to heare there a proud lady and a proud citty wiffe howle together i were a beast and ild call it good sport one cries o this smoake another this fire one cries o that ever i did it behind the arras and then howles thother curses a suing fellow and her garden house sings i will be true my stars my fate etc exit daugh iailor what thinke you of her sir doctor i thinke she has a perturbed minde which i cannot minister to iailor alas what then doctor vnderstand you she ever affected any man ere she beheld palamon iailor i was once sir in great hope she had fixd her liking on this gentleman my friend wooer i did thinke so too and would account i had a great pen worth ont to give halfe my state that both she and i at this present stood unfainedly on the same tearmes doctor that intemprat surfeit of her eye hath distemperd the other sences they may returne and settle againe to execute their preordaind faculties but they are now in a most extravagant vagary this you must doe confine her to a place where the light may rather seeme to steale in then be permitted take vpon you yong sir her friend the name of palamon say you come to eate with her and to commune of love this will catch her attention for this her minde beates upon other objects that are inserted tweene her minde and eye become the prankes and friskins of her madnes sing to her such greene songs of love as she sayes palamon hath sung in prison come to her stucke in as sweet flowers as the season is mistres of and thereto make an addition of som other compounded odours which are grateful to the sence all this shall become palamon for palamon can sing and palamon is sweet and evry good thing desire to eate with her carve her drinke to her and still among intermingle your petition of grace and acceptance into her favour learne what maides have beene her companions and play pheeres and let them repaire to her with palamon in their mouthes and appeare with tokens as if they suggested for him it is a falsehood she is in which is with falsehood to be combated this may bring her to eate to sleepe and reduce whats now out of square in her into their former law and regiment i have seene it approved how many times i know not but to make the number more i have great hope in this i will betweene the passages of this project come in with my applyance let us put it in execution and hasten the successe which doubt not will bring forth comfort florish exeunt act v scene before the temples of mars venus and diana enter thesius perithous hipolita attendants theseus now letem enter and before the gods tender their holy prayers let the temples burne bright with sacred fires and the altars in hallowed clouds commend their swelling incense to those above us let no due be wanting florish of cornets they have a noble worke in hand will honour the very powers that love em enter palamon and arcite and their knights perithous sir they enter theseus you valiant and strong harted enemies you royall german foes that this day come to blow that furnesse out that flames betweene ye lay by your anger for an houre and dove like before the holy altars of your helpers the all feard gods bow downe your stubborne bodies your ire is more than mortall so your helpe be and as the gods regard ye fight with iustice ile leave you to your prayers and betwixt ye i part my wishes perithous honour crowne the worthiest exit theseus and his traine palamon the glasse is running now that cannot finish till one of us expire thinke you but thus that were there ought in me which strove to show mine enemy in this businesse wert one eye against another arme opprest by arme i would destroy thoffender coz i would though parcell of my selfe then from this gather how i should tender you arcite i am in labour to push your name your auncient love our kindred out of my memory and ith selfe same place to seate something i would confound so hoyst we the sayles that must these vessells port even where the heavenly lymiter pleases palamon you speake well before i turne let me embrace thee cosen this i shall never doe agen arcite one farewell palamon why let it be so farewell coz exeunt palamon and his knights arcite farewell sir knights kinsemen lovers yea my sacrifices true worshippers of mars whose spirit in you expells the seedes of feare and thapprehension which still is farther off it goe with me before the god of our profession there require of him the hearts of lyons and the breath of tigers yea the fearcenesse too yea the speed also to goe on i meane else wish we to be snayles you know my prize must be dragd out of blood force and great feate must put my garland on where she stickes the queene of flowers our intercession then must be to him that makes the campe a cestron brymd with the blood of men give me your aide and bend your spirits towards him they kneele thou mighty one that with thy power hast turnd greene neptune into purple whose approach comets prewarne whose havocke in vaste feild vnearthed skulls proclaime whose breath blowes downe the teeming ceres foyzon who doth plucke with hand armypotent from forth blew clowdes the masond turrets that both makst and breakst the stony girthes of citties me thy puple yongest follower of thy drom instruct this day with military skill that to thy lawde i may advance my streamer and by thee be stild the lord oth day give me great mars some token of thy pleasure here they fall on their faces as formerly and there is heard clanging of armor with a short thunder as the burst of a battaile whereupon they all rise and bow to the altar o great corrector of enormous times shaker of ore rank states thou grand decider of dustie and old tytles that healst with blood the earth when it is sicke and curst the world oth pluresie of people i doe take thy signes auspiciously and in thy name to my designe march boldly let us goe exeunt enter palamon and his knights with the former observance palamon our stars must glister with new fire or be to daie extinct our argument is love which if the goddesse of it grant she gives victory too then blend your spirits with mine you whose free noblenesse doe make my cause your personall hazard to the goddesse venus commend we our proceeding and implore her power unto our partie here they kneele as formerly haile soveraigne queene of secrets who hast power to call the feircest tyrant from his rage and weepe unto a girle that hast the might even with an ey glance to choke marsis drom and turne thallarme to whispers that canst make a criple florish with his crutch and cure him before apollo that mayst force the king to be his subjects vassaile and induce stale gravitie to daunce the pould bachelour whose youth like wonton boyes through bonfyres have skipt thy flame at seaventy thou canst catch and make him to the scorne of his hoarse throate abuse yong laies of love what godlike power hast thou not power upon to phoebus thou addst flames hotter then his the heavenly fyres did scortch his mortall son thine him the huntresse all moyst and cold some say began to throw her bow away and sigh take to thy grace me thy vowd souldier who doe beare thy yoke as twer a wreath of roses yet is heavier then lead it selfe stings more than nettles i have never beene foule mouthd against thy law nevr reveald secret for i knew none would not had i kend all that were i never practised vpon mans wife nor would the libells reade of liberall wits i never at great feastes sought to betray a beautie but have blushd at simpring sirs that did i have beene harsh to large confessors and have hotly askd them if they had mothers i had one a woman and women twer they wrongd i knew a man of eightie winters this i told them who a lasse of foureteene brided twas thy power to put life into dust the aged crampe had screwd his square foote round the gout had knit his fingers into knots torturing convulsions from his globie eyes had almost drawne their spheeres that what was life in him seemd torture this anatomie had by his yong faire pheare a boy and i beleevd it was him for she swore it was and who would not beleeve her briefe i am to those that prate and have done no companion to those that boast and have not a defyer to those that would and cannot a rejoycer yea him i doe not love that tells close offices the fowlest way nor names concealements in the boldest language such a one i am and vow that lover never yet made sigh truer then i o then most soft sweet goddesse give me the victory of this question which is true loves merit and blesse me with a signe of thy great pleasure here musicke is heard doves are seene to flutter they fall againe upon their faces then on their knees palamon o thou that from eleven to ninetie raignst in mortall bosomes whose chase is this world and we in heards thy game i give thee thankes for this faire token which being layd unto mine innocent true heart armes in assurance they bow my body to this businesse let us rise and bow before the goddesse time comes on exeunt still musicke of records enter emilia in white her haire about her shoulders wearing a wheaten wreath one in white holding up her traine her haire stucke with flowers one before her carrying a silver hynde in which is conveyd incense and sweet odours which being set upon the altar of diana her maides standing a loofe she sets fire to it then they curtsey and kneele emilia o sacred shadowie cold and constant queene abandoner of revells mute contemplative sweet solitary white as chaste and pure as windefand snow who to thy femall knights alowst no more blood than will make a blush which is their orders robe i heere thy priest am humbled fore thine altar o vouchsafe with that thy rare greene eye which never yet beheld thing maculate looke on thy virgin and sacred silver mistris lend thine eare which nevr heard scurrill terme into whose port nere entred wanton found to my petition seasond with holy feare this is my last of vestall office i am bride habited but mayden harted a husband i have pointed but doe not know him out of two i should choose one and pray for his successe but i am guiltlesse of election of mine eyes were i to loose one they are equall precious i could doombe neither that which perishd should goe toot unsentencd therefore most modest queene he of the two pretenders that best loves me and has the truest title int let him take off my wheaten gerland or else grant the fyle and qualitie i hold i may continue in thy band here the hynde vanishes under the altar and in the place ascends a rose tree having one rose upon it see what our generall of ebbs and flowes out from the bowells of her holy altar with sacred act advances but one rose if well inspird this battaile shal confound both these brave knights and i a virgin flowre must grow alone unpluckd here is heard a sodaine twang of instruments and the rose fals from the tree which vanishes under the altar the flowre is falne the tree descends o mistris thou here dischargest me i shall be gatherd i thinke so but i know not thine owne will vnclaspe thy misterie i hope shes pleasd her signes were gratious they curtsey and exeunt scene a darkened room in the prison enter doctor iaylor and wooer in habite of palamon doctor has this advice i told you done any good upon her wooer o very much the maids that kept her company have halfe perswaded her that i am palamon within this halfe houre she came smiling to me and asked me what i would eate and when i would kisse her i told her presently and kist her twice doctor twas well done twentie times had bin far better for there the cure lies mainely wooer then she told me she would watch with me to night for well she knew what houre my fit would take me doctor let her doe so and when your fit comes fit her home and presently wooer she would have me sing doctor you did so wooer no doctor twas very ill done then you should observe her evry way wooer alas i have no voice sir to confirme her that way doctor thats all one if yee make a noyse if she intreate againe doe any thing lye with her if she aske you iailor hoa there doctor doctor yes in the waie of cure iailor but first by your leave ith way of honestie doctor thats but a nicenesse nevr cast your child away for honestie cure her first this way then if shee will be honest she has the path before her iailor thanke yee doctor doctor pray bring her in and lets see how shee is iailor i will and tell her her palamon staies for her but doctor me thinkes you are ith wrong still exit iaylor doctor goe goe you fathers are fine fooles her honesty and we should give her physicke till we finde that wooer why doe you thinke she is not honest sir doctor how old is she wooer shes eighteene doctor she may be but thats all one tis nothing to our purpose what ere her father saies if you perceave her moode inclining that way that i spoke of videlicet the way of flesh you have me wooer yet very well sir doctor please her appetite and doe it home it cures her ipso facto the mellencholly humour that infects her wooer i am of your minde doctor enter iaylor daughter maide doctor youl finde it so she comes pray humour her iailor come your love palamon staies for you childe and has done this long houre to visite you daughter i thanke him for his gentle patience hes a kind gentleman and i am much bound to him did you nevr see the horse he gave me iailor yes daughter how doe you like him iailor hes a very faire one daughter you never saw him dance iailor no daughter i have often he daunces very finely very comely and for a iigge come cut and long taile to him he turnes ye like a top iailor thats fine indeede daughter heel dance the morris twenty mile an houre and that will founder the best hobby horse if i have any skill in all the parish and gallops to the turne of light a love what thinke you of this horse iailor having these vertues i thinke he might be broght to play at tennis daughter alas thats nothing iailor can he write and reade too daughter a very faire hand and casts himselfe thaccounts of all his hay and provender that hostler must rise betime that cozens him you know the chestnut mare the duke has iailor very well daughter she is horribly in love with him poore beast but he is like his master coy and scornefull iailor what dowry has she daughter some two hundred bottles and twenty strike of oates but heel nere have her he lispes ins neighing able to entice a millars mare heel be the death of her doctor what stuffe she utters iailor make curtsie here your love comes wooer pretty soule how doe ye thats a fine maide thers a curtsie daughter yours to command ith way of honestie how far ist now toth end oth world my masters doctor why a daies iorney wench daughter will you goe with me wooer what shall we doe there wench daughter why play at stoole ball what is there else to doe wooer i am content if we shall keepe our wedding there daughter tis true for there i will assure you we shall finde some blind priest for the purpose that will venture to marry us for here they are nice and foolish besides my father must be hangd to morrow and that would be a blot ith businesse are not you palamon wooer doe not you know me daughter yes but you care not for me i have nothing but this pore petticoate and too corse smockes wooer thats all one i will have you daughter will you surely wooer yes by this faire hand will i daughter weel to bed then wooer evn when you will kisses her daughter o sir you would faine be nibling wooer why doe you rub my kisse off daughter tis a sweet one and will perfume me finely against the wedding is not this your cosen arcite doctor yes sweet heart and i am glad my cosen palamon has made so faire a choice daughter doe you thinke heel have me doctor yes without doubt daughter doe you thinke so too iailor yes daughter we shall have many children lord how yar growne my palamon i hope will grow too finely now hes at liberty alas poore chicken he was kept downe with hard meate and ill lodging but ile kisse him up againe emter a messenger messenger what doe you here youl loose the noblest sight that evr was seene iailor are they ith field messenger they are you beare a charge there too iailor ile away straight i must evn leave you here doctor nay weel goe with you i will not loose the fight iailor how did you like her doctor ile warrant you within these or daies ile make her right againe you must not from her but still preserve her in this way wooer i will doctor lets get her in wooer come sweete weel goe to dinner and then weele play at cardes daughter and shall we kisse too wooer a hundred times daughter and twenty wooer i and twenty daughter and then weel sleepe together doctor take her offer wooer yes marry will we daughter but you shall not hurt me wooer i will not sweete daughter if you doe love ile cry florish exeunt scene a place near the lists enter theseus hipolita emilia perithous and some attendants t tucke curtis emilia ile no step further perithous will you loose this sight emilia i had rather see a wren hawke at a fly then this decision evry blow that falls threats a brave life each stroake laments the place whereon it fals and sounds more like a bell then blade i will stay here it is enough my hearing shall be punishd with what shall happen gainst the which there is no deaffing but to heare not taint mine eye with dread sights it may shun perithous sir my good lord your sister will no further theseus oh she must she shall see deeds of honour in their kinde which sometime show well pencild nature now shall make and act the story the beleife both seald with eye and eare you must be present you are the victours meede the price and garlond to crowne the questions title emilia pardon me if i were there ild winke theseus you must be there this tryall is as twer ith night and you the onely star to shine emilia i am extinct there is but envy in that light which showes the one the other darkenes which ever was the dam of horrour who dos stand accurst of many mortall millions may even now by casting her blacke mantle over both that neither coulde finde other get her selfe some part of a good name and many a murther set off wherto shes guilty hippolita you must goe emilia in faith i will not theseus why the knights must kindle their valour at your eye know of this war you are the treasure and must needes be by to give the service pay emilia sir pardon me the tytle of a kingdome may be tride out of it selfe theseus well well then at your pleasure those that remaine with you could wish their office to any of their enemies hippolita farewell sister i am like to know your husband fore your selfe by some small start of time he whom the gods doe of the two know best i pray them he be made your lot exeunt theseus hipolita perithous etc emilia arcite is gently visagd yet his eye is like an engyn bent or a sharpe weapon in a soft sheath mercy and manly courage are bedfellowes in his visage palamon has a most menacing aspect his brow is gravd and seemes to bury what it frownes on yet sometime tis not so but alters to the quallity of his thoughts long time his eye will dwell upon his object mellencholly becomes him nobly so dos arcites mirth but palamons sadnes is a kinde of mirth so mingled as if mirth did make him sad and sadnes merry those darker humours that sticke misbecomingly on others on them live in faire dwelling cornets trompets sound as to a charge harke how yon spurs to spirit doe incite the princes to their proofe arcite may win me and yet may palamon wound arcite to the spoyling of his figure o what pitty enough for such a chance if i were by i might doe hurt for they would glance their eies toward my seat and in that motion might omit a ward or forfeit an offence which cravd that very time it is much better i am not there oh better never borne then minister to such harme cornets a great cry and noice within crying a palamon what is the chance enter servant servant the cries a palamon emilia then he has won twas ever likely he lookd all grace and successe and he is doubtlesse the primst of men i prethee run and tell me how it goes showt and cornets crying a palamon servant still palamon emilia run and enquire poore servant thou hast lost vpon my right side still i wore thy picture palamons on the left why so i know not i had no end int else chance would have it so on the sinister side the heart lyes palamon had the best boding chance another cry and showt within and cornets this burst of clamour is sure thend oth combat enter servant servant they saide that palamon had arcites body within an inch oth pyramid that the cry was generall a palamon but anon thassistants made a brave redemption and the two bold tytlers at this instant are hand to hand at it emilia were they metamorphisd both into one oh why there were no woman worth so composd a man their single share their noblenes peculier to them gives the prejudice of disparity values shortnes cornets cry within arcite arcite to any lady breathing more exulting palamon still servant nay now the sound is arcite emilia i prethee lay attention to the cry cornets a great showt and cry arcite victory set both thine eares toth busines servant the cry is arcite and victory harke arcite victory the combats consummation is proclaimd by the wind instruments emilia halfe sights saw that arcite was no babe gods lyd his richnes and costlines of spirit lookt through him it could no more be hid in him then fire in flax then humble banckes can goe to law with waters that drift windes force to raging i did thinke good palamon would miscarry yet i knew not why i did thinke so our reasons are not prophets when oft our fancies are they are comming off alas poore palamon cornets enter theseus hipolita pirithous arcite as victor and attendants etc theseus lo where our sister is in expectation yet quaking and unsetled fairest emily the gods by their divine arbitrament have given you this knight he is a good one as ever strooke at head give me your hands receive you her you him be plighted with a love that growes as you decay arcite emily to buy you i have lost whats deerest to me save what is bought and yet i purchase cheapely as i doe rate your value theseus o loved sister he speakes now of as brave a knight as ere did spur a noble steed surely the gods would have him die a batchelour least his race should shew ith world too godlike his behaviour so charmed me that me thought alcides was to him a sow of lead if i could praise each part of him toth all i have spoke your arcite did not loose byt for he that was thus good encountred yet his better i have heard two emulous philomels beate the eare oth night with their contentious throates now one the higher anon the other then againe the first and by and by out breasted that the sence could not be judge betweene em so it fard good space betweene these kinesmen till heavens did make hardly one the winner weare the girlond with joy that you have won for the subdude give them our present iustice since i know their lives but pinch em let it here be done the sceanes not for our seeing goe we hence right joyfull with some sorrow arme your prize i know you will not loose her hipolita i see one eye of yours conceives a teare the which it will deliver florish emilia is this wynning oh all you heavenly powers where is your mercy but that your wils have saide it must be so and charge me live to comfort this unfriended this miserable prince that cuts away a life more worthy from him then all women i should and would die too hippolita infinite pitty that fowre such eies should be so fixd on one that two must needes be blinde fort theseus so it is exeunt scene the same a block prepared enter palamon and his knightes pyniond iaylor executioner etc gard palamon thers many a man alive that hath out livd the love oth people yea ith selfesame state stands many a father with his childe some comfort we have by so considering we expire and not without mens pitty to live still have their good wishes we prevent the loathsome misery of age beguile the gowt and rheume that in lag howres attend for grey approachers we come towards the gods yong and unwapperd not halting under crymes many and stale that sure shall please the gods sooner than such to give us nectar with em for we are more cleare spirits my deare kinesmen whose lives for this poore comfort are laid downe you have sould em too too cheape knight what ending could be of more content ore us the victors have fortune whose title is as momentary as to us death is certaine a graine of honour they not ore weigh us knight let us bid farewell and with our patience anger tottring fortune who at her certainst reeles knight come who begins palamon evn he that led you to this banket shall taste to you all ah ha my friend my friend your gentle daughter gave me freedome once youl seet done now for ever pray how does she i heard she was not well her kind of ill gave me some sorrow iailor sir shes well restord and to be marryed shortly palamon by my short life i am most glad ont tis the latest thing i shall be glad of prethee tell her so commend me to her and to peece her portion tender her this gives purse knight nay lets be offerers all knight is it a maide palamon verily i thinke so a right good creature more to me deserving then i can quight or speake of all knights commend us to her they give their purses iailor the gods requight you all and make her thankefull palamon adiew and let my life be now as short as my leave taking lies on the blocke knight leade couragious cosin knight weel follow cheerefully a great noise within crying run save hold enter in hast a messenger messenger hold hold o hold hold hold enter pirithous in haste perithous hold hoa it is a cursed hast you made if you have done so quickly noble palamon the gods will shew their glory in a life that thou art yet to leade palamon can that be when venus i have said is false how doe things fare perithous arise great sir and give the tydings eare that are most dearly sweet and bitter palamon what hath wakt us from our dreame perithous list then your cosen mounted upon a steed that emily did first bestow on him a blacke one owing not a hayre worth of white which some will say weakens his price and many will not buy his goodnesse with this note which superstition heere findes allowance on this horse is arcite trotting the stones of athens which the calkins did rather tell then trample for the horse would make his length a mile ift pleasd his rider to put pride in him as he thus went counting the flinty pavement dancing as twer toth musicke his owne hoofes made for as they say from iron came musickes origen what envious flint cold as old saturne and like him possest with fire malevolent darted a sparke or what feirce sulphur else to this end made i comment not the hot horse hot as fire tooke toy at this and fell to what disorder his power could give his will bounds comes on end forgets schoole dooing being therein traind and of kind mannadge pig like he whines at the sharpe rowell which he freats at rather then any jot obaies seekes all foule meanes of boystrous and rough iadrie to dis seate his lord that kept it bravely when nought servd when neither curb would cracke girth breake nor diffring plunges dis roote his rider whence he grew but that he kept him tweene his legges on his hind hoofes on end he stands that arcites leggs being higher then his head seemd with strange art to hand his victors wreath even then fell off his head and presently backeward the iade comes ore and his full poyze becomes the riders loade yet is he living but such a vessell tis that floates but for the surge that next approaches he much desires to have some speech with you loe he appeares enter theseus hipolita emilia arcite in a chaire palamon o miserable end of our alliance the gods are mightie arcite if thy heart thy worthie manly heart be yet unbroken give me thy last words i am palamon one that yet loves thee dying arcite take emilia and with her all the worlds joy reach thy hand farewell i have told my last houre i was false yet never treacherous forgive me cosen one kisse from faire emilia tis done take her i die palamon thy brave soule seeke elizium emilia ile close thine eyes prince blessed soules be with thee thou art a right good man and while i live this day i give to teares palamon and i to honour theseus in this place first you fought evn very here i sundred you acknowledge to the gods our thankes that you are living his part is playd and though it were too short he did it well your day is lengthned and the blissefull dew of heaven dos arowze you the powerfull venus well hath gracd her altar and given you your love our master mars hath vouchd his oracle and to arcite gave the grace of the contention so the deities have shewd due justice beare this hence palamon o cosen that we should things desire which doe cost us the losse of our desire that nought could buy deare love but losse of deare love theseus never fortune did play a subtler game the conquerd triumphes the victor has the losse yet in the passage the gods have beene most equall palamon your kinseman hath confest the right oth lady did lye in you for you first saw her and even then proclaimd your fancie he restord her as your stolne iewell and desird your spirit to send him hence forgiven the gods my justice take from my hand and they themselves become the executioners leade your lady off and call your lovers from the stage of death whom i adopt my frinds a day or two let us looke sadly and give grace unto the funerall of arcite in whose end the visages of bridegroomes weele put on and smile with palamon for whom an houre but one houre since i was as dearely sorry as glad of arcite and am now as glad as for him sorry o you heavenly charmers what things you make of us for what we lacke we laugh for what we have are sorry still are children in some kind let us be thankefull for that which is and with you leave dispute that are above our question lets goe off and beare us like the time florish exeunt epilogue i would now aske ye how ye like the play but as it is with schoole boyes cannot say i am cruell fearefull pray yet stay a while and let me looke upon ye no man smile then it goes hard i see he that has lovd a yong hansome wench then show his face tis strange if none be heere and if he will against his conscience let him hisse and kill our market tis in vaine i see to stay yee have at the worst can come then now what say ye and yet mistake me not i am not bold we have no such cause if the tale we have told for tis no other any way content ye for to that honest purpose it was ment ye we have our end and ye shall have ere long i dare say many a better to prolong your old loves to us we and all our might rest at your service gentlemen good night florish finis the winters tale dramatis personae leontes king of sicilia mamillius his son the young prince of sicilia camillo lord of sicilia antigonus cleomenes dion polixenes king of bohemia florizel his son prince of bohemia archidamus a lord of bohemia old shepherd reputed father of perdita clown his son autolycus a rogue a mariner a gaoler time as chorus hermione queen to leontes perdita daughter to leontes and hermione paulina wife to antigonus emilia a lady attending on the queen mopsa shepherdess dorcas other lords gentlemen ladies officers servants shepherds shepherdesses scene sicilia and bohemia act i scene i sicilia the palace of leontes enter camillo and archidamus archidamus 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 camillo i think this coming summer the king of sicilia means to pay bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him archidamus wherein our entertainment shall shame us we will be justified in our loves for indeed camillo beseech you archidamus 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 camillo you pay a great deal too dear for whats given freely archidamus believe me i speak as my understanding instructs me and as mine honesty puts it to utterance camillo sicilia cannot show himself overkind to bohemia they were traind 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 seemd to be together though absent shook hands as over a vast and embracd as it were from the ends of opposed winds the heavens continue their loves archidamus i think there is not in the world either malice or matter to alter it you have an unspeakable comfort of your young prince mamillius it is a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my note camillo 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 archidamus would they else be content to die camillo yes if there were no other excuse why they should desire to live archidamus if the king had no son they would desire to live on crutches till he had one exeunt scene ii sicilia the palace of leontes enter leontes polixenes hermione mamillius camillo and attendants polixenes nine changes of the watry star hath been the shepherds note since we have left our throne without a burden time as long again would be filld 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 leontes stay your thanks a while and pay them when you part polixenes sir thats to morrow i am questiond 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 stayd to tire your royalty leontes we are tougher brother than you can put us tot polixenes no longer stay leontes one sevnight longer polixenes very sooth to morrow leontes well part the time betweens then and in that ill no gainsaying polixenes press me not beseech you so there is no tongue that moves none none i th 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 leontes tongue tied our queen speak you hermione 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 bohemias well this satisfaction the by gone day proclaimd say this to him hes beat from his best ward leontes well said hermione 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 well thwack him hence with distaffs to polixenes yet of your royal presence ill adventure the borrow of a week when at bohemia you take my lord ill give him my commission to let him there a month behind the gest prefixd fors parting yet good deed leontes i love thee not a jar o th clock behind what lady she her lord youll stay polixenes no madam hermione nay but you will polixenes i may not verily hermione verily you put me off with limber vows but i though you would seek t unsphere the stars with oaths should yet say sir no going verily you shall not go a ladys verily is as potent as a lords will 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 polixenes your guest then madam to be your prisoner should import offending which is for me less easy to commit than you to punish hermione not your gaoler then but your kind hostess come ill question you of my lords tricks and yours when you were boys you were pretty lordings then polixenes 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 hermione was not my lord the verier wag o th two polixenes we were as twinnd lambs that did frisk i th sun and bleat the one at th other what we changd was innocence for innocence we knew not the doctrine of ill doing nor dreamd that any did had we pursud that life and our weak spirits neer been higher reard with stronger blood we should have answerd heaven boldly not guilty the imposition cleard hereditary ours hermione by this we gather you have trippd since polixenes o my most sacred lady temptations have since then been born to s for in those unfledgd days was my wife a girl your precious self had then not crossd the eyes of my young playfellow hermione grace to boot of this make no conclusion lest you say your queen and i are devils yet go on th offences we have made you do well answer if you first sinnd with us and that with us you did continue fault and that you slippd not with any but with us leontes is he won yet hermione hell stay my lord leontes at my request he would not hermione my dearest thou never spokst to better purpose hermione never leontes never but once hermione what have i twice said well when wast before i prithee tell me crams with praise and makes as fat as tame things one good deed dying tongueless slaughters a thousand waiting upon that our praises are our wages you may rides with one soft kiss a thousand furlongs ere with spur we heat an acre but to th 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 th purpose when nay let me havet i long leontes why that was when three crabbed months had sourd 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 hermione tis grace indeed why lo you now i have spoke to th purpose twice the one for ever earnd a royal husband th other for some while a friend giving her hand to polixenes leontes aside 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 practisd smiles as in a looking glass and then to sigh as twere the mort o th deer o that is entertainment my bosom likes not nor my brows mamillius art thou my boy mamillius ay my good lord leontes i fecks why thats my bawcock what hast smutchd 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 calld neat still virginalling upon his palm how now you wanton calf art thou my calf mamillius yes if you will my lord leontes thou wantst 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 oer dyd blacks as wind as waters false as dice are to be wishd 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 welkin eye sweet villain most dearst my collop can thy dam mayt be affection thy intention stabs the centre thou dost make possible things not so held communicatst with dreams how can this be with whats unreal thou coactive art and fellowst 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 hardning of my brows polixenes what means sicilia hermione he something seems unsettled polixenes how my lord what cheer how ist with you best brother hermione you look as if you held a brow of much distraction are you movd my lord leontes 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 boys face methoughts i did recoil twenty three years and saw myself unbreechd in my green velvet coat my dagger muzzld 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 mamillius no my lord ill fight leontes you will why happy man bes dole my brother are you so fond of your young prince as we do seem to be of ours polixenes if at home sir hes all my exercise my mirth my matter now my sworn friend and then mine enemy my parasite my soldier statesman all he makes a julys day short as december and with his varying childness cures in me thoughts that would thick my blood leontes so stands this squire officd with me we two will walk my lord and leave you to your graver steps hermione how thou lovst us show in our brothers welcome let what is dear in sicily be cheap next to thyself and my young rover hes apparent to my heart hermione if you would seek us we are yours i th garden shalls attend you there leontes to your own bents dispose you youll be found be you beneath the sky aside 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 exeunt polixenes hermione and attendants gone already inch thick knee deep oer head and ears a forkd one go play boy play thy mother plays and i play too but so disgracd 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 deceivd cuckolds ere now and many a man there is even at this present now while i speak this holds his wife by th arm that little thinks she has been sluicd ins absence and his pond fishd by his next neighbour by sir smile his neighbour nay theres comfort int whiles other men have gates and those gates opend as mine against their will should all despair that hath revolted wives the tenth of mankind would hang themselves physic fort theres none it is a bawdy planet that will strike where tis predominant and tis powrfull think it from east west north and south be it concluded no barricado for a belly knowt it will let in and out the enemy with bag and baggage many thousand ons have the disease and feelt not how now boy mamillius i am like you they say leontes why thats some comfort what camillo there camillo ay my good lord leontes go play mamillius thourt an honest man exit mamillius camillo this great sir will yet stay longer camillo you had much ado to make his anchor hold when you cast out it still came home leontes didst note it camillo he would not stay at your petitions made his business more material leontes didst perceive it aside theyre here with me already whispring rounding sicilia is a so forth tis far gone when i shall gust it last how camet camillo that he did stay camillo at the good queens entreaty leontes at the queens bet 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 ist but of the finer natures by some severals of head piece extraordinary lower messes perchance are to this business purblind say camillo business my lord i think most understand bohemia stays here longer leontes ha camillo stays here longer leontes ay but why camillo to satisfy your highness and the entreaties of our most gracious mistress leontes satisfy th 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 cleansd my bosom i from thee departed thy penitent reformd but we have been deceivd in thy integrity deceivd in that which seems so camillo be it forbid my lord leontes to bide upont thou art not honest or if thou inclinst that way thou art a coward which hoxes honesty behind restraining from course requird or else thou must be counted a servant grafted in my serious trust and therein negligent or else a fool that seest a game playd home the rich stake drawn and takst it all for jest camillo 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 wilfull negligent it was my folly if industriously i playd 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 allowd 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 leontes ha not you seen camillo but thats past doubt you have or your eye glass is thicker than a cuckolds 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 wifes a hobby horse deserves a name as rank as any flax wench that puts to before her troth plight sayt and justifyt camillo 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 leontes 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 thats int is nothing the covering sky is nothing bohemia nothing my is nothing nor nothing have these nothings if this be nothing camillo good my lord be curd of this diseasd opinion and betimes for tis most dangerous leontes say it be tis true camillo no no my lord leontes 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 wifes liver infected as her life she would not live the running of one glass camillo who does her leontes 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 cupbearer whom i from meaner form have benchd and reard to worship who mayst see plainly as heaven sees earth and earth sees heaven how i am galld mightst bespice a cup to give mine enemy a lasting wink which draught to me were cordial camillo sir my lord i could do this and that with no rash potion but with a lingring dram that should not work maliciously like poison but i cannot believe this crack to be in my dread mistress so sovereignly being honourable i have lovd thee leontes 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 th 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 camillo i must believe you sir i do and will fetch off bohemia fort provided that when hes removd your highness will take again your queen as yours at first even for your sons sake and thereby for sealing the injury of tongues in courts and kingdoms known and allied to yours leontes thou dost advise me even so as i mine own course have set down ill give no blemish to her honour none camillo 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 leontes this is all dot and thou hast the one half of my heart dot not thou splitst thine own camillo ill dot my lord leontes i will seem friendly as thou hast advisd me exit camillo o miserable lady but for me what case stand i in i must be the poisoner of good polixenes and my ground to dot 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 flourishd after id not dot but since nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one let villainy itself forsweart i must forsake the court to dot or no is certain to me a break neck happy star reign now here comes bohemia enter polixenes polixenes this is strange methinks my favour here begins to warp not speak good day camillo camillo hail most royal sir polixenes what is the news i th court camillo none rare my lord polixenes the king hath on him such a countenance as he had lost some province and a region lovd as he loves himself even now i met him with customary compliment when he wafting his eyes to th contrary and falling a lip of much contempt speeds from me so leaves me to consider what is breeding that changes thus his manners camillo i dare not know my lord polixenes 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 changd complexions are to me a mirror which shows me mine changd too for i must be a party in this alteration finding myself thus alterd witht camillo 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 polixenes how caught of me make me not sighted like the basilisk i have lookd on thousands who have sped the better by my regard but killd none so camillo as you are certainly a gentleman thereto clerk like experiencd 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 informd imprisont not in ignorant concealment camillo i may not answer polixenes a sickness caught of me and yet i well i must be answerd 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 camillo sir i will tell you since i am chargd in honour and by him that i think honourable therefore mark my counsel which must be evn as swiftly followed as i mean to utter it or both yourself and me cry lost and so goodnight polixenes on good camillo camillo i am appointed him to murder you polixenes by whom camillo camillo by the king polixenes for what camillo he thinks nay with all confidence he swears as he had seen t or been an instrument to vice you tot that you have touchd his queen forbiddenly polixenes o then my best blood turn to an infected jelly and my name be yokd 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 shunnd nay hated too worse than the greatst infection that eer was heard or read camillo 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 pild upon his faith and will continue the standing of his body polixenes how should this grow camillo i know not but i am sure tis safer to avoid whats grown than question how tis born if therefore you dare trust my honesty that lies enclosed in this trunk which you shall bear along impawnd away to night your followers i will whisper to the business and will by twos and threes at several posterns clear them o th city for myself ill 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 uttred truth which if you seek to prove i dare not stand by nor shall you be safer than one condemnd by the kings own mouth thereon his execution sworn polixenes i do believe thee i saw his heart ins 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 shes rare must it be great and as his persons mighty must it be violent and as he does conceive he is dishonourd by a man which ever professd to him why his revenges must in that be made more bitter fear oershades me good expedition be my friend and comfort the gracious queen part of this theme but nothing of his ill taen suspicion come camillo i will respect thee as a father if thou bearst my life off hence let us avoid camillo it is in mine authority to command the keys of all the posterns please your highness to take the urgent hour come sir away exeunt act ii scene i sicilia the palace of leontes enter hermione mamillius and ladies hermione take the boy to you he so troubles me tis past enduring first lady come my gracious lord shall i be your playfellow mamillius no ill none of you first lady why my sweet lord mamillius youll kiss me hard and speak to me as if i were a baby still i love you better second lady and why so my lord mamillius 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 second lady who taughtt this mamillius i learnd it out of womens faces pray now what colour are your eyebrows first lady blue my lord mamillius nay thats a mock i have seen a ladys nose that has been blue but not her eyebrows first lady hark ye the queen your mother rounds apace we shall present our services to a fine new prince one of these days and then youd wanton with us if we would have you second lady she is spread of late into a goodly bulk good time encounter her hermione what wisdom stirs amongst you come sir now i am for you again pray you sit by us and tells a tale mamillius merry or sad shallt be hermione as merry as you will mamillius a sad tales best for winter i have one of sprites and goblins hermione lets have that good sir come on sit down come on and do your best to fright me with your sprites youre powrfull at it mamillius there was a man hermione nay come sit down then on mamillius dwelt by a churchyard i will tell it softly yond crickets shall not hear it hermione come on then and givet me in mine ear enter leontes antigonus lords and others leontes he met there his train camillo with him first lord behind the tuft of pines i met them never saw i men scour so on their way i eyd them even to their ships leontes how blest am i in my just censure in my true opinion alack for lesser knowledge how accursd in being so blest there may be in the cup a spider steepd and one may drink depart and yet partake no venom for his knowledge is not infected but if one present th abhorrd 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 pander there is a plot against my life my crown alls true that is mistrusted that false villain whom i employd was pre employd by him he has discoverd my design and i remain a pinchd thing yea a very trick for them to play at will how came the posterns so easily open first lord by his great authority which often hath no less prevaild than so on your command leontes i knowt 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 hermione what is this sport leontes bear the boy hence he shall not come about her away with him and let her sport herself mamillius is led out with that shes big with for tis polixenes has made thee swell thus hermione but id say he had not and ill be sworn you would believe my saying howeer you lean to th nayward leontes 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 ad tis pity shes 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 has when you have said shes goodly come between ere you can say shes honest but bet known from him that has most cause to grieve it should be shes an adultress hermione should a villain say so the most replenishd villain in the world he were as much more villain you my lord do but mistake leontes you have mistook my lady polixenes for leontes o thou thing which ill 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 shes an adultress i have said with whom more shes 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 shes a bed swerver even as bad as those that vulgars give boldst titles ay and privy to this their late escape hermione 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 publishd me gentle my lord you scarce can right me throughly then to say you did mistake leontes no if i mistake in those foundations which i build upon the centre is not big enough to bear a school boys top away with her to prison he who shall speak for her is afar off guilty but that he speaks hermione theres 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 lodgd 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 kings will be performd leontes to the guard shall i be heard hermione who ist 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 deservd 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 wishd to see you sorry now i trust i shall my women come you have leave leontes go do our bidding hence exeunt hermione guarded and ladies first lord beseech your highness call the queen again antigonus be certain what you do sir lest your justice prove violence in the which three great ones suffer yourself your queen your son first lord for her my lord i dare my life lay down and will dot sir please you t accept it that the queen is spotless i th eyes of heaven and to you i mean in this which you accuse her antigonus if it prove shes otherwise ill keep my stables where i lodge my wife ill go in couples with her than when i feel and see her no farther trust her for every inch of woman in the world ay every dram of womans flesh is false if she be leontes hold your peaces first lord good my lord antigonus it is for you we speak not for ourselves you are abusd and by some putter on that will be damnd fort would i knew the villain i would land damn him be she honour flawd i have three daughters the eldest is eleven the second and the third nine and some five if this prove true theyll pay for t by mine honour ill geld em 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 leontes cease no more you smell this business with a sense as cold as is a dead mans nose but i do seet and feelt as you feel doing thus and see withal the instruments that feel antigonus if it be so we need no grave to bury honesty theres not a grain of it the face to sweeten of the whole dungy earth leontes what lack i credit first lord 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 blamd fort how you might leontes 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 ordring ont is all properly ours antigonus and i wish my liege you had only in your silent judgment tried it without more overture leontes how could that be either thou art most ignorant by age or thou wert born a fool camillos flight added to their familiarity which was as gross as ever touchd conjecture that lackd sight only nought for approbation but only seeing all other circumstances made up to th 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 dispatchd in post to sacred delphos to apollos temple cleomenes and dion whom you know of stuffd sufficiency now from the oracle they will bring all whose spiritual counsel had shall stop or spur me have i done well first lord well done my lord leontes though i am satisfied and need no more than what i know yet shall the oracle give rest to th minds of others such as he whose ignorant credulity will not come up to th truth so have we thought it good from our free person she should be confind 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 antigonus aside to laughter as i take it if the good truth were known exeunt scene ii sicilia a prison enter paulina a gentleman and attendants paulina the keeper of the prison call to him let him have knowledge who i am exit gentleman good lady no court in europe is too good for thee what dost thou then in prison re enter gentleman with the gaoler now good sir you know me do you not gaoler for a worthy lady and one who much i honour paulina pray you then conduct me to the queen gaoler i may not madam to the contrary i have express commandment paulina heres ado to lock up honesty and honour from th access of gentle visitors ist lawful pray you to see her women any of them emilia gaoler so please you madam to put apart these your attendants shall bring emilia forth paulina i pray now call her withdraw yourselves exeunt attendants gaoler and madam i must be present at your conference paulina well bet so prithee exit gaoler heres such ado to make no stain a stain as passes colouring re enter gaoler with emilia dear gentlewoman how fares our gracious lady emilia 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 deliverd paulina a boy emilia a daughter and a goodly babe lusty and like to live the queen receives much comfort int says my poor prisoner i am as innocent as you paulina i dare be sworn these dangerous unsafe lunes i th king beshrew them he must be told ont and he shall the office becomes a woman best ill taket upon me if i prove honey mouthd let my tongue blister and never to my red lookd 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 ill showt the king and undertake to be her advocate to th loudst we do not know how he may soften at the sight o th child the silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails emilia 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 ill presently acquaint the queen of your most noble offer who but to day hammerd of this design but durst not tempt a minister of honour lest she should be denied paulina tell her emilia ill use that tongue i have if wit flow fromt as boldness from my bosom lett not be doubted i shall do good emilia now be you blest for it ill to the queen please you come something nearer gaoler madam ift please the queen to send the babe i know not what i shall incur to pass it having no warrant paulina you need not fear it sir this child was prisoner to the womb and is by law and process of great nature thence freed and enfranchisd not a party to the anger of the king nor guilty of if any be the trespass of the queen gaoler i do believe it paulina do not you fear upon mine honour i will stand betwixt you and danger exeunt scene iii sicilia the palace of leontes enter leontes antigonus lords and servants leontes 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 th cause she th 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 whos there first servant my lord leontes how does the boy first servant he took good rest to night tis hopd his sickness is dischargd leontes to see his nobleness conceiving the dishonour of his mother he straight declind droopd took it deeply fastend and fixd the shame ont in himself threw off his spirit his appetite his sleep and downright languishd leave me solely go see how he fares exit servant 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 powr enter paulina with a child first lord you must not enter paulina nay rather good my lords be second to me fear you his tyrannous passion more alas than the queens life a gracious innocent soul more free than he is jealous antigonus thats enough second servant madam he hath not slept to night commanded none should come at him paulina 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 medicinal as true honest as either to purge him of that humour that presses him from sleep leontes what noise there ho paulina no noise my lord but needful conference about some gossips for your highness leontes how away with that audacious lady antigonus i chargd thee that she should not come about me i knew she would antigonus i told her so my lord on your displeasures peril and on mine she should not visit you leontes what canst not rule her paulina 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 antigonus la you now you hear when she will take the rein i let her run but shell not stumble paulina 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 leontes good queen paulina 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 leontes force her hence paulina let him that makes but trifles of his eyes first hand me on mine own accord ill off but first ill do my errand the good queen for she is good hath brought you forth a daughter here tis commends it to your blessing laying down the child leontes out a mankind witch hence with her out o door a most intelligencing bawd paulina 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 ill warrant as this world goes to pass for honest leontes traitors will you not push her out give her the bastard to antigonus thou dotard thou art woman tird unroosted by thy dame partlet here take up the bastard taket up i say givet to thy crone paulina for ever unvenerable be thy hands if thou takst up the princess by that forced baseness which he has put upont leontes he dreads his wife paulina so i would you did then twere past all doubt youd call your children yours leontes a nest of traitors antigonus i am none by this good light paulina nor i nor any but one thats here and thats himself for he the sacred honour of himself his queens his hopeful sons his babes betrays to slander whose sting is sharper than the swords and will not for as the case now stands it is a curse he cannot be compelld to t once remove the root of his opinion which is rotten as ever oak or stone was sound leontes 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 paulina it is yours and might we lay th 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 ofs 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 int lest she suspect as he does her children not her husbands leontes a gross hag and lozel thou art worthy to be hangd that wilt not stay her tongue antigonus hang all the husbands that cannot do that feat youll leave yourself hardly one subject leontes once more take her hence paulina a most unworthy and unnatural lord can do no more leontes ill ha thee burnt paulina i care not it is an heretic that makes the fire not she which burns int ill not call you tyrant but this most cruel usage of your queen not able to produce more accusation than your own weak hingd fancy something savours of tyranny and will ignoble make you yea scandalous to the world leontes 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 paulina i pray you do not push me ill be gone look to your babe my lord tis yours jove send her a better guiding spirit what needs these hands you that are thus so tender oer his follies will never do him good not one of you so so farewell we are gone exit leontes thou traitor hast set on thy wife to this my child away witht even thou that hast a heart so tender oer it take it hence and see it instantly consumd 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 ill seize thy life with that thou else callst 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 setst on thy wife antigonus i did not sir these lords my noble fellows if they please can clear me int lords we can my royal liege he is not guilty of her coming hither leontes youre liars all first lord beseech your highness give us better credit we have always truly servd you and beseech 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 leontes 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 to antigonus you sir come you hither you that have been so tenderly officious with lady margery your midwife there to save this bastards life for tis a bastard so sure as this beards grey what will you adventure to save this brats life antigonus anything my lord that my ability may undergo and nobleness impose at least thus much ill pawn the little blood which i have left to save the innocent anything possible leontes it shall be possible swear by this sword thou wilt perform my bidding antigonus i will my lord leontes mark and perform it seest thou for the fail of any point int shall not only be death to thyself but to thy lewd tongud 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 desert place quite out of our dominions and that there thou leave it without more mercy to it own protection and favour of the climate as by strange fortune it came to us i do in justice charge thee on thy souls peril and thy bodys torture that thou commend it strangely to some place where chance may nurse or end it take it up antigonus 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 does require and blessing against this cruelty fight on thy side poor thing condemnd to loss exit with the child leontes no ill not rear anothers issue enter a servant servant please your highness posts from those you sent to th oracle are come an hour since cleomenes and dion being well arrivd from delphos are both landed hasting to th court first lord so please you sir their speed hath been beyond account leontes 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 accusd 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 exeunt act iii scene i sicilia on the road to the capital enter cleomenes and dion cleomenes the climates delicate the air most sweet fertile the isle the temple much surpassing the common praise it bears dion 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 th offring cleomenes but of all the burst and the ear deafning voice o th oracle kin to joves thunder so surprisd my sense that i was nothing dion if th event o th journey prove as successful to the queen o bet so as it hath been to us rare pleasant speedy the time is worth the use ont cleomenes great apollo turn all to th best these proclamations so forcing faults upon hermione i little like dion the violent carriage of it will clear or end the business when the oracle thus by apollos great divine seald up shall the contents discover something rare even then will rush to knowledge go fresh horses and gracious be the issue exeunt scene ii sicilia a court of justice enter leontes lords and officers leontes 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 belovd let us be cleard 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 officer it is his highness pleasure that the queen appear in person here in court enter hermione as to her trial paulina and ladies silence leontes read the indictment officer reads 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 true subject didst counsel and aid them for their better safety to fly away by night hermione 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 receivd but thus if powrs 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 devisd and playd to take spectators for behold me a fellow of the royal bed which owe a moiety of the throne a great kings 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 straind t appear thus if one jot beyond the bound of honour or in act or will that way inclining hardned be the hearts of all that hear me and my nearst of kin cry fie upon my grave leontes i neer heard yet that any of these bolder vices wanted less impudence to gainsay what they did than to perform it first hermione thats true enough though tis a saying sir not due to me leontes you will not own it hermione more than mistress of which comes to me in name of fault i must not at all acknowledge for polixenes with whom i am accusd i do confess i lovd him as in honour he requird 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 ever since it could speak from an infant freely that it was yours now for conspiracy i know not how it tastes though it be dishd 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 leontes you knew of his departure as you know what you have undertaen to do ins absence hermione sir you speak a language that i understand not my life stands in the level of your dreams which ill lay down leontes your actions are my dreams you had a bastard by polixenes and i but dreamd 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 hermione 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 barrd like one infectious my third comfort starrd most unluckily is from my breast the innocent milk in it most innocent mouth hald out to murder myself on every post proclaimd a strumpet with immodest hatred the child bed privilege denied which longs to women of all fashion lastly hurried here to this place i th 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 condemnd 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 first lord this your request is altogether just therefore bring forth and in apollos name his oracle exeunt certain officers hermione the emperor of russia was my father o that he were alive and here beholding his daughters trial that he did but see the flatness of my misery yet with eyes of pity not revenge re enter officers with cleomenes and dion officer 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 seald up oracle by the hand deliverd of great apollos priest and that since then you have not dard to break the holy seal nor read the secrets int cleomenes dion all this we swear leontes break up the seals and read officer reads 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 lords now blessed be the great apollo hermione praised leontes hast thou read truth officer ay my lord even so as it is here set down leontes there is no truth at all i th oracle the sessions shall proceed this is mere falsehood enter a servant servant my lord the king the king leontes what is the business servant o sir i shall be hated to report it the prince your son with mere conceit and fear of the queens speed is gone leontes how gone servant is dead leontes apollos angry and the heavens themselves do strike at my injustice hermione swoons how now there paulina this news is mortal to the queen look down and see what death is doing leontes take her hence her heart is but oerchargd she will recover i have too much believd mine own suspicion beseech you tenderly apply to her some remedies for life exeunt paulina and ladies with hermione apollo pardon my great profaneness gainst thine oracle ill 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 filld with honour to my kingly guest unclaspd 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 re enter paulina paulina woe the while o cut my lace lest my heart cracking it break too first lord what fit is this good lady paulina what studied torments tyrant hast for me what wheels racks fires what flaying 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 betraydst polixenes twas nothing that did but show thee of a fool inconstant and damnable ingrateful nor wast much thou wouldst have poisond good camillos 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 donet nor ist 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 blemishd 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 sweetst dearst creatures dead and vengeance fort not droppd down yet first lord the higher powrs forbid paulina i say shes dead ill sweart 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 ill 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 leontes go on go on thou canst not speak too much i have deservd all tongues to talk their bittrest first lord say no more howeer the business goes you have made fault i th boldness of your speech paulina i am sorry fort all faults i make when i shall come to know them i do repent alas i have showd too much the rashness of a woman he is touchd to th noble heart whats gone and whats past help should be past grief do not receive affliction at my petition i beseech you rather let me be punishd 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 ill speak of her no more nor of your children ill not remember you of my own lord who is lost too take your patience to you and ill say nothing leontes 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 ill 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 to these sorrows exeunt scene iii bohemia the sea coast enter antigonus with the child and a mariner antigonus thou art perfect then our ship hath touchd upon the deserts of bohemia mariner 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 antigonus their sacred wills be done go get aboard look to thy bark ill not be long before i call upon thee mariner make your best haste and go not too far i th land tis like to be loud weather besides this place is famous for the creatures of prey that keep upont antigonus go thou away ill follow instantly mariner i am glad at heart to be so rid o th business exit antigonus come poor babe i have heard but not believd the spirits o th dead may walk again if such thing be thy mother appeard to me last night for neer 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 filld and so becoming in pure white robes like very sanctity she did approach my cabin where i lay thrice bowd 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 callt for this ungentle business put on thee by my lord thou neer shalt see thy wife paulina more 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 squard by this i do believe hermione hath sufferd 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 laying down the child there lie and there thy character there these laying down a bundle which may if fortune please both breed thee pretty and still rest thine the storm begins poor wretch that for thy mothers fault art thus exposd to loss and what may follow weep i cannot but my heart bleeds and most accursd am i to be by oath enjoind to this farewell the day frowns more and more thourt like to have a lullaby too rough i never saw the heavens so dim by day noise of hunt within a savage clamour well may i get aboard this is the chase i am gone for ever exit pursued by a bear enter an old shepherd shepherd i would there were no age between ten 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 horns hark you now would any but these boild brains of nineteen and two and twenty hunt this weather they have scard away two of my best sheep which i fear the wolf will sooner find than the master if any where i have them tis by the sea side browsing of ivy good luck ant be thy will what have we here taking up the child mercy ons 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 ill take it up for pity yet ill tarry till my son come he hallood but even now whoa ho hoa enter clown clown hilloa loa shepherd what art so near if thoult see a thing to talk on when thou art dead and rotten come hither what ailst thou man clown i have seen two such sights by sea and by land but i am not to say it is a sea for it is now the sky betwixt the firmament and it you cannot thrust a bodkins point shepherd why boy how is it clown i would you did but see how it chafes how it rages how it takes up the shore but thats 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 yeast and froth as youd thrust a cork into a hogshead and then for the land service to see how the bear tore out his shoulder bone 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 dragond it but first how the poor souls roared and the sea mockd them and how the poor gentleman roared and the bear mockd him both roaring louder than the sea or weather shepherd name of mercy when was this boy clown now now i have not winkd since i saw these sights the men are not yet cold under water nor the bear half dind on the gentleman hes at it now shepherd would i had been by to have helpd the old man clown i would you had been by the ship side to have helpd her there your charity would have lackd footing shepherd heavy matters heavy matters but look thee here boy now bless thyself thou metst with things dying i with things new born heres a sight for thee look thee a bearing cloth for a squires child look thee here take up take up boy opent so lets see it was told me i should be rich by the fairies this is some changeling opent whats within boy clown youre a made old man if the sins of your youth are forgiven you youre well to live gold all gold shepherd this is fairy gold boy and twill prove so up witht 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 clown go you the next way with your findings ill 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 ill bury it shepherd thats a good deed if thou mayest discern by that which is left of him what he is fetch me to th sight of him clown marry will i and you shall help to put him i th ground shepherd tis a lucky day boy and well do good deeds ont exeunt act iv scene i enter time the chorus time i that please some try all both joy and terror of good and bad that makes and unfolds 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 oer sixteen years and leave the growth untried of that wide gap since it is in my powr to oerthrow law and in one self born hour to plant and oerwhelm custom let me pass the same i am ere ancientst order was or what is now receivd i witness to the times that brought them in so shall i do to th 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 th 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 mentiond a son o th kings which florizel i now name to you and with speed so pace to speak of perdita now grown in grace equal with wondring what of her ensues i list not prophesy but let times news be known when tis brought forth a shepherds 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 exit scene ii bohemia the palace of polixenes enter polixenes and camillo polixenes i pray thee good camillo be no more importunate tis a sickness denying thee anything a death to grant this camillo 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 oerween to think so which is another spur to my departure polixenes as thou lovst 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 callst 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 sawst 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 camillo 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 polixenes 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 camillo 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 polixenes thats 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 sons resort thither prithee be my present partner in this business and lay aside the thoughts of sicilia camillo i willingly obey your command polixenes my best camillo we must disguise ourselves exeunt scene iii bohemia a road near the shepherds cottage enter autolycus singing 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 winters 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 servd 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 budget 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 namd me autolycus who being i as am litterd under mercury was likewise a snapper up of unconsidered trifles with die and drab i purchasd 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 enter clown clown let me see every leven wether tods every tod yields pound and odd shilling fifteen hundred shorn what comes the wool to autolycus aside if the springe hold the cocks mine clown i cannot do t without counters 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 thats out of my note nutmegs seven race or two of ginger but that i may beg four pound of prunes and as many of raisins o th sun autolycus grovelling on the ground o that ever i was born clown i th name of me autolycus o help me help me pluck but off these rags and then death death clown alack poor soul thou hast need of more rags to lay on thee rather than have these off autolycus o sir the loathsomeness of them offend me more than the stripes i have received which are mighty ones and millions clown alas poor man a million of beating may come to a great matter autolycus i am robbd sir and beaten my money and apparel taen from me and these detestable things put upon me clown what by a horseman or a footman autolycus a footman sweet sir a footman clown indeed he should be a footman by the garments he has left with thee if this be a horsemans coat it hath seen very hot service lend me thy hand ill help thee come lend me thy hand helping him up autolycus o good sir tenderly o clown alas poor soul autolycus o good sir softly good sir i fear sir my shoulder blade is out clown how now canst stand autolycus softly dear sir picks his pocket good sir softly you ha done me a charitable office clown dost lack any money i have a little money for thee autolycus 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 clown what manner of fellow was he that robbd you autolycus a fellow sir that i have known to go about with troll 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 whipt out of the court clown his vices you would say theres no virtue whipt out of the court they cherish it to make it stay there and yet it will no more but abide autolycus 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 compassd a motion of the prodigal son and married a tinkers 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 clown out upon him prig for my life prig he haunts wakes fairs and bear baitings autolycus very true sir he sir he thats the rogue that put me into this apparel clown not a more cowardly rogue in all bohemia if you had but lookd big and spit at him hed have run autolycus i must confess to you sir i am no fighter i am false of heart that way and that he knew i warrant him clown how do you now autolycus 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 kinsmans clown shall i bring thee on the way autolycus no good facd sir no sweet sir clown then fare thee well i must go buy spices for our sheep shearing autolycus prosper you sweet sir exit clown your purse is not hot enough to purchase your spice ill 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 unrolld and my name put in the book of virtue sings jog on jog on the footpath way and merrily hent the stile a a merry heart goes all the day your sad tires in a mile a exit scene iv bohemia the shepherds cottage enter florizel and perdita florizel these your unusual weeds to each part of you do give a life no shepherdess but flora peering in aprils front this your sheep shearing is as a meeting of the petty gods and you the queen ont perdita 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 th land you have obscurd with a swains wearing and me poor lowly maid most goddess like prankd 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 attird swoon i think to show myself a glass florizel i bless the time when my good falcon made her flight across thy fathers ground perdita now jove afford you cause to me the difference forges dread your greatness hath not been usd 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 borrowed flaunts behold the sternness of his presence florizel 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 bellowd the green neptune a ram and bleated and the fire robd 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 perdita o but sir your resolution cannot hold when tis opposd as it must be by th powr of the king one of these two must be necessities which then will speak that you must change this purpose or i my life florizel thou dearest perdita with these forcd thoughts i prithee darken not the mirth o th feast or ill be thine my fair or not my fathers 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 perdita o lady fortune stand you auspicious florizel see your guests approach address yourself to entertain them sprightly and lets be red with mirth enter shepherd with polixenes and camillo disguised clown mopsa dorcas with others shepherd fie daughter when my old wife livd upon this day she was both pantler butler cook both dame and servant welcomd all servd all would sing her song and dance her turn now here at upper end o th table now i th 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 retired as if you were a feasted one and not the hostess of the meeting pray you bid these unknown friends tos 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 th feast come on and bid us welcome to your sheep shearing as your good flock shall prosper perdita to polixenes sir welcome it is my fathers will i should take on me the hostess ship o th day to camillo youre welcome sir give me those flowrs there dorcas reverend sirs for you theres rosemary and rue these keep seeming and savour all the winter long grace and remembrance be to you both and welcome to our shearing polixenes shepherdess a fair one are you well you fit our ages with flowrs of winter perdita sir the year growing ancient not yet on summers death nor on the birth of trembling winter the fairest flowrs o th season are our carnations and streakd gillyvors which some call natures bastards of that kind our rustic gardens barren and i care not to get slips of them polixenes wherefore gentle maiden do you neglect them perdita for i have heard it said there is an art which in their piedness shares with great creating nature polixenes 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 perdita so it is polixenes then make your garden rich in gillyvors and do not call them bastards perdita ill 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 heres flowrs for you hot lavender mints savory marjoram the marigold that goes to bed wi th sun and with him rises weeping these are flowrs of middle summer and i think they are given to men of middle age yare very welcome camillo i should leave grazing were i of your flock and only live by gazing perdita out alas youd be so lean that blasts of january would blow you through and through now my fairst friend i would i had some flowrs o th spring that might become your time of day and yours and yours that wear upon your virgin branches yet your maidenheads growing o proserpina from the flowers now that frighted thou letst fall from diss waggon daffodils that come before the swallow dares and take the winds of march with beauty violets dim but sweeter than the lids of junos eyes or cythereas breath pale primroses that die unmarried ere they can behold bright phoebus in his strength a malady most incident to maids bold oxlips and the crown imperial lilies of all kinds the flowr de luce being one o these i lack to make you garlands of and my sweet friend to strew him oer and oer florizel what like a corse perdita 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 flowrs methinks i play as i have seen them do in whitsun pastorals sure this robe of mine does change my disposition florizel what you do still betters what is done when you speak sweet id have you do it ever when you sing id have you buy and sell so so give alms pray so and for the ordring your affairs to sing them too when you do dance i wish you a wave o th 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 deeds that all your acts are queens perdita o doricles your praises are too large but that your youth and the true blood which peeps fairly throught do plainly give you out an unstaind shepherd with wisdom i might fear my doricles you wood me the false way florizel i think you have as little skill to fear as i have purpose to put you tot but come our dance i pray your hand my perdita so turtles pair that never mean to part perdita ill swear for em polixenes this is the prettiest low born lass that ever ran on the green sward nothing she does or seems but smacks of something greater than herself too noble for this place camillo he tells her something that makes her blood look out good sooth she is the queen of curds and cream clown come on strike up dorcas mopsa must be your mistress marry garlic to mend her kissing with mopsa now in good time clown not a word a word we stand upon our manners come strike up music here a dance of shepherds and shepherdesses polixenes pray good shepherd what fair swain is this which dances with your daughter shepherd 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 gazd the moon upon the water as hell stand and read as twere my daughters eyes and to be plain i think there is not half a kiss to choose who loves another best polixenes she dances featly shepherd 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 enter a servant servant 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 youll tell money he utters them as he had eaten ballads and all mens ears grew to his tunes clown 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 servant 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 burdens of dildos and fadings jump her and thump her and where some stretch mouthd 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 polixenes this is a brave fellow clown believe me thou talkest of an admirable conceited fellow has he any unbraided wares servant he hath ribbons of all the colours i th rainbow points more than all the lawyers in bohemia can learnedly handle though they come to him by th gross inkles caddisses cambrics lawns why he sings em over as they were gods or goddesses you would think a smock were she angel he so chants to the sleeve hand and the work about the square ont clown prithee bring him in and let him approach singing perdita forewarn him that he use no scurrilous words ins tunes exit servant clown you have of these pedlars that have more in them than youd think sister perdita ay good brother or go about to think enter autolycus singing lawn as white as driven snow cypress black as eer was crow gloves as sweet as damask roses masks for faces and for noses bugle bracelet necklace amber perfume for a ladys 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 clown if i were not in love with mopsa thou shouldst take no money of me but being enthralld as i am it will also be the bondage of certain ribbons and gloves mopsa i was promisd them against the feast but they come not too late now dorcas he hath promisd you more than that or there be liars mopsa he hath paid you all he promisd you may be he has paid you more which will shame you to give him again clown 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 whispring clammer your tongues and not a word more mopsa i have done come you promisd me a tawdry lace and a pair of sweet gloves clown have i not told thee how i was cozend by the way and lost all my money autolycus and indeed sir there are cozeners abroad therefore it behoves men to be wary clown fear not thou man thou shalt lose nothing here autolycus i hope so sir for i have about me many parcels of charge clown what hast here ballads mopsa pray now buy some i love a ballad in print a life for then we are sure they are true autolycus heres one to a very doleful tune how a usurers wife was brought to bed of twenty money bags at a burden and how she longd to eat adders heads and toads carbonadod mopsa is it true think you autolycus very true and but a month old dorcas bless me from marrying a usurer autolycus heres the midwifes name tot one mistress taleporter and five or six honest wives that were present why should i carry lies abroad mopsa pray you now buy it clown come on lay it by and lets first see moe ballads well buy the other things anon autolycus heres 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 turnd into a cold fish for she would not exchange flesh with one that lovd her the ballad is very pitiful and as true dorcas is it true too think you autolycus five justices hands at it and witnesses more than my pack will hold clown lay it by too another autolycus this is a merry ballad but a very pretty one mopsa lets have some merry ones autolycus why this is a passing merry one and goes to the tune of two maids wooing a man theres scarce a maid westward but she sings it tis in request i can tell you mopsa can both sing it if thoult bear a part thou shalt hear tis in three parts dorcas we had the tune ont a month ago autolycus i can bear my part you must know tis my occupation have at it with you song autolycus get you hence for i must go where it fits not you to know dorcas whither mopsa o whither dorcas whither mopsa it becomes thy oath full well thou to me thy secrets tell dorcas me too let me go thither mopsa or thou goest to th grange or mill dorcas if to either thou dost ill autolycus neither dorcas what neither autolycus neither dorcas thou hast sworn my love to be mopsa thou hast sworn it more to me then whither goest say whither clown well have this song out anon by ourselves my father and the gentlemen are in sad talk and well not trouble them come bring away thy pack after me wenches ill buy for you both pedlar lets have the first choice follow me girls exit with dorcas and mopsa autolycus and you shall pay well for em exit autolycus singing 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 newst and finst finst wear a come to the pedlar moneys a meddler that doth utter all mens ware a re enter servant servant master there is three carters three shepherds three neat herds three swineherds that have made themselves all men of hair they call themselves saltiers and they have dance which the wenches say is a gallimaufry of gambols because they are not int but they themselves are o th mind if it be not too rough for some that know little but bowling it will please plentifully shepherd away well none ont here has been too much homely foolery already i know sir we weary you polixenes you weary those that refresh us pray lets see these four threes of herdsmen servant one three of them by their own report sir hath dancd before the king and not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by th squier shepherd leave your prating since these good men are pleasd let them come in but quickly now servant why they stay at door sir exit here a dance of twelve satyrs polixenes to shepherd o father youll know more of that hereafter to camillo is it not too far gone tis time to part them hes simple and tells much to florizel 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 ransackd the pedlars silken treasury and have pourd 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 florizel old sir i know she prizes not such trifles as these are the gifts she looks from me are packd and lockd up in my heart which i have given already but not deliverd o hear me breathe my life before this ancient sir whom it should seem hath sometime lovd i take thy hand this hand as soft as doves down and as white as it or ethiopians tooth or the fannd snow thats bolted by th northern blasts twice oer polixenes 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 florizel do and be witness tot polixenes and this my neighbour too florizel and he and more than he and men the earth the heavens and all that were i crownd 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 mans 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 polixenes fairly offerd camillo this shows a sound affection shepherd but my daughter say you the like to him perdita i cannot speak so well nothing so well no nor mean better by th pattern of mine own thoughts i cut out the purity of his shepherd take hands a bargain and friends unknown you shall bear witness tot i give my daughter to him and will make her portion equal his florizel o that must be i th 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 shepherd come your hand and daughter yours polixenes soft swain awhile beseech you have you a father florizel i have but what of him polixenes knows he of this florizel he neither does nor shall polixenes 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 altring 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 florizel no good sir he has his health and ampler strength indeed than most have of his age polixenes 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 florizel 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 polixenes let him knowt florizel he shall not polixenes prithee let him florizel no he must not shepherd let him my son he shall not need to grieve at knowing of thy choice florizel come come he must not mark our contract polixenes discovering himself mark your divorce young sir whom son i dare not call thou art too base to be acknowledgd thou a sceptres heir that thus affects 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 copst with shepherd o my heart polixenes ill have thy beauty scratchd 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 well bar thee from succession not hold thee of our blood no not our kin farre 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 tot exit perdita 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 to florizel willt 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 ill queen it no inch farther but milk my ewes and weep camillo why how now father speak ere thou diest shepherd i cannot speak nor think nor dare to know that which i know to florizel 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 to perdita o cursed wretch that knewst this was the prince and wouldst adventure to mingle faith with him undone undone if i might die within this hour i have livd to die when i desire exit florizel why look you so upon me i am but sorry not afeard delayd but nothing altred what i was i am more straining on for plucking back not following my leash unwillingly camillo gracious my lord you know your fathers 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 florizel i not purpose it i think camillo camillo even he my lord perdita how often have i told you twould be thus how often said my dignity would last but till twere known florizel it cannot fail but by the violation of my faith and then let nature crush the sides o th earth together and mar the seeds within lift up thy looks from my succession wipe me father i am heir to my affection camillo be advisd florizel i am and by my fancy if my reason will thereto be obedient i have reason if not my senses better pleasd with madness do bid it welcome camillo this is desperate sir florizel 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 gleand for all the sun sees or the close earth wombs or the profound seas hides in unknown fathoms will i break my oath to this my fair belovd therefore i pray you as you have ever been my fathers honourd 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 who here i cannot hold on shore and most opportune to her need i have a vessel rides fast by but not prepard for this design what course i mean to hold shall nothing benefit your knowledge nor concern me the reporting camillo o my lord i would your spirit were easier for advice or stronger for your need florizel hark perdita takes her aside to camillo ill hear you by and by camillo hes irremovable resolvd 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 florizel now good camillo i am so fraught with curious business that i leave out ceremony camillo sir i think you have heard of my poor services i th love that i have borne your father florizel very nobly have you deservd it is my fathers music to speak your deeds not little of his care to have them recompensd as thought on camillo well my lord if you may please to think i love the king and through him whats 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 ill point you where you shall have such receiving as shall become your highness where you may enjoy your mistress from the whom i see theres 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 florizel how camillo may this almost a miracle be done that i may call thee something more than man and after that trust to thee camillo have you thought on a place whereto youll go florizel not any yet but as th 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 camillo 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 there son forgiveness as twere i th fathers person kisses the hands of your fresh princess oer and oer divides him twixt his unkindness and his kindness th one he chides to hell and bids the other grow faster than thought or time florizel worthy camillo what colour for my visitation shall i hold up before him camillo 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 ill 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 fathers bosom there and speak his very heart florizel i am bound to you there is some sap in this camillo a course more promising than a wild dedication of yourselves to unpathd waters undreamd 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 youll be loath to be besides you know prosperitys the very bond of love whose fresh complexion and whose heart together affliction alters perdita one of these is true i think affliction may subdue the cheek but not take in the mind camillo yea say you so there shall not at your fathers house these seven years be born another such florizel my good camillo she is as forward of her breeding as she is i th rear o our birth camillo i cannot say tis pity she lacks instructions for she seems a mistress to most that teach perdita your pardon sir for this ill blush you thanks florizel my prettiest perdita but o the thorns we stand upon camillo preserver of my father now of me the medicine of our house how shall we do we are not furnishd like bohemias son nor shall appear in sicilia camillo 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 they talk aside re enter autolycus autolycus 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 ribbon 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 remembred 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 pinchd a placket it was senseless twas nothing to geld a codpiece of a purse i would have fild keys off that hung in chains no hearing no feeling but my sirs song and admiring the nothing of it so that in this time of lethargy i pickd and cut most of their festival purses and had not the old man come in with whoobub against his daughter and the kings son and scard my choughs from the chaff i had not left a purse alive in the whole army camillo florizel and perdita come forward camillo nay but my letters by this means being there so soon as you arrive shall clear that doubt florizel and those that youll procure from king leontes camillo shall satisfy your father perdita happy be you all that you speak shows fair camillo seeing autolycus who have we here well make an instrument of this omit nothing may give us aid autolycus aside if they have overheard me now why hanging camillo how now good fellow why shakst thou so fear not man heres no harm intended to thee autolycus i am a poor fellow sir camillo why be so still heres 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 theres a necessity int and change garments with this gentleman though the pennyworth on his side be the worst yet hold thee theres some boot giving money autolycus i am a poor fellow sir aside i know ye well enough camillo nay prithee dispatch the gentleman is half flayd already autolycus are you in camest sir aside i smell the trick ont florizel dispatch i prithee autolycus indeed i have had earnest but i cannot with conscience take it camillo unbuckle unbuckle florizel and autolycus exchange garments fortunate mistress let my prophecy come home to ye you must retire yourself into some covert take your sweethearts hat and pluck it oer 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 to shipboard get undescried perdita i see the play so lies that i must bear a part camillo no remedy have you done there florizel should i now meet my father he would not call me son camillo nay you shall have no hat giving it to perdita come lady come farewell my friend autolycus adieu sir florizel o perdita what have we twain forgot pray you a word they converse apart camillo aside 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 re view sicilia for whose sight i have a womans longing florizel fortune speed us thus we set on camillo to th sea side camillo the swifter speed the better exeunt florizel perdita and camillo autolycus 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 th 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 dot i hold it the more knavery to conceal it and therein am i constant to my profession re enter clown and shepherd aside aside here is more matter for a hot brain every lanes end every shop church session hanging yields a careful man work clown see see what a man you are now there is no other way but to tell the king shes a changeling and none of your flesh and blood shepherd nay but hear me clown nay but hear me shepherd go to then clown 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 punishd 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 shepherd i will tell the king all every word yea and his sons pranks too who i may say is no honest man neither to his father nor to me to go about to make me the kings brother in law clown indeed brother in law was the farthest off you could have been to him and then your blood had been the dearer by i know how much an ounce autolycus aside very wisely puppies shepherd well let us to the king there is that in this fardel will make him scratch his beard autolycus aside i know not what impediment this complaint may be to the flight of my master clown pray heartily he be at palace autolycus aside though i am not naturally honest i am so sometimes by chance let me pocket up my pedlars excrement takes off his false beard how now rustics whither are you bound shepherd to th palace an it like your worship autolycus 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 clown we are but plain fellows sir autolycus 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 clown your worship had like to have given us one if you had not taken yourself with the manner shepherd are you a courtier ant like you sir autolycus 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 thinkst thou for that i insinuate that 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 the to open thy affair shepherd my business sir is to the king autolycus what advocate hast thou to him shepherd i know not ant like you clown advocates the court word for a pheasant say you have none shepherd none sir i have no pheasant cock nor hen autolycus how blessed are we that are not simple men yet nature might have made me as these are therefore i will not disdain clown this cannot be but a great courtier shepherd his garments are rich but he wears them not handsomely clown he seems to be the more noble in being fantastical a great man ill warrant i know by the picking ons teeth autolycus the fardel there whats i th fardel wherefore that box shepherd 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 th speech of him autolycus age thou hast lost thy labour shepherd why sir autolycus the king is not at the palace he is gone aboard a new ship to purge melancholy and air himself for if thou best capable of things serious thou must know the king is full of grief shepherd so tis said sir about his son that should have married a shepherds daughter autolycus if that shepherd be not in hand fast let him fly the curses he shall have the tortures he shall feel will break the back of man the heart of monster clown think you so sir autolycus not he alone shall suffer what wit can make heavy and vengeance bitter but those that are germane to him though removd 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 stond 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 clown has the old man eer a son sir do you hear ant like you sir autolycus he has a son who shall be flayd alive then nointed over with honey set on the head of a wasps nest then stand till he be three quarters and a dram dead then recoverd again with aqua vitae 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 smild 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 considerd ill 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 man shall do it clown 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 stond and flayd alive shepherd ant please you sir to undertake the business for us here is that gold i have ill make it as much more and leave this young man in pawn till i bring it you autolycus after i have done what i promised shepherd ay sir autolycus well give me the moiety are you a party in this business clown in some sort sir but though my case be a pitiful one i hope i shall not be flayd out of it autolycus o thats the case of the shepherds son hang him hell be made an example clown 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 autolycus 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 clown we are blest in this man as i may say even blest shepherd lets before as he bids us he was provided to do us good exeunt shepherd and clown autolycus 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 tot to him will i present them there may be matter in it exit act v scene i sicilia the palace of leontes enter leontes cleomenes dion paulina and others cleomenes sir you have done enough and have performd a saint like sorrow no fault could you make which you have not redeemd indeed paid down more penitence than done trespass at the last do as the heavens have done forget your evil with them forgive yourself leontes 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 destroyd the sweetst companion that eer man bred his hopes out of paulina 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 killd would be unparalleld leontes i think so killd she i killd i did so but thou strikst me sorely to say i did it is as bitter upon thy tongue as in my thought now good now say so but seldom cleomenes not at all good lady you might have spoken a thousand things that would have done the time more benefit and gracd your kindness better paulina you are one of those would have him wed again dion 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 royaltys repair for present comfort and for future good to bless the bed of majesty again with a sweet fellow tot paulina there is none worthy respecting her thats gone besides the gods will have fulfilld their secret purposes for has not the divine apollo said ist 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 to leontes care not for issue the crown will find an heir great alexander left his to th worthiest so his successor was like to be the best leontes good paulina who hast the memory of hermione i know in honour o that ever i had squard me to thy counsel then even now i might have lookd upon my queens full eyes have taken treasure from her lips paulina and left them more rich for what they yielded leontes thou speakst truth no more such wives therefore no wife one worse and better usd would make her sainted spirit again possess her corpse and on this stage where we offend her now appear soul vexd and begin why to me paulina had she such power she had just cause leontes she had and would incense me to murder her i married paulina i should so were i the ghost that walkd id bid you mark her eye and tell me for what dull part int you chose her then id shriek that even your ears should rift to hear me and the words that followd should be remember mine leontes stars stars and all eyes else dead coals fear thou no wife ill have no wife paulina paulina will you swear never to marry but by my free leave leontes never paulina so be blest my spirit paulina then good my lords bear witness to his oath cleomenes you tempt him over much paulina unless another as like hermione as is her picture affront his eye cleomenes good madam paulina 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 walkd your first queens ghost it should take joy to see her in your arms leontes my true paulina we shall not marry till thou bidst us paulina that shall be when your first queens again in breath never till then enter a gentleman gentleman 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 leontes what with him he comes not like to his fathers greatness his approach so out of circumstance and sudden tells us tis not a visitation framd but forcd by need and accident what train gentleman but few and those but mean leontes his princess say you with him gentleman ay the most peerless piece of earth i think that eer the sun shone bright on paulina o hermione as every present time doth boast itself above a better gone so must thy grave give way to whats 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 equalld thus your verse flowd with her beauty once tis shrewdly ebbd to say you have seen a better gentleman pardon madam the one i have almost forgot your pardon the other when she has obtaind 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 paulina how not women gentleman women will love her that she is a woman more worth than any man men that she is the rarest of all women leontes go cleomenes yourself assisted with your honourd friends bring them to our embracement exeunt still tis strange he thus should steal upon us paulina had our prince jewel of children seen this hour he had paird well with this lord there was not full a month between their births leontes prithee no more cease thou knowst he dies to me again when talkd of sure when i shall see this gentleman thy speeches will bring me to consider that which may unfurnish me of reason re enter cleomenes with florizel perdita and attendants 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 fathers 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 performd before most dearly welcome and your 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 florizel by his command have i here touchd 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 seizd his wishd ability he had himself the lands and waters twixt your throne and his measurd to look upon you whom he loves he bade me say so more than all the sceptres and those that bear them living leontes 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 th earth and hath he too exposd this paragon to th fearful usage at least ungentle of the dreadful neptune to greet a man not worth her pains much less th adventure of her person florizel good my lord she came from libya leontes where the warlike smalus that noble honourd lord is feard and lovd florizel most royal sir from thence from him whose daughter his tears proclaimd his parting with her thence a prosperous south wind friendly we have crossd to execute the charge my father gave me for visiting your highness my best train i have from your sicilian shores dismissd who for bohemia bend to signify not only my success in libya sir but my arrival and my wifes in safety here where we are leontes 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 fathers blest as he from heaven merits it with you worthy his goodness what might i have been might i a son and daughter now have lookd on such goodly things as you enter a lord lord 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 shepherds daughter leontes wheres bohemia speak lord 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 hastning 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 florizel camillo has betrayd me whose honour and whose honesty till now endurd all weathers lord layt so to his charge hes with the king your father leontes who camillo lord 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 perdita o my poor father the heaven sets spies upon us will not have our contract celebrated leontes you are married florizel we are not sir nor are we like to be the stars i see will kiss the valleys first the odds for high and lows alike leontes my lord is this the daughter of a king florizel she is when once she is my wife leontes that once i see by your good fathers 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 florizel dear look up though fortune visible an enemy should chase us with my father powr no jot hath she to change our loves beseech you sir remember since you owd 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 leontes would he do so id beg your precious mistress which he counts but a trifle paulina sir my liege your eye hath too much youth int not a month fore your queen died she was more worth such gazes than what you look on now leontes i thought of her even in these looks i made to florizel but your petition is yet unanswerd i will to your father your honour not oerthrown 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 exeunt scene ii sicilia before the palace of leontes enter autolycus and a gentleman autolycus beseech you sir were you present at this relation first gentleman 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 autolycus i would most gladly know the issue of it first gentleman i make a broken delivery of the business but the changes i perceived in the king and camillo were very notes of admiration they seemd 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 lookd as they had heard of a world ransomd 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 th importance were joy or sorrow but in the extremity of the one it must needs be enter another gentleman here comes a gentleman that happily knows more the news rogero second gentleman nothing but bonfires the oracle is fulfilld the kings daughter is found such a deal of wonder is broken out within this hour that ballad makers cannot be able to express it enter another gentleman here comes the lady paulinas steward he can deliver you more how goes it now sir this news which is calld true is so like an old tale that the verity of it is in strong suspicion has the king found his heir third gentleman most true if ever truth were pregnant by circumstance that which you hear youll swear you see there is such unity in the proofs the mantle of queen hermiones 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 kings daughter did you see the meeting of the two kings second gentleman no third gentleman then you have 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 seemd sorrow wept to take leave of them for their joy waded in tears there was casting up of eyes holding up of hands with countenance 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 second gentleman what pray you became of antigonus that carried hence the child third gentleman 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 shepherds son who has not only his innocence which seems much to justify him but a handkerchief and rings of his that paulina knows first gentleman what became of his bark and his followers third gentleman wreckd the same instant of their masters 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 declind for the loss of her husband another elevated that the oracle was fulfilld 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 first gentleman the dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes for by such was it acted third gentleman one of the prettiest touches of all and that which angld for mine eyes caught the water though not the fish was when at the relation of the queens death with the manner how she came tot bravely confessd and lamented by the king how attentivenes 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 swooned all sorrowed if all the world could have seent the woe had been universal first gentleman are they returned to the court third gentleman no the princess hearing of her mothers statue which is in the keeping of paulina a piece many years in doing and now newly performd 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 second gentleman 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 first gentleman 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 lets along exeunt gentlemen autolycus 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 over fond of the shepherds 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 undiscoverd but tis all one to me for had i been the finder out of this secret it would not have relishd among my other discredits enter shepherd and clown here come those i have done good to against my will and already appearing in the blossoms of their fortune shepherd come boy i am past moe children but thy sons and daughters will be all gentlemen born clown 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 gentlemen born give me the lie do and try whether i am not now a gentleman born autolycus i know you are now sir a gentleman born clown ay and have been so any time these four hours shepherd and so have i boy clown so you have but i was a gentleman born before my father for the kings son took me by the hand and calld me brother and then the two kings calld my father brother and then the prince my brother and the princess my sister calld my father father and so we wept and there was the first gentleman like tears that ever we shed shepherd we may live son to shed many more clown ay or else twere hard luck being in so preposterous estate as we are autolycus 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 shepherd prithee son do for we must be gentle now we are gentlemen clown thou wilt amend thy life autolycus ay an it like your good worship clown give me thy hand i will swear to the prince thou art as honest a true fellow as any is in bohemia shepherd you may say it but not swear it clown not swear it now i am a gentleman let boors and franklins say it ill swear it shepherd how if it be false son clown if it be neer so false a true gentleman may swear it in the behalf of his friend and ill 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 ill swear it and i would thou wouldst be a tall fellow of thy hands autolycus i will prove so sir to my power clown ay by any means prove a tall fellow if i do not wonder how thou darst 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 queens picture come follow us well be thy good masters exeunt scene iii sicilia a chapel in paulinas house enter leontes polixenes florizel perdita camillo paulina lords and attendants leontes o grave and good paulina the great comfort that i have had of thee paulina what sovereign sir i did not well i meant well all my services you have paid home but that you have vouchsafd with your crownd 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 leontes o paulina we honour you with trouble but we came to see the statue of our queen your gallery have we passd 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 paulina as she livd peerless so her dead likeness i do well believe excels whatever yet you lookd upon or hand of man hath done therefore i keep it lonely apart but here it is prepare to see the life as lively mockd as ever still sleep mockd death behold and say tis well paulina draws a curtain and discovers hermione standing like a statue i like your silence it the more shows off your wonder but yet speak first you my liege comes it not something near leontes 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 polixenes o not by much paulina so much the more our carvers excellence which lets go by some sixteen years and makes her as she livd now leontes 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 wood her i am ashamd does not the stone rebuke me for being more stone than it o royal piece theres magic in thy majesty which has my evils conjurd to remembrance and from thy admiring daughter took the spirits standing like stone with thee perdita 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 paulina o patience the statue is but newly fixd the colours not dry camillo 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 killd itself much sooner polixenes dear my brother let him that was the cause of this have powr to take off so much grief from you as he will piece up in himself paulina indeed my lord if i had thought the sight of my poor image would thus have wrought you for the stone is mine id not have showd it leontes do not draw the curtain paulina no longer shall you gaze ont lest your fancy may think anon it moves leontes 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 breathd and that those veins did verily bear blood polixenes masterly done the very life seems warm upon her lip leontes the fixture of her eye has motion int as we are mockd with art paulina ill draw the curtain my lords almost so far transported that hell think anon it lives leontes 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 paulina i am sorry sir i have thus far stirrd you but i could afflict you farther leontes 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 paulina good my lord forbear the ruddiness upon her lip is wet youll mar it if you kiss it stain your own with oily painting shall i draw the curtain leontes no not these twenty years perdita so long could i stand by a looker on paulina either forbear quit presently the chapel or resolve you for more amazement if you can behold it ill make the statue move indeed descend and take you by the hand but then youll think which i protest against i am assisted by wicked powers leontes 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 paulina it is requird you do awake your faith then all stand still or those that think it is unlawful business i am about let them depart leontes proceed no foot shall stir paulina music awake her strike music tis time descend be stone no more approach strike all that look upon with marvel come ill fill your grave up stir nay come away bequeath to death your numbness for from him dear life redeems you you perceive she stirs hermione comes down from the pedestal 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 wood her now in age is she become the suitor leontes o shes warm if this be magic let it be an art lawful as eating polixenes she embraces him camillo she hangs about his neck if she pertain to life let her speak too polixenes ay and make it manifest where she has livd or how stoln from the dead paulina 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 mothers blessing turn good lady our perdita is found hermione you gods look down and from your sacred vials pour your graces upon my daughters head tell me mine own where hast thou been preservd where livd how found thy fathers court for thou shalt hear that i knowing by paulina that the oracle gave hope thou wast in being have preservd myself to see the issue paulina theres 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 witherd bough and there my mate thats never to be found again lament till i am lost leontes o peace paulina thou shouldst a husband take by my consent as i by thine a wife this is a match and made betweens by vows thou hast found mine but how is to be questiond for i saw her as i thought dead and have in vain said many a prayer upon her grave ill 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 lets from this place what look upon my brother both your pardons that eer 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 performd in this wide gap of time since first we were disseverd hastily lead away exeunt the end a lovers complaint from off a hill whose concave womb reworded a plaintful story from a sistring vale my spirits tattend this double voice accorded and down i laid to list the sad tuned tale ere long espied a fickle maid full pale tearing of papers breaking rings atwain storming her world with sorrows wind and rain upon her head a platted hive of straw which fortified her visage from the sun whereon the thought might think sometime it saw the carcase of a beauty spent and done time had not scythed all that youth begun nor youth all quit but spite of heavens fell rage some beauty peeped through lattice of seared age oft did she heave her napkin to her eyne which on it had conceited characters laundring the silken figures in the brine that seasoned woe had pelleted in tears and often reading what contents it bears as often shrieking undistinguished woe in clamours of all size both high and low sometimes her levelled eyes their carriage ride as they did battry to the spheres intend sometime diverted their poor balls are tied to th orbed earth sometimes they do extend their view right on anon their gazes lend to every place at once and nowhere fixed the mind and sight distractedly commixed her hair nor loose nor tied in formal plat proclaimed in her a careless hand of pride for some untucked descended her sheaved hat hanging her pale and pined cheek beside some in her threaden fillet still did bide and true to bondage would not break from thence though slackly braided in loose negligence a thousand favours from a maund she drew of amber crystal and of beaded jet which one by one she in a river threw upon whose weeping margent she was set like usury applying wet to wet or monarchs hands that lets not bounty fall where want cries some but where excess begs all of folded schedules had she many a one which she perused sighed tore and gave the flood cracked many a ring of posied gold and bone bidding them find their sepulchres in mud found yet moe letters sadly penned in blood with sleided silk feat and affectedly enswathed and sealed to curious secrecy these often bathed she in her fluxive eyes and often kissed and often gan to tear cried o false blood thou register of lies what unapproved witness dost thou bear ink would have seemed more black and damned here this said in top of rage the lines she rents big discontents so breaking their contents a reverend man that grazed his cattle nigh sometime a blusterer that the ruffle knew of court of city and had let go by the swiftest hours observed as they flew towards this afflicted fancy fastly drew and privileged by age desires to know in brief the grounds and motives of her woe so slides he down upon his grained bat and comely distant sits he by her side when he again desires her being sat her grievance with his hearing to divide if that from him there may be aught applied which may her suffering ecstasy assuage tis promised in the charity of age father she says though in me you behold the injury of many a blasting hour let it not tell your judgement i am old not age but sorrow over me hath power i might as yet have been a spreading flower fresh to myself if i had self applied love to myself and to no love beside but woe is me too early i attended a youthful suit it was to gain my grace o one by natures outwards so commended that maidens eyes stuck over all his face love lacked a dwelling and made him her place and when in his fair parts she did abide she was new lodged and newly deified his browny locks did hang in crooked curls and every light occasion of the wind upon his lips their silken parcels hurls whats sweet to do to do will aptly find each eye that saw him did enchant the mind for on his visage was in little drawn what largeness thinks in paradise was sawn small show of man was yet upon his chin his phoenix down began but to appear like unshorn velvet on that termless skin whose bare out bragged the web it seemed to wear yet showed his visage by that cost more dear and nice affections wavering stood in doubt if best were as it was or best without his qualities were beauteous as his form for maiden tongued he was and thereof free yet if men moved him was he such a storm as oft twixt may and april is to see when winds breathe sweet unruly though they be his rudeness so with his authorized youth did livery falseness in a pride of truth well could he ride and often men would say that horse his mettle from his rider takes proud of subjection noble by the sway what rounds what bounds what course what stop he makes and controversy hence a question takes whether the horse by him became his deed or he his manage by th well doing steed but quickly on this side the verdict went his real habitude gave life and grace to appertainings and to ornament accomplished in himself not in his case all aids themselves made fairer by their place came for additions yet their purposed trim pierced not his grace but were all graced by him so on the tip of his subduing tongue all kind of arguments and question deep all replication prompt and reason strong for his advantage still did wake and sleep to make the weeper laugh the laugher weep he had the dialect and different skill catching all passions in his craft of will that he did in the general bosom reign of young of old and sexes both enchanted to dwell with him in thoughts or to remain in personal duty following where he haunted consents bewitched ere he desire have granted and dialogued for him what he would say asked their own wills and made their wills obey many there were that did his picture get to serve their eyes and in it put their mind like fools that in th imagination set the goodly objects which abroad they find of lands and mansions theirs in thought assigned and labouring in moe pleasures to bestow them than the true gouty landlord which doth owe them so many have that never touched his hand sweetly supposed them mistress of his heart my woeful self that did in freedom stand and was my own fee simple not in part what with his art in youth and youth in art threw my affections in his charmed power reserved the stalk and gave him all my flower yet did i not as some my equals did demand of him nor being desired yielded finding myself in honour so forbid with safest distance i mine honour shielded experience for me many bulwarks builded of proofs new bleeding which remained the foil of this false jewel and his amorous spoil but ah who ever shunned by precedent the destined ill she must herself assay or forced examples gainst her own content to put the by past perils in her way counsel may stop awhile what will not stay for when we rage advice is often seen by blunting us to make our wills more keen nor gives it satisfaction to our blood that we must curb it upon others proof to be forbod the sweets that seems so good for fear of harms that preach in our behoof o appetite from judgement stand aloof the one a palate hath that needs will taste though reason weep and cry it is thy last for further i could say this mans untrue and knew the patterns of his foul beguiling heard where his plants in others orchards grew saw how deceits were gilded in his smiling knew vows were ever brokers to defiling thought characters and words merely but art and bastards of his foul adulterate heart and long upon these terms i held my city till thus he gan besiege me gentle maid have of my suffering youth some feeling pity and be not of my holy vows afraid thats to ye sworn to none was ever said for feasts of love i have been called unto till now did neer invite nor never woo all my offences that abroad you see are errors of the blood none of the mind love made them not with acture they may be where neither party is nor true nor kind they sought their shame that so their shame did find and so much less of shame in me remains by how much of me their reproach contains among the many that mine eyes have seen not one whose flame my heart so much as warmed or my affection put to th smallest teen or any of my leisures ever charmed harm have i done to them but neer was harmed kept hearts in liveries but mine own was free and reigned commanding in his monarchy look here what tributes wounded fancies sent me of paled pearls and rubies red as blood figuring that they their passions likewise lent me of grief and blushes aptly understood in bloodless white and the encrimsoned mood effects of terror and dear modesty encamped in hearts but fighting outwardly and lo behold these talents of their hair with twisted metal amorously empleached i have receivd from many a several fair their kind acceptance weepingly beseeched with the annexions of fair gems enriched and deep brained sonnets that did amplify each stones dear nature worth and quality the diamond why twas beautiful and hard whereto his invised properties did tend the deep green emrald in whose fresh regard weak sights their sickly radiance do amend the heaven hued sapphire and the opal blend with objects manifold each several stone with wit well blazoned smiled or made some moan lo all these trophies of affections hot of pensived and subdued desires the tender nature hath charged me that i hoard them not but yield them up where i myself must render that is to you my origin and ender for these of force must your oblations be since i their altar you enpatron me o then advance of yours that phraseless hand whose white weighs down the airy scale of praise take all these similes to your own command hallowed with sighs that burning lungs did raise what me your minister for you obeys works under you and to your audit comes their distract parcels in combined sums lo this device was sent me from a nun or sister sanctified of holiest note which late her noble suit in court did shun whose rarest havings made the blossoms dote for she was sought by spirits of richest coat but kept cold distance and did thence remove to spend her living in eternal love but o my sweet what labour ist to leave the thing we have not mastring what not strives playing the place which did no form receive playing patient sports in unconstrained gyves she that her fame so to herself contrives the scars of battle scapeth by the flight and makes her absence valiant not her might o pardon me in that my boast is true the accident which brought me to her eye upon the moment did her force subdue and now she would the caged cloister fly religious love put out religions eye not to be tempted would she be immured and now to tempt all liberty procured how mighty then you are o hear me tell the broken bosoms that to me belong have emptied all their fountains in my well and mine i pour your ocean all among i strong oer them and you oer me being strong must for your victory us all congest as compound love to physic your cold breast my parts had powr to charm a sacred nun who disciplined ay dieted in grace believed her eyes when they tassail begun all vows and consecrations giving place o most potential love vow bond nor space in thee hath neither sting knot nor confine for thou art all and all things else are thine when thou impressest what are precepts worth of stale example when thou wilt inflame how coldly those impediments stand forth of wealth of filial fear law kindred fame loves arms are peace gainst rule gainst sense gainst shame and sweetens in the suffring pangs it bears the aloes of all forces shocks and fears now all these hearts that do on mine depend feeling it break with bleeding groans they pine and supplicant their sighs to your extend to leave the battry that you make gainst mine lending soft audience to my sweet design and credent soul to that strong bonded oath that shall prefer and undertake my troth this said his watry eyes he did dismount whose sights till then were levelled on my face each cheek a river running from a fount with brinish current downward flowed apace o how the channel to the stream gave grace who glazed with crystal gate the glowing roses that flame through water which their hue encloses o father what a hell of witchcraft lies in the small orb of one particular tear but with the inundation of the eyes what rocky heart to water will not wear what breast so cold that is not warmed here o cleft effect cold modesty hot wrath both fire from hence and chill extincture hath for lo his passion but an art of craft even there resolved my reason into tears there my white stole of chastity i daffed shook off my sober guards and civil fears appear to him as he to me appears all melting though our drops this diffrence bore his poisoned me and mine did him restore in him a plenitude of subtle matter applied to cautels all strange forms receives of burning blushes or of weeping water or swooning paleness and he takes and leaves in eithers aptness as it best deceives to blush at speeches rank to weep at woes or to turn white and swoon at tragic shows that not a heart which in his level came could scape the hail of his all hurting aim showing fair nature is both kind and tame and veiled in them did win whom he would maim against the thing he sought he would exclaim when he most burned in heart wished luxury he preached pure maid and praised cold chastity thus merely with the garment of a grace the naked and concealed fiend he covered that th unexperient gave the tempter place which like a cherubin above them hovered who young and simple would not be so lovered ay me i fell and yet do question make what i should do again for such a sake o that infected moisture of his eye o that false fire which in his cheek so glowed o that forced thunder from his heart did fly o that sad breath his spongy lungs bestowed o all that borrowed motion seeming owed would yet again betray the fore betrayed and new pervert a reconciled maid the end the passionate pilgrim by william shakespeare i did not the heavenly rhetoric of thine eye gainst whom the world could not 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 gaind cures all disgrace in me my vow was breath and breath a vapour is then thou fair sun that on this earth doth shine exhale 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 break an oath to win a paradise ii sweet cytherea sitting by a brook with young adonis lovely fresh and green did court the lad with many a lovely look such looks as none could look but beautys queen she told him stories to delight his ear she showd him favours to allure his eye to win his heart she touchd him here and there touches so soft still conquer chastity but whether unripe years did want conceit or he refusd to take her figurd proffer the tender nibbler would not touch the bait but smile and jest at every gentle offer then fell she on her back fair queen and toward he rose and ran away ah fool too froward iii if love make me forsworn how shall i swear to love o never faith could hold if not to beauty vowd though to myself forsworn to thee ill constant prove those thoughts to me like oaks to thee like osiers bowd study his bias leaves and makes his book thine eyes where all those pleasures live that art can 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 joves lightning seems thy voice his dreadful thunder which not to anger bent is music and sweet fire celestial as thou art o do not love that wrong to sing heavens praise with such an earthly tongue iv scarce had the sun dried up the dewy morn and scarce the herd gone to the hedge for shade when cytherea all in love forlorn a longing tarriance for adonis made under an osier growing by a brook a brook where adon used to cool his spleen hot was the day she hotter that did look for his approach that often there had been anon he comes and throws his mantle by and stood stark naked on the brooks green brim the sun lookd on the world with glorious eye yet not so wistly as this queen on him he spying her bouncd in whereas he stood o jove quoth she why was not i a flood v fair is my love but not so fair as fickle mild as a dove but neither true nor trusty brighter than glass and yet as glass is brittle softer than wax and yet as iron rusty a lily pale with damask die to grace her none fairer nor none falser to deface her her lips to mine how often hath she joind between each kiss her oaths of true love swearing how many tales to please me hath she coind dreading my love the loss thereof still fearing yet in the midst of all her pure protestings her faith her oaths her tears and all were jestings she burnd with love as straw with fire flameth she burnd out love as soon as straw outburneth she framd the love and yet she foild the framing she bade love last and yet she fell a turning was this a lover or a lecher whether bad in the best though excellent in neither vi if music and sweet poetry agree as they must needs the sister and the brother then must the love be great twixt thee and me because thou lovest the one and i the other dowland to thee is dear whose heavenly touch upon the lute doth ravish human sense spenser to me whose deep conceit is such as passing all conceit needs no defence thou lovst to hear the sweet melodious sound that phoebus lute the queen of music makes and i in deep delight am chiefly drownd whenas himself to singing he betakes one god is god of both as poets feign one knight loves both and both in thee remain vii fair was the morn when the fair queen of love paler for sorrow than her milk white dove for adons sake a youngster proud and wild her stand she takes upon a steep up hill anon adonis comes with horn and hounds she silly queen with more than loves good will forbade the boy he should not pass those grounds once quoth she did i see a fair sweet youth here in these brakes deep wounded with a boar deep in the thigh a spectacle of ruth see in my thigh quoth she here was the sore she showed hers he saw more wounds than one and blushing fled and left her all alone viii sweet rose fair flower untimely pluckd soon vaded pluckd in the bud and vaded in the spring bright orient pearl alack too timely shaded fair creature killd too soon by deaths sharp sting like a green plum that hangs upon a tree and falls through wind before the fall should be i weep for thee and yet no cause i have for why thou leftst me nothing in thy will and yet thou leftst me more than i did crave for why i craved nothing of thee still o yes dear friend i pardon crave of thee thy discontent thou didst bequeath to me ix venus with young adonis sitting by her under a myrtle shade began to woo him she told the youngling how god mars did try her and as he fell to her so fell she to him even thus quoth she the warlike god embracd me and then she clippd adonis in her arms even thus quoth she the warlike god unlaced me as if the boy should use like loving charms even thus quoth she he seized on my lips and with her lips on his did act the seizure and as she fetched breath away he skips and would not take her meaning nor her pleasure ah that i had my lady at this bay to kiss and clip me till i run away x crabbed age and youth cannot live together youth is full of pleasance age is full of care youth like summer morn age like winter weather youth like summer brave age like winter bare youth is full of sport ages breath is short youth is nimble age is lame youth is hot and bold age is weak and cold youth is wild and age is tame age i do abhor thee youth i do adore thee o my love my love is young age i do defy thee o sweet shepherd hie thee for methinks thou stayst too long xi beauty is but a vain and doubtful good a shining gloss that vadeth suddenly a flower that dies when first it gins to bud a brittle glass thats broken presently a doubtful good a gloss a glass a flower lost vaded broken dead within an hour and as goods lost are seld or never found as vaded gloss no rubbing will refresh as flowers dead lie witherd on the ground as broken glass no cement can redress so beauty blemishd once for evers lost in spite of physic painting pain and cost xii good night good rest ah neither be my share she bade good night that kept my rest away and daffd me to a cabin hangd with care to descant on the doubts of my decay farewell quoth she and come again tomorrow fare well i could not for i suppd with sorrow yet at my parting sweetly did she smile in scorn or friendship nill i construe whether t may be she joyd to jest at my exile t may be again to make me wander thither wander a word for shadows like myself as take the pain but cannot pluck the pelf xiii lord how mine eyes throw gazes to the east my heart doth charge the watch the morning rise doth cite each moving sense from idle rest not daring trust the office of mine eyes while philomela sits and sings i sit and mark and wish her lays were tuned like the lark for she doth welcome daylight with her ditty and drives away dark dismal dreaming night the night so packd i post unto my pretty heart hath his hope and eyes their wished sight sorrow changd to solace solace mixd with sorrow for why she sighd and bade me come tomorrow were i with her the night would post too soon but now are minutes added to the hours to spite me now each minute seems a moon yet not for me shine sun to succour flowers pack night peep day good day of night now borrow short night to night and length thyself to morrow the phoenix and the turtle by william shakespeare let the bird of loudest lay on the sole arabian tree herald sad and trumpet be to whose sound chaste wings obey but thou shrieking harbinger foul precurrer of the fiend augur of the fevers end to this troop come thou not near from this session interdict every fowl of tyrant wing save the eagle featherd king keep the obsequy so strict let the priest in surplice white that defunctive music can be the death divining swan lest the requiem lack his right and thou treble dated crow that thy sable gender makst with the breath thou givst and takst mongst our mourners shalt thou go here the anthem doth commence love and constancy is dead phoenix and the turtle fled in a mutual flame from hence so they lovd as love in twain had the essence but in one two distincts division none number there in love was slain hearts remote yet not asunder distance and no space was seen twixt this turtle and his queen but in them it were a wonder so between them love did shine that the turtle saw his right flaming in the phoenix sight either was the others mine property was thus appalled that the self was not the same single natures double name neither two nor one was called reason in itself confounded saw division grow together to themselves yet either neither simple were so well compounded that it cried how true a twain seemeth this concordant one love hath reason reason none if what parts can so remain whereupon it made this threne to the phoenix and the dove co supremes and stars of love as chorus to their tragic scene threnos beauty truth and rarity grace in all simplicity here enclosd in cinders lie death is now the phoenix nest and the turtles loyal breast to eternity doth rest leaving no posterity twas not their infirmity it was married chastity truth may seem but cannot be beauty brag but tis not she truth and beauty buried be to this urn let those repair that are either true or fair for these dead birds sigh a prayer the rape of lucrece by william shakespeare the rape of lucrece to the right honourable henry wriothesly earl of southampton and baron of titchfield the love i dedicate to your lordship is without end whereof this pamphlet without beginning is but a superfluous moiety the warrant i have of your honourable disposition not the worth of my untutored lines makes it assured of acceptance what i have done is yours what i have to do is yours being part in all i have devoted yours were my worth greater my duty would show greater meantime as it is it is bound to your lordship to whom i wish long life still lengthened with all happiness your lordships in all duty william shakespeare the argument lucius tarquinius for his excessive pride surnamed superbus after he had caused his own father in law servius tullius to be cruelly murdered and contrary to the roman laws and customs not requiring or staying for the peoples suffrages had possessed himself of the kingdom went accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of rome to besiege ardea during which siege the principal men of the army meeting one evening at the tent of sextus tarquinius the kings son in their discourses after supper every one commended the virtues of his own wife among whom collatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife lucretia in that pleasant humour they all posted to rome and intending by their secret and sudden arrival to make trial of that which every one had before avouched only collatinus finds his wife though it were late in the night spinning amongst her maids the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling or in several disports whereupon the noblemen yielded collatinus the victory and his wife the fame at that time sextus tarquinius being inflamed with lucreces beauty yet smothering his passions for the present departed with the rest back to the camp from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself and was according to his estate royally entertained and lodged by lucrece at collatium the same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber violently ravished her and early in the morning speedeth away lucrece in this lamentable plight hastily dispatched messengers one to rome for her father another to the camp for collatine they came the one accompanied with junius brutus the other with publius valerius and finding lucrece attired in mourning habit demanded the cause of her sorrow she first taking an oath of them for her revenge revealed the actor and whole manner of his dealing and withal suddenly stabbed herself which done with one consent they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the tarquins and bearing the dead body to rome brutus acquainted the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the king wherewith the people were so moved that with one consent and a general acclamation the tarquins were all exiled and the state government changed from kings to consuls from the besieged ardea all in post borne by the trustless wings of false desire lust breathed tarquin leaves the roman host and to collatium bears the lightless fire which in pale embers hid lurks to aspire and girdle with embracing flames the waist of collatines fair love lucrece the chaste haply that name of chaste unhapply set this bateless edge on his keen appetite when collatine unwisely did not let to praise the clear unmatched red and white which triumphd in that sky of his delight where mortal stars as bright as heavens beauties with pure aspects did him peculiar duties for he the night before in tarquins tent unlockd the treasure of his happy state what priceless wealth the heavens had him lent in the possession of his beauteous mate reckoning his fortune at such high proud rate that kings might be espoused to more fame but king nor peer to such a peerless dame o happiness enjoyd but of a few and if possessd as soon decayd and done as is the mornings silver melting dew against the golden splendour of the sun an expird date cancelld ere well begun honour and beauty in the owners arms are weakly fortressd from a world of harms beauty itself doth of itself persuade the eyes of men without an orator what needeth then apologies be made to set forth that which is so singular or why is collatine the publisher of that rich jewel he should keep unknown from thievish ears because it is his own perchance his boast of lucrece sovereignty suggested this proud issue of a king for by our ears our hearts oft tainted be perchance that envy of so rich a thing braving compare disdainfully did sting his high pitchd thoughts that meaner men should vaunt that golden hap which their superiors want but some untimely thought did instigate his all too timeless speed if none of those his honour his affairs his friends his state neglected all with swift intent he goes to quench the coal which in his liver glows o rash false heat wrappd in repentant cold thy hasty spring still blasts and neer grows old when at collatium this false lord arrivd well was he welcomd by the roman dame within whose face beauty and virtue strivd which of them both should underprop her fame when virtue braggd beauty would blush for shame when beauty boasted blushes in despite virtue would stain that or with silver white but beauty in that white intituled from venus doves doth challenge that fair field then virtue claims from beauty beautys red which virtue gave the golden age to gild their silver cheeks and calld it then their shield teaching them thus to use it in the fight when shame assaild the red should fence the white this heraldry in lucrece face was seen argued by beautys red and virtues white of eithers colour was the other queen proving from worlds minority their right yet their ambition makes them still to fight the sovereignty of either being so great that oft they interchange each others seat their silent war of lilies and of roses which tarquin viewd in her fair faces field in their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses where lest between them both it should be killd the coward captive vanquishd doth yield to those two armies that would let him go rather than triumph in so false a foe now thinks he that her husbands shallow tongue the niggard prodigal that praisd her so in that high task hath done her beauty wrong which far exceeds his barren skill to show therefore that praise which collatine doth owe enchanted tarquin answers with surmise in silent wonder of still gazing eyes this earthly saint adored by this devil little suspecteth the false worshipper for unstaind thoughts do seldom dream on evil birds never limd no secret bushes fear so guiltless she securely gives good cheer and reverend welcome to her princely guest whose inward ill no outward harm expressd for that he colourd with his high estate hiding base sin in plaits of majesty that nothing in him seemd inordinate save sometime too much wonder of his eye which having all all could not satisfy but poorly rich so wanteth in his store that cloyd with much he pineth still for more but she that never copd with stranger eyes could pick no meaning from their parling looks nor read the subtle shining secrecies writ in the glassy margents of such books she touchd no unknown baits nor feard no hooks nor could she moralize his wanton sight more than his eyes were opend to the light he stories to her ears her husbands fame won in the fields of fruitful italy and decks with praises collatines high name made glorious by his manly chivalry with bruised arms and wreaths of victory her joy with heavd up hand she doth express and wordless so greets heaven for his success far from the purpose of his coming hither he makes excuses for his being there no cloudy show of stormy blustering weather doth yet in his fair welkin once appear till sable night mother of dread and fear upon the world dim darkness doth display and in her vaulty prison stows the day for then is tarquin brought unto his bed intending weariness with heavy spright for after supper long he questioned with modest lucrece and wore out the night now leaden slumber with lifes strength doth fight and every one to rest themselves betake save thieves and cares and troubled minds that wake as one of which doth tarquin lie revolving the sundry dangers of his wills obtaining yet ever to obtain his will resolving though weak built hopes persuade him to abstaining despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining and when great treasure is the meed proposd though death be adjunct theres no death supposd those that much covet are with gain so fond for what they have not that which they possess they scatter and unloose it from their bond and so by hoping more they have but less or gaining more the profit of excess is but to surfeit and such griefs sustain that they prove bankrupt in this poor rich gain the aim of all is but to nurse the life with honour wealth and ease in waning age and in this aim there is such thwarting strife that one for all or all for one we gage as life for honour in fell battles rage honour for wealth and oft that wealth doth cost the death of all and all together lost so that in ventring ill we leave to be the things we are for that which we expect and this ambitious foul infirmity in having much torments us with defect of that we have so then we do neglect the thing we have and all for want of wit make something nothing by augmenting it such hazard now must doting tarquin make pawning his honour to obtain his lust and for himself himself he must forsake then where is truth if there be no self trust when shall he think to find a stranger just when he himself himself confounds betrays to slanderous tongues and wretched hateful days now stole upon the time the dead of night when heavy sleep had closed up mortal eyes no comfortable star did lend his light no noise but owls and wolves death boding cries now serves the season that they may surprise the silly lambs pure thoughts are dead and still while lust and murder wake to stain and kill and now this lustful lord leapd from his bed throwing his mantle rudely oer his arm is madly tossd between desire and dread th one sweetly flatters th other feareth harm but honest fear bewitchd with lusts foul charm doth too too oft betake him to retire beaten away by brain sick rude desire his falchion on a flint he softly smiteth that from the cold stone sparks of fire do fly whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth which must be lode star to his lustful eye and to the flame thus speaks advisedly as from this cold flint i enforced this fire so lucrece must i force to my desire here pale with fear he doth premeditate the dangers of his loathsome enterprise and in his inward mind he doth debate what following sorrow may on this arise then looking scornfully he doth despise his naked armour of still slaughterd lust and justly thus controls his thoughts unjust fair torch burn out thy light and lend it not to darken her whose light excelleth thine and die unhallowd thoughts before you blot with your uncleanness that which is divine offer pure incense to so pure a shrine let fair humanity abhor the deed that spots and stains loves modest snow white weed o shame to knighthood and to shining arms o foul dishonour to my households grave o impious act including all foul harms a martial man to be soft fancys slave true valour still a true respect should have then my digression is so vile so base that it will live engraven in my face yea though i die the scandal will survive and be an eye sore in my golden coat some loathsome dash the herald will contrive to cipher me how fondly i did dote that my posterity shamd with the note shall curse my bones and hold it for no sin to wish that i their father had not been what win i if i gain the thing i seek a dream a breath a froth of fleeting joy who buys a minutes mirth to wail a week or sells eternity to get a toy for one sweet grape who will the vine destroy or what fond beggar but to touch the crown would with the sceptre straight be strucken down if collatinus dream of my intent will he not wake and in a desperate rage post hither this vile purpose to prevent this siege that hath engirt his marriage this blur to youth this sorrow to the sage this dying virtue this surviving shame whose crime will bear an ever during blame o what excuse can my invention make when thou shalt charge me with so black a deed will not my tongue be mute my frail joints shake mine eyes forego their light my false heart bleed the guilt being great the fear doth still exceed and extreme fear can neither fight nor fly but coward like with trembling terror die had collatinus killd my son or sire or lain in ambush to betray my life or were he not my dear friend this desire might have excuse to work upon his wife as in revenge or quittal of such strife but as he is my kinsman my dear friend the shame and fault finds no excuse nor end shameful it is ay if the fact be known hateful it is there is no hate in loving ill beg her love but she is not her own the worst is but denial and reproving my will is strong past reasons weak removing who fears a sentence or an old mans saw shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe thus graceless holds he disputation tween frozen conscience and hot burning will and with good thoughts makes dispensation urging the worser sense for vantage still which in a moment doth confound and kill all pure effects and doth so far proceed that what is vile shows like a virtuous deed quoth he she took me kindly by the hand and gazd for tidings in my eager eyes fearing some hard news from the warlike band where her beloved collatinus lies o how her fear did make her colour rise first red as roses that on lawn we lay then white as lawn the roses took away and how her hand in my hand being lockd forcd it to tremble with her loyal fear which struck her sad and then it faster rockd until her husbands welfare she did hear whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer that had narcissus seen her as she stood self love had never drownd him in the flood why hunt i then for colour or excuses all orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth affection is my captain and he leadeth and when his gaudy banner is displayd the coward fights and will not be dismayd then childish fear avaunt debating die respect and reason wait on wrinkled age my heart shall never countermand mine eye sad pause and deep regard beseem the sage my part is youth and beats these from the stage desire my pilot is beauty my prize then who fears sinking where such treasure lies as corn oergrown by weeds so heedful fear is almost chokd by unresisted lust away he steals with opening listening ear full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust both which as servitors to the unjust so cross him with their opposite persuasion that now he vows a league and now invasion within his thought her heavenly image sits and in the self same seat sits collatine that eye which looks on her confounds his wits that eye which him beholds as more divine unto a view so false will not incline but with a pure appeal seeks to the heart which once corrupted takes the worser part and therein heartens up his servile powers who flatterd by their leaders jocund show stuff up his lust as minutes fill up hours and as their captain so their pride doth grow paying more slavish tribute than they owe by reprobate desire thus madly led the roman lord marcheth to lucrece bed the locks between her chamber and his will each one by him enforcd retires his ward but as they open they all rate his ill which drives the creeping thief to some regard the threshold grates the door to have him heard night wandring weasels shriek to see him there they fright him yet he still pursues his fear as each unwilling portal yields him way through little vents and crannies of the place the wind wars with his torch to make him stay and blows the smoke of it into his face extinguishing his conduct in this case but his hot heart which fond desire doth scorch puffs forth another wind that fires the torch and being lighted by the light he spies lucretias glove wherein her needle sticks he takes it from the rushes where it lies and griping it the neeld his finger pricks as who should say this glove to wanton tricks is not inurd return again in haste thou seest our mistress ornaments are chaste but all these poor forbiddings could not stay him he in the worst sense construes their denial the doors the wind the glove that did delay him he takes for accidental things of trial or as those bars which stop the hourly dial who with a lingering stay his course doth let till every minute pays the hour his debt so so quoth he these lets attend the time like little frosts that sometime threat the spring to add a more rejoicing to the prime and give the sneaped birds more cause to sing pain pays the income of each precious thing huge rocks high winds strong pirates shelves and sands the merchant fears ere rich at home he lands now is he come unto the chamber door that shuts him from the heaven of his thought which with a yielding latch and with no more hath barrd him from the blessed thing he sought so from himself impiety hath wrought that for his prey to pray he doth begin as if the heavens should countenance his sin but in the midst of his unfruitful prayer having solicited the eternal power that his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair and they would stand auspicious to the hour even there he starts quoth he i must de flower the powers to whom i pray abhor this fact how can they then assist me in the act then love and fortune be my gods my guide my will is backd with resolution thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried the blackest sin is cleard with absolution against loves fire fears frost hath dissolution the eye of heaven is out and misty night covers the shame that follows sweet delight this said his guilty hand pluckd up the latch and with his knee the door he opens wide the dove sleeps fast that this night owl will catch thus treason works ere traitors be espied who sees the lurking serpent steps aside but she sound sleeping fearing no such thing lies at the mercy of his mortal sting into the chamber wickedly he stalks and gazeth on her yet unstained bed the curtains being close about he walks rolling his greedy eyeballs in his head by their high treason is his heart misled which gives the watch word to his hand full soon to draw the cloud that hides the silver moon look as the fair and fiery pointed sun rushing from forth a cloud bereaves our sight even so the curtain drawn his eyes begun to wink being blinded with a greater light whether it is that she reflects so bright that dazzleth them or else some shame supposed but blind they are and keep themselves enclosed o had they in that darksome prison died then had they seen the period of their ill then collatine again by lucrece side in his clear bed might have reposed still but they must ope this blessed league to kill and holy thoughted lucrece to their sight must sell her joy her life her worlds delight her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss who therefore angry seems to part in sunder swelling on either side to want his bliss between whose hills her head entombed is where like a virtuous monument she lies to be admird of lewd unhallowd eyes without the bed her other fair hand was on the green coverlet whose perfect white showd like an april daisy on the grass with pearly sweat resembling dew of night her eyes like marigolds had sheathd their light and canopied in darkness sweetly lay till they might open to adorn the day her hair like golden threads playd with her breath o modest wantons wanton modesty showing lifes triumph in the map of death and deaths dim look in lifes mortality each in her sleep themselves so beautify as if between them twain there were no strife but that life livd in death and death in life her breasts like ivory globes circled with blue a pair of maiden worlds unconquered save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew and him by oath they truly honoured these worlds in tarquin new ambition bred who like a foul usurper went about from this fair throne to heave the owner out what could he see but mightily he noted what did he note but strongly he desird what he beheld on that he firmly doted and in his will his wilful eye he tird with more than admiration he admird her azure veins her alabaster skin her coral lips her snow white dimpled chin as the grim lion fawneth oer his prey sharp hunger by the conquest satisfied so oer this sleeping soul doth tarquin stay his rage of lust by grazing qualified slackd not suppressd for standing by her side his eye which late this mutiny restrains unto a greater uproar tempts his veins and they like straggling slaves for pillage fighting obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting in bloody death and ravishment delighting nor childrens tears nor mothers groans respecting swell in their pride the onset still expecting anon his beating heart alarum striking gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking his drumming heart cheers up his burning eye his eye commends the leading to his hand his hand as proud of such a dignity smoking with pride marchd on to make his stand on her bare breast the heart of all her land whose ranks of blue veins as his hand did scale left their round turrets destitute and pale they mustering to the quiet cabinet where their dear governess and lady lies do tell her she is dreadfully beset and fright her with confusion of their cries she much amazd breaks ope her lockd up eyes who peeping forth this tumult to behold are by his flaming torch dimmd and controlld imagine her as one in dead of night from forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking that thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite whose grim aspect sets every joint a shaking what terror tis but she in worser taking from sleep disturbed heedfully doth view the sight which makes supposed terror true wrappd and confounded in a thousand fears like to a new killd bird she trembling lies she dares not look yet winking there appears quick shifting antics ugly in her eyes such shadows are the weak brains forgeries who angry that the eyes fly from their lights in darkness daunts them with more dreadful sights his hand that yet remains upon her breast rude ram to batter such an ivory wall may feel her heart poor citizen distressd wounding itself to death rise up and fall beating her bulk that his hand shakes withal this moves in him more rage and lesser pity to make the breach and enter this sweet city first like a trumpet doth his tongue begin to sound a parley to his heartless foe who oer the white sheet peers her whiter chin the reason of this rash alarm to know which he by dumb demeanour seeks to show but she with vehement prayers urgeth still under what colour he commits this ill thus he replies the colour in thy face that even for anger makes the lily pale and the red rose blush at her own disgrace shall plead for me and tell my loving tale under that colour am i come to scale thy never conquerd fort the fault is thine for those thine eyes betray thee unto mine thus i forestall thee if thou mean to chide thy beauty hath ensnared thee to this night where thou with patience must my will abide my will that marks thee for my earths delight which i to conquer sought with all my might but as reproof and reason beat it dead by thy bright beauty was it newly bred i see what crosses my attempt will bring i know what thorns the growing rose defends i think the honey guarded with a sting all this beforehand counsel comprehends but will is deaf and hears no heedful friends only he hath an eye to gaze on beauty and dotes on what he looks gainst law or duty i have debated even in my soul what wrong what shame what sorrow i shall breed but nothing can affections course control or stop the headlong fury of his speed i know repentant tears ensue the deed reproach disdain and deadly enmity yet strike i to embrace mine infamy this said he shakes aloft his roman blade which like a falcon towering in the skies coucheth the fowl below with his wings shade whose crooked beak threats if he mount he dies so under his insulting falchion lies harmless lucretia marking what he tells with trembling fear as fowl hear falcons bells lucrece quoth he this night i must enjoy thee if thou deny then force must work my way for in thy bed i purpose to destroy thee that done some worthless slave of thine ill slay to kill thine honour with thy lifes decay and in thy dead arms do i mean to place him swearing i slew him seeing thee embrace him so thy surviving husband shall remain the scornful mark of every open eye thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain thy issue blurrd with nameless bastardy and thou the author of their obloquy shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes and sung by children in succeeding times but if thou yield i rest thy secret friend the fault unknown is as a thought unacted a little harm done to a great good end for lawful policy remains enacted the poisonous simple sometimes is compacted in a pure compound being so applied his venom in effect is purified then for thy husband and thy childrens sake tender my suit bequeath not to their lot the shame that from them no device can take the blemish that will never be forgot worse than a slavish wipe or birth hours blot for marks descried in mens nativity are natures faults not their own infamy here with a cockatrice dead killing eye he rouseth up himself and makes a pause while she the picture of pure piety like a white hind under the grypes sharp claws pleads in a wilderness where are no laws to the rough beast that knows no gentle right nor aught obeys but his foul appetite but when a black facd cloud the world doth threat in his dim mist the aspiring mountains hiding from earths dark womb some gentle gust doth get which blows these pitchy vapours from their biding hindering their present fall by this dividing so his unhallowd haste her words delays and moody pluto winks while orpheus plays yet foul night working cat he doth but dally while in his hold fast foot the weak mouse panteth her sad behaviour feeds his vulture folly a swallowing gulf that even in plenty wanteth his ear her prayers admits but his heart granteth no penetrable entrance to her plaining tears harden lust though marble wear with raining her pity pleading eyes are sadly fixd in the remorseless wrinkles of his face her modest eloquence with sighs is mixd which to her oratory adds more grace she puts the period often from his place and midst the sentence so her accent breaks that twice she doth begin ere once she speaks she conjures him by high almighty jove by knighthood gentry and sweet friendships oath by her untimely tears her husbands love by holy human law and common troth by heaven and earth and all the power of both that to his borrowd bed he make retire and stoop to honour not to foul desire quoth she reward not hospitality with such black payment as thou hast pretended mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee mar not the thing that cannot be amended end thy ill aim before the shoot be ended he is no woodman that doth bend his bow to strike a poor unseasonable doe my husband is thy friend for his sake spare me thyself art mighty for thine own sake leave me myself a weakling do not then ensnare me thou lookst not like deceit do not deceive me my sighs like whirlwinds labour hence to heave thee if ever man were movd with womans moans be moved with my tears my sighs my groans all which together like a troubled ocean beat at thy rocky and wreck threatening heart to soften it with their continual motion for stones dissolvd to water do convert o if no harder than a stone thou art melt at my tears and be compassionate soft pity enters at an iron gate in tarquins likeness i did entertain thee hast thou put on his shape to do him shame to all the host of heaven i complain me thou wrongst his honour woundst his princely name thou art not what thou seemst and if the same thou seemst not what thou art a god a king for kings like gods should govern every thing how will thy shame be seeded in thine age when thus thy vices bud before thy spring if in thy hope thou darst do such outrage what darst thou not when once thou art a king o be rememberd no outrageous thing from vassal actors can he wipd away then kings misdeeds cannot be hid in clay this deed will make thee only lovd for fear but happy monarchs still are feard for love with foul offenders thou perforce must bear when they in thee the like offences prove if but for fear of this thy will remove for princes are the glass the school the book where subjects eyes do learn do read do look and wilt thou be the school where lust shall learn must he in thee read lectures of such shame wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern authority for sin warrant for blame to privilege dishonour in thy name thou backst reproach against long living laud and makst fair reputation but a bawd hast thou command by him that gave it thee from a pure heart command thy rebel will draw not thy sword to guard iniquity for it was lent thee all that brood to kill thy princely office how canst thou fulfill when patternd by thy fault foul sin may say he learnd to sin and thou didst teach the way think but how vile a spectacle it were to view thy present trespass in another mens faults do seldom to themselves appear their own transgressions partially they smother this guilt would seem death worthy in thy brother o how are they wrappd in with infamies that from their own misdeeds askaunce their eyes to thee to thee my heavd up hands appeal not to seducing lust thy rash relier i sue for exild majestys repeal let him return and flattering thoughts retire his true respect will prison false desire and wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne that thou shalt see thy state and pity mine have done quoth he my uncontrolled tide turns not but swells the higher by this let small lights are soon blown out huge fires abide and with the wind in greater fury fret the petty streams that pay a daily debt to their salt sovereign with their fresh falls haste add to his flow but alter not his taste thou art quoth she a sea a sovereign king and lo there falls into thy boundless flood black lust dishonour shame misgoverning who seek to stain the ocean of thy blood if all these petty ills shall change thy good thy sea within a puddles womb is hearsd and not the puddle in thy sea dispersd so shall these slaves be king and thou their slave thou nobly base they basely dignified thou their fair life and they thy fouler grave thou loathed in their shame they in thy pride the lesser thing should not the greater hide the cedar stoops not to the base shrubs foot but low shrubs whither at the cedars root so let thy thoughts low vassals to thy state no more quoth he by heaven i will not hear thee yield to my love if not enforced hate instead of loves coy touch shall rudely tear thee that done despitefully i mean to bear thee unto the base bed of some rascal groom to be thy partner in this shameful doom this said he sets his foot upon the light for light and lust are deadly enemies shame folded up in blind concealing night when most unseen then most doth tyrannize the wolf hath seizd his prey the poor lamb cries till with her own white fleece her voice controlld entombs her outcry in her lips sweet fold for with the nightly linen that she wears he pens her piteous clamours in her head cooling his hot face in the chastest tears that ever modest eyes with sorrow shed o that prone lust should stain so pure a bed the spots whereof could weeping purify her tears should drop on them perpetually but she hath lost a dearer thing than life and he hath won what he would lose again this forced league doth force a further strife this momentary joy breeds months of pain this hot desire converts to cold disdain pure chastity is rifled of her store and lust the thief far poorer than before look as the full fed hound or gorged hawk unapt for tender smell or speedy flight make slow pursuit or altogether balk the prey wherein by nature they delight so surfeit taking tarquin fares this night his taste delicious in digestion souring devours his will that livd by foul devouring o deeper sin than bottomless conceit can comprehend in still imagination drunken desire must vomit his receipt ere he can see his own abomination while lust is in his pride no exclamation can curb his heat or rein his rash desire till like a jade self will himself doth tire and then with lank and lean discolourd cheek with heavy eye knit brow and strengthless pace feeble desire all recreant poor and meek like to a bankrupt beggar wails his case the flesh being proud desire doth fight with grace for there it revels and when that decays the guilty rebel for remission prays so fares it with this faultful lord of rome who this accomplishment so hotly chasd for now against himself he sounds this doom that through the length of times he stands disgracd besides his souls fair temple is defacd to whose weak ruins muster troops of cares to ask the spotted princess how she fares she says her subjects with foul insurrection have batterd down her consecrated wall and by their mortal fault brought in subjection her immortality and made her thrall to living death and pain perpetual which in her prescience she controlled still but her foresight could not forestall their will even in this thought through the dark night he stealeth a captive victor that hath lost in gain bearing away the wound that nothing healeth the scar that will despite of cure remain leaving his spoil perplexd in greater pain she hears the load of lust he left behind and he the burthen of a guilty mind he like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence she like a wearied lamb lies panting there he scowls and hates himself for his offence she desperate with her nails her flesh doth tear he faintly flies sweating with guilty fear she stays exclaiming on the direful night he runs and chides his vanishd loathd delight he thence departs a heavy convertite she there remains a hopeless castaway he in his speed looks for the morning light she prays she never may behold the day for day quoth she nights scapes doth open lay and my true eyes have never practisd how to cloak offences with a cunning brow they think not but that every eye can see the same disgrace which they themselves behold and therefore would they still in darkness be to have their unseen sin remain untold for they their guilt with weeping will unfold and grave like water that doth eat in steel upon my cheeks what helpless shame i feel here she exclaims against repose and rest and bids her eyes hereafter still be blind she wakes her heart by beating on her breast and bids it leap from thence where it may find some purer chest to close so pure a mind frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite against the unseen secrecy of night o comfort killing night image of hell dim register and notary of shame black stage for tragedies and murders fell vast sin concealing chaos nurse of blame blind muffled bawd dark harbour for defame grim cave of death whispering conspirator with close tongued treason and the ravisher o hateful vaporous and foggy night since thou art guilty of my cureless crime muster thy mists to meet the eastern light make war against proportiond course of time or if thou wilt permit the sun to climb his wonted height yet ere he go to bed knit poisonous clouds about his golden head with rotten damps ravish the morning air let their exhald unwholesome breaths make sick the life of purity the supreme fair ere he arrive his weary noontide prick and let thy misty vapours march so thick that in their smoky ranks his smotherd light may set at noon and make perpetual night were tarquin night as he is but nights child the silver shining queen he would distain her twinkling handmaids too by him defild through nights black bosom should not peep again so should i have co partners in my pain and fellowship in woe doth woe assuage as palmers chat makes short their pilgrimage where now i have no one to blush with me to cross their arms and hang their heads with mine to mask their brows and hide their infamy but i alone alone must sit and pine seasoning the earth with showers of silver brine mingling my talk with tears my grief with groans poor wasting monuments of lasting moans o night thou furnace of foul reeking smoke let not the jealous day behold that face which underneath thy black all hiding cloak immodesty lies martyrd with disgrace keep still possession of thy gloomy place that all the faults which in thy reign are made may likewise be sepulchred in thy shade make me not object to the tell tale day the light will show characterd in my brow the story of sweet chastitys decay the impious breach of holy wedlock vow yea the illiterate that know not how to cipher what is writ in learned books will quote my loathsome trespass in my looks the nurse to still her child will tell my story and fright her crying babe with tarquins name the orator to deck his oratory will couple my reproach to tarquins shame feast finding minstrels tuning my defame will tie the hearers to attend each line how tarquin wronged me i collatine let my good name that senseless reputation for collatines dear love be kept unspotted if that be made a theme for disputation the branches of another root are rotted and undeserved reproach to him allotted that is as clear from this attaint of mine as i ere this was pure to collatine o unseen shame invisible disgrace o unfelt sore crest wounding private scar reproach is stampd in collatinus face and tarquins eye may read the mot afar how he in peace is wounded not in war alas how many bear such shameful blows which not themselves but he that gives them knows if collatine thine honour lay in me from me by strong assault it is bereft my honey lost and i a drone like bee have no perfection of my summer left but robbd and ransackd by injurious theft in thy weak hive a wandering wasp hath crept and suckd the honey which thy chaste bee kept yet am i guilty of thy honours wrack yet for thy honour did i entertain him coming from thee i could not put him back for it had been dishonour to disdain him besides of weariness he did complain him and talkd of virtue o unlookd for evil when virtue is profand in such a devil why should the worm intrude the maiden bud or hateful cuckoos hatch in sparrows nests or toads infect fair founts with venom mud or tyrant folly lurk in gentle breasts or kings be breakers of their own behests but no perfection is so absolute that some impurity doth not pollute the aged man that coffers up his gold is plagued with cramps and gouts and painful fits and scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold but like still pining tantalus he sits and useless barns the harvest of his wits having no other pleasure of his gain but torment that it cannot cure his pain so then he hath it when he cannot use it and leaves it to be masterd by his young who in their pride do presently abuse it their father was too weak and they too strong to hold their cursed blessed fortune long the sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours even in the moment that we call them ours unruly blasts wait on the tender spring unwholesome weeds take root with precious flowers the adder hisses where the sweet birds sing what virtue breeds iniquity devours we have no good that we can say is ours but ill annexed opportunity or kills his life or else his quality o opportunity thy guilt is great tis thou that executest the traitors treason thou setst the wolf where he the lamb may get whoever plots the sin thou pointst the season tis thou that spurnst at right at law at reason and in thy shady cell where none may spy him sits sin to seize the souls that wander by him thou makst the vestal violate her oath thou blowst the fire when temperance is thawd thou smotherst honesty thou murtherst troth thou foul abettor thou notorious bawd thou plantest scandal and displacest laud thou ravisher thou traitor thou false thief thy honey turns to gall thy joy to grief thy secret pleasure turns to open shame thy private feasting to a public fast thy smoothing titles to a ragged name thy sugard tongue to bitter wormwood taste thy violent vanities can never last how comes it then vile opportunity being so bad such numbers seek for thee when wilt thou be the humble suppliants friend and bring him where his suit may be obtaind when wilt thou sort an hour great strifes to end or free that soul which wretchedness hath chaind give physic to the sick ease to the paind the poor lame blind halt creep cry out for thee but they neer meet with opportunity the patient dies while the physician sleeps the orphan pines while the oppressor feeds justice is feasting while the widow weeps advice is sporting while infection breeds thou grantst no time for charitable deeds wrath envy treason rape and murders rages thy heinous hours wait on them as their pages when truth and virtue have to do with thee a thousand crosses keep them from thy aid they buy thy help but sin neer gives a fee he gratis comes and thou art well appayd as well to hear as grant what he hath said my collatine would else have come to me when tarquin did but he was stayd by thee guilty thou art of murder and of theft guilty of perjury and subornation guilty of treason forgery and shift guilty of incest that abomination an accessory by thine inclination to all sins past and all that are to come from the creation to the general doom mis shapen time copesmate of ugly night swift subtle post carrier of grisly care eater of youth false slave to false delight base watch of woes sins pack horse virtues snare thou nursest all and murtherest all that are o hear me then injurious shifting time be guilty of my death since of my crime why hath thy servant opportunity betrayd the hours thou gavst me to repose cancelld my fortunes and enchained me to endless date of never ending woes times office is to fine the hate of foes to eat up errors by opinion bred not spend the dowry of a lawful bed times glory is to calm contending kings to unmask falsehood and bring truth to light to stamp the seal of time in aged things to wake the morn and sentinel the night to wrong the wronger till he render right to ruinate proud buildings with thy hours and smear with dust their glittering golden towers to fill with worm holes stately monuments to feed oblivion with decay of things to blot old books and alter their contents to pluck the quills from ancient ravens wings to dry the old oaks sap and cherish springs to spoil antiquities of hammerd steel and turn the giddy round of fortunes wheel to show the beldame daughters of her daughter to make the child a man the man a child to slay the tiger that doth live by slaughter to tame the unicorn and lion wild to mock the subtle in themselves beguild to cheer the ploughman with increaseful crops and waste huge stones with little water drops why workst thou mischief in thy pilgrimage unless thou couldst return to make amends one poor retiring minute in an age would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends lending him wit that to bad debtors lends o this dread night wouldst thou one hour come back i could prevent this storm and shun thy wrack thou cease ess lackey to eternity with some mischance cross tarquin in his flight devise extremes beyond extremity to make him curse this cursed crimeful night let ghastly shadows his lewd eyes affright and the dire thought of his committed evil shape every bush a hideous shapeless devil disturb his hours of rest with restless trances afflict him in his bed with bedrid groans let there bechance him pitiful mischances to make him moan but pity not his moans stone him with hardend hearts harder than stones and let mild women to him lose their mildness wilder to him than tigers in their wildness let him have time to tear his curled hair let him have time against himself to rave let him have time of times help to despair let him have time to live a loathed slave let him have time a beggars orts to crave and time to see one that by alms doth live disdain to him disdained scraps to give let him have time to see his friends his foes and merry fools to mock at him resort let him have time to mark how slow time goes in time of sorrow and how swift and short his time of folly and his time of sport and ever let his unrecalling crime have time to wail the abusing of his time o time thou tutor both to good and bad teach me to curse him that thou taughtst this ill at his own shadow let the thief run mad himself himself seek every hour to kill such wretched hands such wretched blood should spill for who so base would such an office have as slanderous deathsman to so base a slave the baser is he coming from a king to shame his hope with deeds degenerate the mightier man the mightier is the thing that makes him honourd or begets him hate for greatest scandal waits on greatest state the moon being clouded presently is missd but little stars may hide them when they list the crow may bathe his coal black wings in mire and unperceived fly with the filth away but if the like the snow white swan desire the stain upon his silver down will stay poor grooms are sightless night kings glorious day gnats are unnoted wheresoeer they fly but eagles gazed upon with every eye out idle words servants to shallow fools unprofitable sounds weak arbitrators busy yourselves in skill contending schools debate where leisure serves with dull debaters to trembling clients be you mediators for me i force not argument a straw since that my case is past the help of law in vain i rail at opportunity at time at tarquin and uncheerful night in vain i cavil with mine infamy in vain i spurn at my confirmd despite this helpless smoke of words doth me no right the remedy indeed to do me good is to let forth my foul defild blood poor hand why quiverst thou at this decree honour thyself to rid me of this shame for if i die my honour lives in thee but if i live thou livest in my defame since thou couldst not defend thy loyal dame and wast afeard to scratch her wicked foe kill both thyself and her for yielding so this said from her be tumbled couch she starteth to find some desperate instrument of death but this no slaughter house no tool imparteth to make more vent for passage of her breath which thronging through her lips so vanisheth as smoke from aetna that in air consumes or that which from discharged cannon fumes in vain quoth she i live and seek in vain some happy mean to end a hapless life i feard by tarquins falchion to be slain yet for the self same purpose seek a knife but when i feard i was a loyal wife so am i now o no that cannot be of that true type hath tarquin rifled me o that is gone for which i sought to live and therefore now i need not fear to die to clear this spot by death at least i give a badge of fame to slanders livery a dying life to living infamy poor helpless help the treasure stolen away to burn the guiltless casket where it lay well well dear collatine thou shalt not know the stained taste of violated troth i will not wrong thy true affection so to flatter thee with an infringed oath this bastard graff shall never come to growth he shall not boast who did thy stock pollute that thou art doting father of his fruit nor shall he smile at thee in secret thought nor laugh with his companions at thy state but thou shalt know thy interest was not bought basely with gold but stolen from forth thy gate for me i am the mistress of my fate and with my trespass never will dispense till life to death acquit my forced offence i will not poison thee with my attaint nor fold my fault in cleanly coind excuses my sable ground of sin i will not paint to hide the truth of this false nights abuses my tongue shall utter all mine eyes like sluices as from a mountain spring that feeds a dale shall gush pure streams to purge my impure tale by this lamenting philomel had ended the well tund warble of her nightly sorrow and solemn night with slow sad gait descended to ugly hell when lo the blushing morrow lends light to all fair eyes that light will borrow but cloudy lucrece shames herself to see and therefore still in night would cloisterd be revealing day through every cranny spies and seems to point her out where she sits weeping to whom she sobbing speaks o eye of eyes why pryest thou through my window leave thy peeping mock with thy tickling beams eyes that are sleeping brand not my forehead with thy piercing light for day hath nought to do whats done by night thus cavils she with every thing she sees true grief is fond and testy as a child who wayward once his mood with nought agrees old woes not infant sorrows bear them mild continuance tames the one the other wild like an unpractisd swimmer plunging still with too much labour drowns for want of skill so she deep drenched in a sea of care holds disputation with each thing she views and to herself all sorrow doth compare no object but her passions strength renews and as one shifts another straight ensues sometime her grief is dumb and hath no words sometime tis mad and too much talk affords the little birds that tune their mornings joy make her moans mad with their sweet melody for mirth doth search the bottom of annoy sad souls are slain in merry company grief best is pleasd with griefs society true sorrow then is feelingly sufficd when with like semblance it is sympathizd tis double death to drown in ken of shore he ten times pines that pines beholding food to see the salve doth make the wound ache more great grief grieves most at that would do it good deep woes roll forward like a gentle flood who being stoppd the bounding banks oerflows grief dallied with nor law nor limit knows you mocking birds quoth she your tunes entomb within your hollow swelling featherd breasts and in my hearing be you mute and dumb my restless discord loves no stops nor rests a woeful hostess brooks not merry guests relish your nimble notes to pleasing ears distress likes dumps when time is kept with tears come philomel that singst of ravishment make thy sad grove in my dishevelld hair as the dank earth weeps at thy languishment so i at each sad strain will strain a tear and with deep groans the diapason bear for burthen wise ill hum on tarquin still while thou on tereus descantst better skill and whiles against a thorn thou bearst thy part to keep thy sharp woes waking wretched i to imitate thee well against my heart will fix a sharp knife to affright mine eye who if it wink shall thereon fall and die these means as frets upon an instrument shall tune our heart strings to true languishment and for poor bird thou singst not in the day as shaming any eye should thee behold some dark deep desert seated from the way that knows not parching heat nor freezing cold will we find out and there we will unfold to creatures stern sad tunes to change their kinds since men prove beasts let beasts bear gentle minds as the poor frighted deer that stands at gaze wildly determining which way to fly or one encompassd with a winding maze that cannot tread the way out readily so with herself is she in mutiny to live or die which of the twain were better when life is shamd and death reproachs debtor to kill myself quoth she alack what were it but with my body my poor souls pollution they that lose half with greater patience bear it than they whose whole is swallowd in confusion that mother tries a merciless conclusion who having two sweet babes when death takes one will slay the other and be nurse to none my body or my soul which was the dearer when the one pure the other made divine whose love of either to myself was nearer when both were kept for heaven and collatine ah me the bark peeld from the lofty pine his leaves will wither and his sap decay so must my soul her bark being peeld away her house is sackd her quiet interrupted her mansion batterd by the enemy her sacred temple spotted spoild corrupted grossly engirt with daring infamy then let it not be calld impiety if in this blemishd fort i make some hole through which i may convey this troubled soul yet die i will not till my collatine have heard the cause of my untimely death that he may vow in that sad hour of mine revenge on him that made me stop my breath my stained blood to tarquin ill bequeath which by him tainted shall for him be spent and as his due writ in my testament my honour ill bequeath unto the knife that wounds my body so dishonoured tis honour to deprive dishonourd life the one will live the other being dead so of shames ashes shall my fame be bred for in my death i murther shameful scorn my shame so dead mine honour is new born dear lord of that dear jewel i have lost what legacy shall i bequeath to thee my resolution love shall be thy boast by whose example thou revengd mayst be how tarquin must be used read it in me myself thy friend will kill myself thy foe and for my sake serve thou false tarquin so this brief abridgement of my will i make my soul and body to the skies and ground my resolution husband do thou take mine honour be the knifes that makes my wound my shame be his that did my fame confound and all my fame that lives disbursd be to those that live and think no shame of me thou collatine shalt oversee this will how was i overseen that thou shalt see it my blood shall wash the slander of mine ill my lifes foul deed my lifes fair end shall free it faint not faint heart but stoutly say so be it yield to my hand my hand shall conquer thee thou dead both die and both shall victors be this plot of death when sadly she had laid and wipd the brinish pearl from her bright eyes with untund tongue she hoarsely calld her maid whose swift obedience to her mistress hies for fleet wingd duty with thoughts feathers flies poor lucrece cheeks unto her maid seem so as winter meads when sun doth melt their snow her mistress she doth give demure good morrow with soft slow tongue true mark of modesty and sorts a sad look to her ladys sorrow for why her face wore sorrows livery but durst not ask of her audaciously why her two suns were cloud eclipsed so nor why her fair cheeks over washd with woe but as the earth doth weep the sun being set each flower moistend like a melting eye even so the maid with swelling drops gan wet her circled eyne enforcd by sympathy of those fair suns set in her mistress sky who in a salt wavd ocean quench their light which makes the maid weep like the dewy night a pretty while these pretty creatures stand like ivory conduits coral cisterns filling one justly weeps the other takes in hand no cause but company of her drops spilling their gentle sex to weep are often willing grieving themselves to guess at others smarts and then they drown their eyes or break their hearts for men have marble women waxen minds and therefore are they formd as marble will the weak oppressd the impression of strange kinds is formd in them by force by fraud or skill then call them not the authors of their ill no more than wax shall be accounted evil wherein is stampd the semblance of a devil their smoothness like a goodly champaign plain lays open all the little worms that creep in men as in a rough grown grove remain cave keeping evils that obscurely sleep through crystal walls each little mote will peep though men can cover crimes with bold stern looks poor womens faces are their own faults books no man inveigb against the witherd flower but chide rough winter that the flower hath killd not that devourd but that which doth devour is worthy blame o let it not be hild poor womens faults that they are so fulfilld with mens abuses those proud lords to blame make weak made women tenants to their shame the precedent whereof in lucrece view assaild by night with circumstances strong of present death and shame that might ensue by that her death to do her husband wrong such danger to resistance did belong the dying fear through all her body spread and who cannot abuse a body dead by this mild patience bid fair lucrece speak to the poor counterfeit of her complaining my girl quoth she on what occasion break those tears from thee that down thy cheeks are raining if thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining know gentle wench it small avails my mood if tears could help mine own would do me good but tell me girl when went and there she stayd till after a deep groan tarquin from hence madam ere i was up replied the maid the more to blame my sluggard negligence yet with the fault i thus far can dispense myself was stirring ere the break of day and ere i rose was tarquin gone away but lady if your maid may be so bold she would request to know your heaviness o peace quoth lucrece if it should be told the repetition cannot make it less for more it is than i can well express and that deep torture may be calld a hell when more is felt than one hath power to tell go get me hither paper ink and pen yet save that labour for i have them here what should i say one of my husbands men bid thou be ready by and by to bear a letter to my lord my love my dear bid him with speed prepare to carry it the cause craves haste and it will soon be writ her maid is gone and she prepares to write first hovering oer the paper with her quill conceit and grief an eager combat fight what wit sets down is blotted straight with will this is too curious good this blunt and ill much like a press of people at a door throng her inventions which shall go before at last she thus begins thou worthy lord of that unworthy wife that greeteth thee health to thy person next vouchsafe to afford if ever love thy lucrece thou wilt see some present speed to come and visit me so i commend me from our house in grief my woes are tedious though my words are brief here folds she up the tenor of her woe her certain sorrow writ uncertainly by this short schedule collatine may know her grief but not her griefs true quality she dares not thereof make discovery lest he should hold it her own gross abuse ere she with blood had staind her staind excuse besides the life and feeling of her passion she hoards to spend when he is by to hear her when sighs and groans and tears may grace the fashion of her disgrace the better so to clear her from that suspicion which the world my might bear her to shun this blot she would not blot the letter with words till action might become them better to see sad sights moves more than hear them told for then the eye interprets to the ear the heavy motion that it doth behold when every part a part of woe doth bear tis but a part of sorrow that we hear deep sounds make lesser noise than shallow fords and sorrow ebbs being blown with wind of words her letter now is seald and on it writ at ardea to my lord with more than haste the post attends and she delivers it charging the sour facd groom to hie as fast as lagging fowls before the northern blast speed more than speed but dull and slow she deems extremely still urgeth such extremes the homely villain courtsies to her low and blushing on her with a steadfast eye receives the scroll without or yea or no and forth with bashful innocence doth hie but they whose guilt within their bosoms lie imagine every eye beholds their blame for lucrece thought he blushd to see her shame when silly groom god wot it was defect of spirit life and bold audacity such harmless creatures have a true respect to talk in deeds while others saucily promise more speed but do it leisurely even so this pattern of the worn out age pawnd honest looks but laid no words to gage his kindled duty kindled her mistrust that two red fires in both their faces blazd she thought he blushd as knowing tarquins lust and blushing with him wistly on him gazd her earnest eye did make him more amazd the more saw the blood his cheeks replenish the more she thought he spied in her some blemish but long she thinks till he return again and yet the duteous vassal scarce is gone the weary time she cannot entertain for now tis stale to sigh to weep to groan so woe hath wearied woe moan tired moan that she her plaints a little while doth stay pausing for means to mourn some newer way at last she calls to mind where hangs a piece of skilful painting made for priams troy before the which is drawn the power of greece for helens rape the city to destroy threatning cloud kissing ilion with annoy which the conceited painter drew so proud as heaven it seemd to kiss the turrets bowd a thousand lamentable objects there in scorn of nature art gave lifeless life many a dry drop seemd a weeping tear shed for the slaughterd husband by the wife the red blood reekd to show the painters strife the dying eyes gleamd forth their ashy lights like dying coals burnt out in tedious nights there might you see the labouring pioner begrimd with sweat and smeared all with dust and from the towers of troy there would appear the very eyes of men through loopholes thrust gazing upon the greeks with little lust such sweet observance in this work was had that one might see those far off eyes look sad in great commanders grace and majesty you might behold triumphing in their faces in youth quick bearing and dexterity and here and there the painter interlaces pale cowards marching on with trembling paces which heartless peasants did so well resemble that one would swear he saw them quake and tremble in ajax and ulysses o what art of physiognomy might one behold the face of either cipherd eithers heart their face their manners most expressly told in ajax eyes blunt rage and rigour rolld but the mild glance that sly ulysses lent showd deep regard and smiling government there pleading might you see grave nestor stand ast were encouraging the greeks to fight making such sober action with his hand that it beguiled attention charmd the sight in speech it seemd his beard all silver white waggd up and down and from his lips did fly thin winding breath which purld up to the sky about him were a press of gaping faces which seemd to swallow up his sound advice all jointly listening but with several graces as if some mermaid did their ears entice some high some low the painter was so nice the scalps of many almost hid behind to jump up higher seemd to mock the mind here one mans hand leand on anothers head his nose being shadowd by his neighbours ear here one being throngd bears back all bolln and red another smotherd seems to pelt and swear and in their rage such signs of rage they bear as but for loss of nestors golden words it seemd they would debate with angry swords for much imaginary work was there conceit deceitful so compact so kind that for achilles image stood his spear gripd in an armed hand himself behind was left unseen save to the eye of mind a hand a foot a face a leg a head stood for the whole to be imagined and from the walls of strong besieged troy when their brave hope bold hector marchd to field stood many trojan mothers sharing joy to see their youthful sons bright weapons wield and to their hope they such odd action yield that through their light joy seemed to appear like bright things staind a kind of heavy fear and from the strond of dardan where they fought to simois reedy banks the red blood ran whose waves to imitate the battle sought with swelling ridges and their ranks began to break upon the galled shore and than retire again till meeting greater ranks they join and shoot their foam at simois banks to this well painted piece is lucrece come to find a face where all distress is stelld many she sees where cares have carved some but none where all distress and dolour dwelld till she despairing hecuba beheld staring on priams wounds with her old eyes which bleeding under pyrrhus proud foot lies in her the painter had anatomizd times ruin beautys wrack and grim cares reign her cheeks with chops and wrinkles were disguisd of what she was no semblance did remain her blue blood changd to black in every vein wanting the spring that those shrunk pipes had fed showd life imprisond in a body dead on this sad shadow lucrece spends her eyes and shapes her sorrow to the beldames woes who nothing wants to answer her but cries and bitter words to ban her cruel foes the painter was no god to lend her those and therefore lucrece swears he did her wrong to give her so much grief and not a tongue poor instrument quoth she without a sound ill tune thy woes with my lamenting tongue and drop sweet balm in priams painted wound and rail on pyrrhus that hath done him wrong and with my tears quench troy that burns so long and with my knife scratch out the angry eyes of all the greeks that are thine enemies show me the strumpet that began this stir that with my nails her beauty i may tear thy heat of lust fond paris did incur this load of wrath that burning troy doth bear thy eye kindled the fire that burneth here and here in troy for trespass of thine eye the sire the son the dame and daughter die why should the private pleasure of some one become the public plague of many mo let sin alone committed light alone upon his head that hath transgressed so let guiltless souls be freed from guilty woe for ones offence why should so many fall to plague a private sin in general lo here weeps hecuba here priam dies here manly hector faints here troilus swounds here friend by friend in bloody channel lies and friend to friend gives unadvised wounds and one mans lust these many lives confounds had doting priam checkd his sons desire troy had been bright with fame and not with fire here feelingly she weeps troys painted woes for sorrow like a heavy hanging bell once set on ringing with his own weight goes then little strength rings out the doleful knell so lucrece set a work sad tales doth tell to pencilld pensiveness and colourd sorrow she lends them words and she their looks doth borrow she throws her eyes about the painting round and whom she finds forlorn she doth lament at last she sees a wretched image bound that piteous looks to phrygian shepherds lent his face though full of cares yet showd content onward to troy with the blunt swains he goes so mild that patience seemd to scorn his woes in him the painter labourd with his skill to hide deceit and give the harmless show an humble gait calm looks eyes wailing still a brow unbent that seemd to welcome woe cheeks neither red nor pale but mingled so that blushing red no guilty instance gave nor ashy pale the fear that false hearts have but like a constant and confirmed devil he entertaind a show so seeming just and therein so ensconcd his secret evil that jealousy itself cold not mistrust false creeping craft and perjury should thrust into so bright a day such black facd storms or blot with hell born sin such saint like forms the well skilld workman this mild image drew for perjurd sinon whose enchanting story the credulous old priam after slew whose words like wildfire burnt the shining glory of rich built ilion that the skies were sorry and little stars shot from their fixed places when their glass fell wherein they viewd their faces this picture she advisedly perusd and chid the painter for his wondrous skill saying some shape in sinons was abusd so fair a form lodged not a mind so ill and still on him she gazd and gazing still such signs of truth in his plain face she spied that she concludes the picture was belied it cannot be quoth she that so much guile she would have said can lurk in such a look but tarquins shape came in her mind the while and from her tongue can lurk from cannot took it cannot be she in that sense forsook and turnd it thus it cannot be i find but such a face should bear a wicked mind for even as subtle sinon here is painted so sober sad so weary and so mild as if with grief or travail he had fainted to me came tarquin armed so beguild with outward honesty but yet defild with inward vice as priam him did cherish so did i tarquin so my troy did perish look look how listening priam wets his eyes to see those borrowd tears that sinon sheds priam why art thou old and yet not wise for every tear he falls a trojan bleeds his eye drops fire no water thence proceeds those round clear pearls of his that move thy pity are balls of quenchless fire to burn thy city such devils steal effects from lightless hell for sinon in his fire doth quake with cold and in that cold hot burning fire doth dwell these contraries such unity do hold only to flatter fools and make them bold so priams trust false sinons tears doth flatter that he finds means to burn his troy with water here all enragd such passion her assails that patience is quite beaten from her breast she tears the senseless sinon with her nails comparing him to that unhappy guest whose deed hath made herself herself detest at last she smilingly with this gives oer fool fool quoth she his wounds will not be sore thus ebbs and flows the current of her sorrow and time doth weary time with her complaining she looks for night and then she longs for morrow and both she thinks too long with her remaining short time seems long in sorrows sharp sustaining though woe be heavy yet it seldom sleeps and they that watch see time how slow it creeps which all this time hath overslippd her thought that she with painted images hath spent being from the feeling of her own grief brought by deep surmise of others detriment losing her woes in shows of discontent it easeth some though none it ever curd to think their dolour others have endurd but now the mindful messenger come back brings home his lord and other company who finds his lucrece clad in mourning black and round about her tear distained eye blue circles streamd like rainbows in the sky these water galls in her dim element foretell new storms to those already spent which when her sad beholding husband saw amazedly in her sad face he stares her eyes though sod in tears lookd red and raw her lively colour killd with deadly cares he hath no power to ask her how she fares both stood like old acquaintance in a trance met far from home wondering each others chance at last he takes her by the bloodless hand and thus begins what uncouth ill event hath thee befalln that thou dost trembling stand sweet love what spite hath thy fair colour spent why art thou thus attird in discontent unmask dear dear this moody heaviness and tell thy grief that we may give redress three times with sighs she gives her sorrow fire ere once she can discharge one word of woe at length addressd to answer his desire she modestly prepares to let them know her honour is taen prisoner by the foe while collatine and his consorted lords with sad attention long to hear her words and now this pale swan in her watery nest begins the sad dirge of her certain ending few words quoth she shall fit the trespass best where no excuse can give the fault amending in me more woes than words are now depending and my laments would be drawn out too long to tell them all with one poor tired tongue then be this all the task it hath to say dear husband in the interest of thy bed a stranger came and on that pillow lay where thou wast wont to rest thy weary head and what wrong else may be imagined by foul enforcement might be done to me from that alas thy lucrece is not free for in the dreadful dead of dark midnight with shining falchion in my chamber came a creeping creature with a flaming light and softly cried awake thou roman dame and entertain my love else lasting shame on thee and thine this night i will inflict if thou my loves desire do contradict for some hard favourd groom of thine quoth he unless thou yoke thy liking to my will ill murder straight and then ill slaughter thee and swear i found you where you did fulfil the loathsome act of lust and so did kill the lechers in their deed this act will be my fame and thy perpetual infamy with this i did begin to start and cry and then against my heart he sets his sword swearing unless i took all patiently i should not live to speak another word so should my shame still rest upon record and never be forgot in mighty rome the adulterate death of lucrece and her groom mine enemy was strong my poor self weak and far the weaker with so strong a fear my bloody judge forbade my tongue to speak no rightful plea might plead for justice there his scarlet lust came evidence to swear that my poor beauty had purloind his eyes and when the judge is robbd the prisoner dies o teach me how to make mine own excuse or at the least this refuge let me find though my gross blood be staind with this abuse immaculate and spotless is my mind that was not forcd that never was inclind to accessary yieldings but still pure doth in her poisond closet yet endure lo here the hopeless merchant of this loss with head declind and voice dammd up with woe with sad set eyes and wretched arms across from lips new waxen pale begins to blow the grief away that stops his answer so but wretched as he is he strives in vain what he breathes out his breath drinks up again as through an arch the violent roaring tide outruns the eye that doth behold his haste yet in the eddy boundeth in his pride back to the strait that forcd him on so fast in rage sent out recalld in rage being past even so his sighs his sorrows make a saw to push grief on and back the same grief draw which speechless woe of his poor she attendeth and his untimely frenzy thus awaketh dear lord thy sorrow to my sorrow lendeth another power no flood by raining slaketh my woe too sensible thy passion maketh more feeling painful let it then suffice to drown one woe one pair of weeping eyes and for my sake when i might charm thee so for she that was thy lucrece now attend me be suddenly revenged on my foe thine mine his own suppose thou dost defend me from what is past the help that thou shalt lend me comes all too late yet let the traitor die for sparing justice feeds iniquity but ere i name him you fair lords quoth she speaking to those that came with collatine shall plight your honourable faiths to me with swift pursuit to venge this wrong of mine for tis a meritorious fair design to chase injustice with revengeful arms knights by their oaths should right poor ladies harms at this request with noble disposition each present lord began to promise aid as bound in knighthood to her imposition longing to hear the hateful foe bewrayd but she that yet her sad task hath not said the protestation stops o speak quoth she how may this forced stain be wipd from me what is the quality of mine offence being constraind with dreadful circumstance may my pure mind with the foul act dispense my low declined honour to advance may any terms acquit me from this chance the poisond fountain clears itself again and why not i from this compelled stain with this they all at once began to say her bodys stain her mind untainted clears while with a joyless smile she turns away the face that map which deep impression bears of hard misfortune carvd in it with tears no no quoth she no dame hereafter living by my excuse shall claim excuses giving here with a sigh as if her heart would break she throws forth tarquins name he he she says but more than he her poor tongue could not speak till after many accents and delays untimely breathings sick and short assays she utters this he he fair lords tis he that guides this hand to give this wound to me even here she sheathed in her harmless breast a harmful knife that thence her soul unsheathd that blow did bail it from the deep unrest of that polluted prison where it breathd her contrite sighs unto the clouds bequeathd her winged sprite and through her wounds doth fly lifes lasting date from cancelld destiny stone still astonishd with this deadly deed stood collatine and all his lordly crew till lucrece father that beholds her bleed himself on her self slaughterd body threw and from the purple fountain brutus drew the murderous knife and as it left the place her blood in poor revenge held it in chase and bubbling from her breast it doth divide in two slow rivers that the crimson blood circles her body in on every side who like a late sackd island vastly stood bare and unpeopled in this fearful flood some of her blood still pure and red remaind and some lookd black and that false tarquin staind about the mourning and congealed face of that black blood a watery rigol goes which seems to weep upon the tainted place and ever since as pitying lucrece woes corrupted blood some watery token shows and blood untainted still doth red abide blushing at that which is so putrified daughter dear daughter old lucretius cries that life was mine which thou hast here deprivd if in the child the fathers image lies where shall i live now lucrece is unlivd thou wast not to this end from me derivd if children pre decease progenitors we are their offspring and they none of ours poor broken glass i often did behold in thy sweet semblance my old age new born but now that fair fresh mirror dim and old shows me a bare bond death by time outworn o from thy cheeks my image thou hast torn and shiverd all the beauty of my glass that i no more can see what once i was o time cease thou thy course and last no longer if they surcease to be that should survive shall rotten death make conquest of the stronger and leave the faltering feeble souls alive the old bees die the young possess their hive then live sweet lucrece live again and see thy father die and not thy father thee by this starts collatine as from a dream and bids lucretius give his sorrow place and then in key cold lucrece bleeding stream he falls and bathes the pale fear in his face and counterfeits to die with her a space till manly shame bids him possess his breath and live to be revenged on her death the deep vexation of his inward soul hath servd a dumb arrest upon his tongue who mad that sorrow should his use control or keep him from heart easing words so long begins to talk but through his lips do throng weak words so thick come in his poor hearts aid that no man could distinguish what he said yet sometime tarquin was pronounced plain but through his teeth as if the name he tore this windy tempest till it blow up rain held back his sorrows tide to make it more at last it rains and busy winds give oer then son and father weep with equal strife who should weep most for daughter or for wife the one doth call her his the other his yet neither may possess the claim they lay the father says shes mine o mine she is replies her husband do not take away my sorrows interest let no mourner say he weeps for her for she was only mine and only must be waild by collatine o quoth lucretius i did give that life which she too early and too late hath spilld woe woe quoth collatine she was my wife i owed her and tis mine that she hath killd my daughter and my wife with clamours filld the dispersd air who holding lucrece life answerd their cries my daughter and my wife brutus who pluckd the knife from lucrece side seeing such emulation in their woe began to clothe his wit in state and pride burying in lucrece wound his follys show he with the romans was esteemed so as silly jeering idiots are with kings for sportive words and uttering foolish things but now he throws that shallow habit by wherein deep policy did him disguise and armd his long hid wits advisedly to check the tears in collatinus eyes thou wronged lord of rome quoth he arise let my unsounded self supposd a fool now set thy long experiencd wit to school why collatine is woe the cure for woe do wounds help wounds or grief help grievous deeds is it revenge to give thyself a blow for his foul act by whom thy fair wife bleeds such childish humour from weak minds proceeds thy wretched wife mistook the matter so to slay herself that should have slain her foe courageous roman do not steep thy heart in such relenting dew of lamentations but kneel with me and help to bear thy part to rouse our roman gods with invocations that they will suffer these abominations since rome herself in them doth stand disgracd by our strong arms from forth her fair streets chasd now by the capitol that we adore and by this chaste blood so unjustly staind by heavens fair sun that breeds the fat earths store by all our country rights in rome maintaind and by chaste lucrece soul that late complaind her wrongs to us and by this bloody knife we will revenge the death of this true wife this said he struck his hand upon his breast and kissd the fatal knife to end his vow and to his protestation urgd the rest who wondering at him did his words allow then jointly to the ground their knees they bow and that deep vow which brutus made before he doth again repeat and that they swore when they had sworn to this advised doom they did conclude to bear dead lucrece thence to show her bleeding body thorough rome and so to publish tarquins foul offence which being done with speedy diligence the romans plausibly did give consent to tarquins everlasting banishment venus and adonis by william shakespeare vilia miretur vulgus mihi flavus apollo pocula castalia plena ministret aqua to the right honourable henry wriothesley earl of southampton and baron of titchfield right honourable i know not how i shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen only if your honour seem but pleased i account myself highly praised and vow to take advantage of all idle hours till i have honoured you with some graver labour but if the first heir of my invention prove deformed i shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather and never after ear so barren a land for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest i leave it to your honourable survey and your honour to your hearts content which i wish may always answer your own wish and the worlds hopeful expectation your honours in all duty william shakespeare venus and adonis even as the sun with purple colourd face had taen his last leave of the weeping morn rose cheekd adonis tried him to the chase hunting he lovd but love he laughd to scorn sick thoughted venus makes amain unto him and like a bold facd suitor gins to woo him thrice fairer than myself thus she began the fields chief flower sweet above compare stain to all nymphs more lovely than a man more white and red than doves or roses are nature that made thee with herself at strife saith that the world hath ending with thy life vouchsafe thou wonder to alight thy steed and rein his proud head to the saddle bow if thou wilt deign this favour for thy meed a thousand honey secrets shalt thou know here come and sit where never serpent hisses and being set ill smother thee with kisses and yet not cloy thy lips with loathd satiety but rather famish them amid their plenty making them red and pale with fresh variety ten kisses short as one one long as twenty a summers day will seem an hour but short being wasted in such time beguiling sport with this she seizeth on his sweating palm the precedent of pith and livelihood and trembling in her passion calls it balm earths sovereign salve to do a goddess good being so enragd desire doth lend her force courageously to pluck him from his horse over one arm the lusty coursers rein under her other was the tender boy who blushd and pouted in a dull disdain with leaden appetite unapt to toy she red and hot as coals of glowing fire he red for shame but frosty in desire the studded bridle on a ragged bough nimbly she fastens o how quick is love the steed is stalled up and even now to tie the rider she begins to prove backward she pushd him as she would be thrust and governd him in strength though not in lust so soon was she along as he was down each leaning on their elbows and their hips now doth she stroke his cheek now doth he frown and gins to chide but soon she stops his lips and kissing speaks with lustful language broken if thou wilt chide thy lips shall never open he burns with bashful shame she with her tears doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks then with her windy sighs and golden hairs to fan and blow them dry again she seeks he saith she is immodest blames her miss what follows more she murders with a kiss even as an empty eagle sharp by fast tires with her beak on feathers flesh and bone shaking her wings devouring all in haste till either gorge be stuffd or prey be gone even so she kissd his brow his cheek his chin and where she ends she doth anew begin forcd to content but never to obey panting he lies and breatheth in her face she feedeth on the steam as on a prey and calls it heavenly moisture air of grace wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers so they were dewd with such distilling showers look how a bird lies tangled in a net so fastend in her arms adonis lies pure shame and awd resistance made him fret which bred more beauty in his angry eyes rain added to a river that is rank perforce will force it overflow the bank still she entreats and prettily entreats for to a pretty ear she tunes her tale still is he sullen still he lours and frets twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale being red she loves him best and being white her best is betterd with a more delight look how he can she cannot choose but love and by her fair immortal hand she swears from his soft bosom never to remove till he take truce with her contending tears which long have raind making her cheeks all wet and one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt upon this promise did he raise his chin like a dive dapper peering through a wave who being lookd on ducks as quickly in so offers he to give what she did crave but when her lips were ready for his pay he winks and turns his lips another way never did passenger in summers heat more thirst for drink than she for this good turn her help she sees but help she cannot get she bathes in water yet her fire must burn o pity gan she cry flint hearted boy tis but a kiss i beg why art thou coy i have been wood as i entreat thee now even by the stern and direful god of war whose sinewy neck in battle neer did bow who conquers where he comes in every jar yet hath he been my captive and my slave and beggd for that which thou unaskd shalt have over my altars hath he hung his lance his batterd shield his uncontrolled crest and for my sake hath learnd to sport and dance to toy to wanton dally smile and jest scorning his churlish drum and ensign red making my arms his field his tent my bed thus he that overruld i overswayd leading him prisoner in a red rose chain strong temperd steel his stronger strength obeyd yet was he servile to my coy disdain oh be not proud nor brag not of thy might for mastring her that foild the god of fight touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine though mine be not so fair yet are they red the kiss shall be thine own as well as mine what seest thou in the ground hold up thy head look in mine eyeballs there thy beauty lies then why not lips on lips since eyes in eyes art thou ashamd to kiss then wink again and i will wink so shall the day seem night love keeps his revels where there are but twain be bold to play our sport is not in sight these blue veind violets whereon we lean never can blab nor know not what we mean the tender spring upon thy tempting lip shows thee unripe yet mayst thou well be tasted make use of time let not advantage slip beauty within itself should not be wasted fair flowers that are not gatherd in their prime rot and consume themselves in little time were i hard favourd foul or wrinkled old ill nurturd crooked churlish harsh in voice oerworn despised rheumatic and cold thick sighted barren lean and lacking juice then mightst thou pause for then i were not for thee but having no defects why dost abhor me thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow mine eyes are grey and bright and quick in turning my beauty as the spring doth yearly grow my flesh is soft and plump my marrow burning my smooth moist hand were it with thy hand felt would in thy palm dissolve or seem to melt bid me discourse i will enchant thine ear or like a fairy trip upon the green or like a nymph with long dishevelld hair dance on the sands and yet no footing seen love is a spirit all compact of fire not gross to sink but light and will aspire witness this primrose bank whereon i lie these forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky from morn till night even where i list to sport me is love so light sweet boy and may it be that thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee is thine own heart to thine own face affected can thy right hand seize love upon thy left then woo thyself be of thyself rejected steal thine own freedom and complain on theft narcissus so himself himself forsook and died to kiss his shadow in the brook torches are made to light jewels to wear dainties to taste fresh beauty for the use herbs for their smell and sappy plants to bear things growing to themselves are growths abuse seeds spring from seeds and beauty breedeth beauty thou wast begot to get it is thy duty upon the earths increase why shouldst thou feed unless the earth with thy increase be fed by law of nature thou art bound to breed that thine may live when thou thyself art dead and so in spite of death thou dost survive in that thy likeness still is left alive by this the love sick queen began to sweat for where they lay the shadow had forsook them and titan tired in the midday heat with burning eye did hotly overlook them wishing adonis had his team to guide so he were like him and by venus side and now adonis with a lazy spright and with a heavy dark disliking eye his louring brows oerwhelming his fair sight like misty vapours when they blot the sky souring his cheeks cries fie no more of love the sun doth burn my face i must remove ay me quoth venus young and so unkind what bare excuses makst thou to be gone ill sigh celestial breath whose gentle wind shall cool the heat of this descending sun ill make a shadow for thee of my hairs if they burn too ill quench them with my tears the sun that shines from heaven shines but warm and lo i lie between that sun and thee the heat i have from thence doth little harm thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me and were i not immortal life were done between this heavenly and earthly sun art thou obdurate flinty hard as steel nay more than flint for stone at rain relenteth art thou a womans son and canst not feel what tis to love how want of love tormenteth o had thy mother borne so hard a mind she had not brought forth thee but died unkind what am i that thou shouldst contemn me this or what great danger dwells upon my suit what were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss speak fair but speak fair words or else be mute give me one kiss ill give it thee again and one for intrest if thou wilt have twain fie lifeless picture cold and senseless stone well painted idol image dull and dead statue contenting but the eye alone thing like a man but of no woman bred thou art no man though of a mans complexion for men will kiss even by their own direction this said impatience chokes her pleading tongue and swelling passion doth provoke a pause red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong being judge in love she cannot right her cause and now she weeps and now she fain would speak and now her sobs do her intendments break sometimes she shakes her head and then his hand now gazeth she on him now on the ground sometimes her arms infold him like a band she would he will not in her arms be bound and when from thence he struggles to be gone she locks her lily fingers one in one fondling she saith since i have hemmd thee here within the circuit of this ivory pale ill be a park and thou shalt be my deer feed where thou wilt on mountain or in dale graze on my lips and if those hills be dry stray lower where the pleasant fountains lie within this limit is relief enough sweet bottom grass and high delightful plain round rising hillocks brakes obscure and rough to shelter thee from tempest and from rain then be my deer since i am such a park no dog shall rouse thee though a thousand bark at this adonis smiles as in disdain that in each cheek appears a pretty dimple love made those hollows if himself were slain he might be buried in a tomb so simple foreknowing well if there he came to lie why there love livd and there he could not die these lovely caves these round enchanting pits opend their mouths to swallow venus liking being mad before how doth she now for wits struck dead at first what needs a second striking poor queen of love in thine own law forlorn to love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn now which way shall she turn what shall she say her words are done her woes the more increasing the time is spent her object will away and from her twining arms doth urge releasing pity she cries some favour some remorse away he springs and hasteth to his horse but lo from forth a copse that neighbours by a breeding jennet lusty young and proud adonis tramping courser doth espy and forth she rushes snorts and neighs aloud the strong neckd steed being tied unto a tree breaketh his rein and to her straight goes he imperiously he leaps he neighs he bounds and now his woven girths he breaks asunder the bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds whose hollow womb resounds like heavens thunder the iron bit he crusheth tween his teeth controlling what he was controlled with his ears up prickd his braided hanging mane upon his compassd crest now stand on end his nostrils drink the air and forth again as from a furnace vapours doth he send his eye which scornfully glisters like fire shows his hot courage and his high desire sometime he trots as if he told the steps with gentle majesty and modest pride anon he rears upright curvets and leaps as who should say lo thus my strength is tried and this i do to captivate the eye of the fair breeder that is standing by what recketh he his riders angry stir his flattering holla or his stand i say what cares he now for curb or pricking spur for rich caparisons or trappings gay he sees his love and nothing else he sees nor nothing else with his proud sight agrees look when a painter would surpass the life in limning out a well proportiond steed his art with natures workmanship at strife as if the dead the living should exceed so did this horse excel a common one in shape in courage colour pace and bone round hoofd short jointed fetlocks shag and long broad breast full eye small head and nostril wide high crest short ears straight legs and passing strong thin mane thick tail broad buttock tender hide look what a horse should have he did not lack save a proud rider on so proud a back sometimes he scuds far off and there he stares anon he starts at stirring of a feather to bid the wind a base he now prepares and where he run or fly they know not whether for through his mane and tail the high wind sings fanning the hairs who wave like featherd wings he looks upon his love and neighs unto her she answers him as if she knew his mind being proud as females are to see him woo her she puts on outward strangeness seems unkind spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels beating his kind embracements with her heels then like a melancholy malcontent he vails his tail that like a falling plume cool shadow to his melting buttock lent he stamps and bites the poor flies in his fume his love perceiving how he was enragd grew kinder and his fury was assuagd his testy master goeth about to take him when lo the unbackd breeder full of fear jealous of catching swiftly doth forsake him with her the horse and left adonis there as they were mad unto the wood they hie them outstripping crows that strive to overfly them all swoln with chafing down adonis sits banning his boisterous and unruly beast and now the happy season once more fits that love sick love by pleading may be blest for lovers say the heart hath treble wrong when it is barrd the aidance of the tongue an oven that is stoppd or river stayd burneth more hotly swelleth with more rage so of concealed sorrow may be said free vent of words loves fire doth assuage but when the hearts attorney once is mute the client breaks as desperate in his suit he sees her coming and begins to glow even as a dying coal revives with wind and with his bonnet hides his angry brow looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind taking no notice that she is so nigh for all askance he holds her in his eye o what a sight it was wistly to view how she came stealing to the wayward boy to note the fighting conflict of her hue how white and red each other did destroy but now her cheek was pale and by and by it flashd forth fire as lightning from the sky now was she just before him as he sat and like a lowly lover down she kneels with one fair hand she heaveth up his hat her other tender hand his fair cheek feels his tendrer cheek receives her soft hands print as apt as new falln snow takes any dint oh what a war of looks was then between them her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing his eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen them her eyes wood still his eyes disdaind the wooing and all this dumb play had his acts made plain with tears which chorus like her eyes did rain full gently now she takes him by the hand a lily prisond in a gaol of snow or ivory in an alabaster band so white a friend engirts so white a foe this beauteous combat wilful and unwilling showd like two silver doves that sit a billing once more the engine of her thoughts began o fairest mover on this mortal round would thou wert as i am and i a man my heart all whole as thine thy heart my wound for one sweet look thy help i would assure thee though nothing but my bodys bane would cure thee give me my hand saith he why dost thou feel it give me my heart saith she and thou shalt have it o give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it and being steeld soft sighs can never grave it then loves deep groans i never shall regard because adonis heart hath made mine hard for shame he cries let go and let me go my days delight is past my horse is gone and tis your fault i am bereft him so i pray you hence and leave me here alone for all my mind my thought my busy care is how to get my palfrey from the mare thus she replies thy palfrey as he should welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire affection is a coal that must be coold else sufferd it will set the heart on fire the sea hath bounds but deep desire hath none therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone how like a jade he stood tied to the tree servilely masterd with a leathern rein but when he saw his love his youths fair fee he held such petty bondage in disdain throwing the base thong from his bending crest enfranchising his mouth his back his breast who sees his true love in her naked bed teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white but when his glutton eye so full hath fed his other agents aim at like delight who is so faint that dare not be so bold to touch the fire the weather being cold let me excuse thy courser gentle boy and learn of him i heartily beseech thee to take advantage on presented joy though i were dumb yet his proceedings teach thee o learn to love the lesson is but plain and once made perfect never lost again i know not love quoth he nor will not know it unless it be a boar and then i chase it tis much to borrow and i will not owe it my love to love is love but to disgrace it for i have heard it is a life in death that laughs and weeps and all but with a breath who wears a garment shapeless and unfinishd who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth if springing things be any jot diminishd they wither in their prime prove nothing worth the colt thats backd and burdend being young loseth his pride and never waxeth strong you hurt my hand with wringing let us part and leave this idle theme this bootless chat remove your siege from my unyielding heart to loves alarms it will not ope the gate dismiss your vows your feigned tears your flattry for where a heart is hard they make no battry what canst thou talk quoth she hast thou a tongue o would thou hadst not or i had no hearing thy mermaids voice hath done me double wrong i had my load before now pressd with bearing melodious discord heavenly tune harsh sounding ears deep sweet music and hearts deep sore wounding had i no eyes but ears my ears would love that inward beauty and invisible or were i deaf thy outward parts would move each part in me that were but sensible though neither eyes nor ears to hear nor see yet should i be in love by touching thee say that the sense of feeling were bereft me and that i could not see nor hear nor touch and nothing but the very smell were left me yet would my love to thee be still as much for from the stillitory of thy face excelling comes breath perfumd that breedeth love by smelling but oh what banquet wert thou to the taste being nurse and feeder of the other four would they not wish the feast might ever last and bid suspicion double lock the door lest jealousy that sour unwelcome guest should by his stealing in disturb the feast once more the ruby colourd portal opend which to his speech did honey passage yield like a red morn that ever yet betokend wrack to the seaman tempest to the field sorrow to shepherds woe unto the birds gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds this ill presage advisedly she marketh even as the wind is hushd before it raineth or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh or as the berry breaks before it staineth or like the deadly bullet of a gun his meaning struck her ere his words begun and at his look she flatly falleth down for looks kill love and love by looks reviveth a smile recures the wounding of a frown but blessed bankrout that by love so thriveth the silly boy believing she is dead claps her pale cheek till clapping makes it red and all amazd brake off his late intent for sharply he did think to reprehend her which cunning love did wittily prevent fair fall the wit that can so well defend her for on the grass she lies as she were slain till his breath breatheth life in her again he wrings her nose he strikes her on the cheeks he bends her fingers holds her pulses hard he chafes her lips a thousand ways he seeks to mend the hurt that his unkindness marrd he kisses her and she by her good will will never rise so he will kiss her still the night of sorrow now is turnd to day her two blue windows faintly she up heaveth like the fair sun when in his fresh array he cheers the morn and all the world relieveth and as the bright sun glorifies the sky so is her face illumind with her eye whose beams upon his hairless face are fixd as if from thence they borrowd all their shine were never four such lamps together mixd had not his clouded with his brows repine but hers which through the crystal tears gave light shone like the moon in water seen by night o where am i quoth she in earth or heaven or in the ocean drenchd or in the fire what hour is this or morn or weary even do i delight to die or life desire but now i livd and life was deaths annoy but now i died and death was lively joy o thou didst kill me kill me once again thy eyes shrewd tutor that hard heart of thine hath taught them scornful tricks and such disdain that they have murderd this poor heart of mine and these mine eyes true leaders to their queen but for thy piteous lips no more had seen long may they kiss each other for this cure oh never let their crimson liveries wear and as they last their verdure still endure to drive infection from the dangerous year that the star gazers having writ on death may say the plague is banishd by thy breath pure lips sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted what bargains may i make still to be sealing to sell myself i can be well contented so thou wilt buy and pay and use good dealing which purchase if thou make for fear of slips set thy seal manual on my wax red lips a thousand kisses buys my heart from me and pay them at thy leisure one by one what is ten hundred touches unto thee are they not quickly told and quickly gone say for non payment that the debt should double is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble fair queen quoth he if any love you owe me measure my strangeness with my unripe years before i know myself seek not to know me no fisher but the ungrown fry forbears the mellow plum doth fall the green sticks fast or being early pluckd is sour to taste look the worlds comforter with weary gait his days hot task hath ended in the west the owl nights herald shrieks tis very late the sheep are gone to fold birds to their nest and coal black clouds that shadow heavens light do summon us to part and bid good night now let me say good night and so say you if you will say so you shall have a kiss good night quoth she and ere he says adieu the honey fee of parting tenderd is her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace incorporate then they seem face grows to face till breathless he disjoind and backward drew the heavenly moisture that sweet coral mouth whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew whereon they surfeit yet complain on drouth he with her plenty pressd she faint with dearth their lips together glued fall to the earth now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey and glutton like she feeds yet never filleth her lips are conquerors his lips obey paying what ransom the insulter willeth whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high that she will draw his lips rich treasure dry and having felt the sweetness of the spoil with blindfold fury she begins to forage her face doth reek and smoke her blood doth boil and careless lust stirs up a desperate courage planting oblivion beating reason back forgetting shames pure blush and honours wrack hot faint and weary with her hard embracing like a wild bird being tamd with too much handling or as the fleet foot roe thats tird with chasing or like the froward infant stilld with dandling he now obeys and now no more resisteth while she takes all she can not all she listeth what wax so frozen but dissolves with tempring and yields at last to every light impression things out of hope are compassd oft with ventring chiefly in love whose leave exceeds commission affection faints not like a pale facd coward but then woos best when most his choice is froward when he did frown o had she then gave over such nectar from his lips she had not suckd foul words and frowns must not repel a lover what though the rose have prickles yet tis pluckd were beauty under twenty locks kept fast yet love breaks through and picks them all at last for pity now she can no more detain him the poor fool prays her that he may depart she is resolvd no longer to restrain him bids him farewell and look well to her heart the which by cupids bow she doth protest he carries thence encaged in his breast sweet boy she says this night ill waste in sorrow for my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch tell me loves master shall we meet tomorrow say shall we shall we wilt thou make the match he tells her no tomorrow he intends to hunt the boar with certain of his friends the boar quoth she whereat a sudden pale like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose usurps her cheek she trembles at his tale and on his neck her yoking arms she throws she sinketh down still hanging by his neck he on her belly falls she on her back now is she in the very lists of love her champion mounted for the hot encounter all is imaginary she doth prove he will not manage her although he mount her that worse than tantalus is her annoy to clip elysium and to lack her joy even as poor birds deceivd with painted grapes do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw even so she languisheth in her mishaps as those poor birds that helpless berries saw the warm effects which she in him finds missing she seeks to kindle with continual kissing but all in vain good queen it will not be she hath assayd as much as may be provd her pleading hath deservd a greater fee shes love she loves and yet she is not lovd fie fie he says you crush me let me go you have no reason to withhold me so thou hadst been gone quoth she sweet boy ere this but that thou toldst me thou wouldst hunt the boar oh be advisd thou knowst not what it is with javelins point a churlish swine to gore whose tushes never sheathd he whetteth still like to a mortal butcher bent to kill on his bow back he hath a battle set of bristly pikes that ever threat his foes his eyes like glow worms shine when he doth fret his snout digs sepulchres whereer he goes being movd he strikes whateer is in his way and whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay his brawny sides with hairy bristles armed are better proof than thy spears point can enter his short thick neck cannot be easily harmed being ireful on the lion he will venture the thorny brambles and embracing bushes as fearful of him part through whom he rushes alas he naught esteems that face of thine to which loves eyes pay tributary gazes nor thy soft hands sweet lips and crystal eyne whose full perfection all the world amazes but having thee at vantage wondrous dread would root these beauties as he roots the mead oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends come not within his danger by thy will they that thrive well take counsel of their friends when thou didst name the boar not to dissemble i feard thy fortune and my joints did tremble didst thou not mark my face was it not white sawst thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye grew i not faint and fell i not downright within my bosom whereon thou dost lie my boding heart pants beats and takes no rest but like an earthquake shakes thee on my breast for where love reigns disturbing jealousy doth call himself affections sentinel gives false alarms suggesteth mutiny and in a peaceful hour doth cry kill kill distempring gentle love in his desire as air and water do abate the fire this sour informer this bate breeding spy this canker that eats up loves tender spring this carry tale dissentious jealousy that sometime true news sometime false doth bring knocks at my heart and whispers in mine ear that if i love thee i thy death should fear and more than so presenteth to mine eye the picture of an angry chafing boar under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie an image like thyself all staind with gore whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed doth make them droop with grief and hang the head what should i do seeing thee so indeed that tremble at thimagination the thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed and fear doth teach it divination i prophesy thy death my living sorrow if thou encounter with the boar tomorrow but if thou needs wilt hunt be ruld by me uncouple at the timorous flying hare or at the fox which lives by subtilty or at the roe which no encounter dare pursue these fearful creatures oer the downs and on thy well breathd horse keep with thy hounds and when thou hast on foot the purblind hare mark the poor wretch to overshoot his troubles how he outruns the wind and with what care he cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles the many musits through the which he goes are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes sometime he runs among a flock of sheep to make the cunning hounds mistake their smell and sometime where earth delving conies keep to stop the loud pursuers in their yell and sometime sorteth with a herd of deer danger deviseth shifts wit waits on fear for there his smell with others being mingled the hot scent snuffing hounds are driven to doubt ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled with much ado the cold fault cleanly out then do they spend their mouths echo replies as if another chase were in the skies by this poor wat far off upon a hill stands on his hinder legs with listning ear to hearken if his foes pursue him still anon their loud alarums he doth hear and now his grief may be compared well to one sore sick that hears the passing bell then shalt thou see the dew bedabbled wretch turn and return indenting with the way each envious briar his weary legs do scratch each shadow makes him stop each murmur stay for misery is trodden on by many and being low never relievd by any lie quietly and hear a little more nay do not struggle for thou shalt not rise to make thee hate the hunting of the boar unlike myself thou hearst me moralize applying this to that and so to so for love can comment upon every woe where did i leave no matter where quoth he leave me and then the story aptly ends the night is spent why what of that quoth she i am quoth he expected of my friends and now tis dark and going i shall fall in night quoth she desire sees best of all but if thou fall oh then imagine this the earth in love with thee thy footing trips and all is but to rob thee of a kiss rich preys make true men thieves so do thy lips make modest dian cloudy and forlorn lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn now of this dark night i perceive the reason cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine till forging nature be condemnd of treason for stealing moulds from heaven that were divine wherein she framd thee in high heavens despite to shame the sun by day and her by night and therefore hath she bribd the destinies to cross the curious workmanship of nature to mingle beauty with infirmities and pure perfection with impure defeature making it subject to the tyranny of mad mischances and much misery as burning fevers agues pale and faint life poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood the marrow eating sickness whose attaint disorder breeds by heating of the blood surfeits imposthumes grief and damnd despair swear natures death for framing thee so fair and not the least of all these maladies but in one minutes fight brings beauty under both favour savour hue and qualities whereat thimpartial gazer late did wonder are on the sudden wasted thawd and done as mountain snow melts with the midday sun therefore despite of fruitless chastity love lacking vestals and self loving nuns that on the earth would breed a scarcity and barren dearth of daughters and of sons be prodigal the lamp that burns by night dries up his oil to lend the world his light what is thy body but a swallowing grave seeming to bury that posterity which by the rights of time thou needs must have if thou destroy them not in dark obscurity if so the world will hold thee in disdain sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain so in thyself thyself art made away a mischief worse than civil home bred strife or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay or butcher sire that reeves his son of life foul cankring rust the hidden treasure frets but gold thats put to use more gold begets nay then quoth adon you will fall again into your idle over handled theme the kiss i gave you is bestowd in vain and all in vain you strive against the stream for by this black facd night desires foul nurse your treatise makes me like you worse and worse if love have lent you twenty thousand tongues and every tongue more moving than your own bewitching like the wanton mermaids songs yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown for know my heart stands armed in mine ear and will not let a false sound enter there lest the deceiving harmony should run into the quiet closure of my breast and then my little heart were quite undone in his bedchamber to be barrd of rest no lady no my heart longs not to groan but soundly sleeps while now it sleeps alone what have you urgd that i cannot reprove the path is smooth that leadeth on to danger i hate not love but your device in love that lends embracements unto every stranger you do it for increase o strange excuse when reason is the bawd to lusts abuse call it not love for love to heaven is fled since sweating lust on earth usurpd his name under whose simple semblance he hath fed upon fresh beauty blotting it with blame which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves as caterpillars do the tender leaves love comforteth like sunshine after rain but lusts effect is tempest after sun loves gentle spring doth always fresh remain lusts winter comes ere summer half be done love surfeits not lust like a glutton dies love is all truth lust full of forged lies more i could tell but more i dare not say the text is old the orator too green therefore in sadness now i will away my face is full of shame my heart of teen mine ears that to your wanton talk attended do burn themselves for having so offended with this he breaketh from the sweet embrace of those fair arms which bound him to her breast and homeward through the dark laund runs apace leaves love upon her back deeply distressd look how a bright star shooteth from the sky so glides he in the night from venus eye which after him she darts as one on shore gazing upon a late embarked friend till the wild waves will have him seen no more whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend so did the merciless and pitchy night fold in the object that did feed her sight whereat amazd as one that unaware hath droppd a precious jewel in the flood or stonishd as night wanderers often are their light blown out in some mistrustful wood even so confounded in the dark she lay having lost the fair discovery of her way and now she beats her heart whereat it groans that all the neighbour caves as seeming troubled make verbal repetition of her moans passion on passion deeply is redoubled ay me she cries and twenty times woe woe and twenty echoes twenty times cry so she marking them begins a wailing note and sings extemporally a woeful ditty how love makes young men thrall and old men dote how love is wise in folly foolish witty her heavy anthem still concludes in woe and still the choir of echoes answer so her song was tedious and outwore the night for lovers hours are long though seeming short if pleasd themselves others they think delight in such like circumstance with such like sport their copious stories oftentimes begun end without audience and are never done for who hath she to spend the night withal but idle sounds resembling parasites like shrill tongud tapsters answering every call soothing the humour of fantastic wits she says tis so they answer all tis so and would say after her if she said no lo here the gentle lark weary of rest from his moist cabinet mounts up on high and wakes the morning from whose silver breast the sun ariseth in his majesty who doth the world so gloriously behold that cedar tops and hills seem burnishd gold venus salutes him with this fair good morrow oh thou clear god and patron of all light from whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow the beauteous influence that makes him bright there lives a son that suckd an earthly mother may lend thee light as thou dost lend to other this said she hasteth to a myrtle grove musing the morning is so much oerworn and yet she hears no tidings of her love she hearkens for his hounds and for his horn anon she hears them chant it lustily and all in haste she coasteth to the cry and as she runs the bushes in the way some catch her by the neck some kiss her face some twine about her thigh to make her stay she wildly breaketh from their strict embrace like a milch doe whose swelling dugs do ache hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake by this she hears the hounds are at a bay whereat she starts like one that spies an adder wreathd up in fatal folds just in his way the fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder even so the timorous yelping of the hounds appals her senses and her spirit confounds for now she knows it is no gentle chase but the blunt boar rough bear or lion proud because the cry remaineth in one place where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud finding their enemy to be so curst they all strain courtsy who shall cope him first this dismal cry rings sadly in her ear through which it enters to surprise her heart who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear with cold pale weakness numbs each feeling part like soldiers when their captain once doth yield they basely fly and dare not stay the field thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy till cheering up her senses sore dismayd she tells them tis a causeless fantasy and childish error that they are afraid bids them leave quaking bids them fear no more and with that word she spied the hunted boar whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red like milk and blood being mingled both together a second fear through all her sinews spread which madly hurries her she knows not whither this way she runs and now she will no further but back retires to rate the boar for murther a thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways she treads the path that she untreads again her more than haste is mated with delays like the proceedings of a drunken brain full of respects yet naught at all respecting in hand with all things naught at all effecting here kenneld in a brake she finds a hound and asks the weary caitiff for his master and there another licking of his wound gainst venomd sores the only sovereign plaster and here she meets another sadly scowling to whom she speaks and he replies with howling when he hath ceasd his ill resounding noise another flap mouthd mourner black and grim against the welkin volleys out his voice another and another answer him clapping their proud tails to the ground below shaking their scratchd ears bleeding as they go look how the worlds poor people are amazed at apparitions signs and prodigies whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed infusing them with dreadful prophecies so she at these sad sighs draws up her breath and sighing it again exclaims on death hard favourd tyrant ugly meagre lean hateful divorce of love thus chides she death grim grinning ghost earths worm what dost thou mean to stifle beauty and to steal his breath who when he livd his breath and beauty set gloss on the rose smell to the violet if he be dead o no it cannot be seeing his beauty thou shouldst strike at it o yes it may thou hast no eyes to see but hatefully at random dost thou hit thy mark is feeble age but thy false dart mistakes that aim and cleaves an infants heart hadst thou but bid beware then he had spoke and hearing him thy power had lost his power the destinies will curse thee for this stroke they bid thee crop a weed thou pluckst a flower loves golden arrow at him should have fled and not deaths ebon dart to strike him dead dost thou drink tears that thou provokst such weeping what may a heavy groan advantage thee why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping those eyes that taught all other eyes to see now nature cares not for thy mortal vigour since her best work is ruind with thy rigour here overcome as one full of despair she vaild her eyelids who like sluices stoppd the crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair in the sweet channel of her bosom droppd but through the flood gates breaks the silver rain and with his strong course opens them again o how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow her eyes seen in the tears tears in her eye both crystals where they viewd each others sorrow sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry but like a stormy day now wind now rain sighs dry her cheeks tears make them wet again variable passions throng her constant woe as striving who should best become her grief all entertaind each passion labours so that every present sorrow seemeth chief but none is best then join they all together like many clouds consulting for foul weather by this far off she hears some huntsman holla a nurses song neer pleasd her babe so well the dire imagination she did follow this sound of hope doth labour to expel for now reviving joy bids her rejoice and flatters her it is adonis voice whereat her tears began to turn their tide being prisond in her eye like pearls in glass yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside which her cheek melts as scorning it should pass to wash the foul face of the sluttish ground who is but drunken when she seemeth drownd o hard believing love how strange it seems not to believe and yet too credulous thy weal and woe are both of them extremes despair and hope make thee ridiculous the one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely in likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought adonis lives and death is not to blame it was not she that calld him all to naught now she adds honours to his hateful name she clepes him king of graves and grave for kings imperious supreme of all mortal things no no quoth she sweet death i did but jest yet pardon me i felt a kind of fear whenas i met the boar that bloody beast which knows no pity but is still severe then gentle shadow truth i must confess i raild on thee fearing my loves decease tis not my fault the boar provokd my tongue be wreakd on him invisible commander tis he foul creature that hath done thee wrong i did but act hes author of my slander grief hath two tongues and never woman yet could rule them both without ten womens wit thus hoping that adonis is alive her rash suspect she doth extenuate and that his beauty may the better thrive with death she humbly doth insinuate tells him of trophies statues tombs and stories his victories his triumphs and his glories o love quoth she how much a fool was i to be of such a weak and silly mind to wail his death who lives and must not die till mutual overthrow of mortal kind for he being dead with him is beauty slain and beauty dead black chaos comes again fie fie fond love thou art as full of fear as one with treasure laden hemmd with thieves trifles unwitnessed with eye or ear thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves even at this word she hears a merry horn whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn as falcon to the lure away she flies the grass stoops not she treads on it so light and in her haste unfortunately spies the foul boars conquest on her fair delight which seen her eyes as murderd with the view like stars ashamd of day themselves withdrew or as the snail whose tender horns being hit shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain and there all smotherd up in shade doth sit long after fearing to creep forth again so at his bloody view her eyes are fled into the deep dark cabins of her head where they resign their office and their light to the disposing of her troubled brain who bids them still consort with ugly night and never wound the heart with looks again who like a king perplexed in his throne by their suggestion gives a deadly groan whereat each tributary subject quakes as when the wind imprisond in the ground struggling for passage earths foundation shakes which with cold terror doth mens minds confound this mutiny each part doth so surprise that from their dark beds once more leap her eyes and being opend threw unwilling light upon the wide wound that the boar had trenchd in his soft flank whose wonted lily white with purple tears that his wound wept was drenchd no flower was nigh no grass herb leaf or weed but stole his blood and seemd with him to bleed this solemn sympathy poor venus noteth over one shoulder doth she hang her head dumbly she passions franticly she doteth she thinks he could not die he is not dead her voice is stoppd her joints forget to bow her eyes are mad that they have wept till now upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly that her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three and then she reprehends her mangling eye that makes more gashes where no breach should be his face seems twain each several limb is doubled for oft the eye mistakes the brain being troubled my tongue cannot express my grief for one and yet quoth she behold two adons dead my sighs are blown away my salt tears gone mine eyes are turnd to fire my heart to lead heavy hearts lead melt at mine eyes red fire so shall i die by drops of hot desire alas poor world what treasure hast thou lost what face remains alive thats worth the viewing whose tongue is music now what canst thou boast of things long since or anything ensuing the flowers are sweet their colours fresh and trim but true sweet beauty livd and died with him bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you having no fair to lose you need not fear the sun doth scorn you and the wind doth hiss you but when adonis livd sun and sharp air lurkd like two thieves to rob him of his fair and therefore would he put his bonnet on under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep the wind would blow it off and being gone play with his locks then would adonis weep and straight in pity of his tender years they both would strive who first should dry his tears to see his face the lion walkd along behind some hedge because he would not fear him to recreate himself when he hath sung the tiger would be tame and gently hear him if he had spoke the wolf would leave his prey and never fright the silly lamb that day when he beheld his shadow in the brook the fishes spread on it their golden gills when he was by the birds such pleasure took that some would sing some other in their bills would bring him mulberries and ripe red cherries he fed them with his sight they him with berries but this foul grim and urchin snouted boar whose downward eye still looketh for a grave neer saw the beauteous livery that he wore witness the entertainment that he gave if he did see his face why then i know he thought to kiss him and hath killd him so tis true tis true thus was adonis slain he ran upon the boar with his sharp spear who did not whet his teeth at him again but by a kiss thought to persuade him there and nuzzling in his flank the loving swine sheathd unaware the tusk in his soft groin had i been toothd like him i must confess with kissing him i should have killd him first but he is dead and never did he bless my youth with his the more am i accurst with this she falleth in the place she stood and stains her face with his congealed blood she looks upon his lips and they are pale she takes him by the hand and that is cold she whispers in his ears a heavy tale as if they heard the woeful words she told she lifts the coffer lids that close his eyes where lo two lamps burnt out in darkness lies two glasses where herself herself beheld a thousand times and now no more reflect their virtue lost wherein they late excelld and every beauty robbd of his effect wonder of time quoth she this is my spite that thou being dead the day should yet be light since thou art dead lo here i prophesy sorrow on love hereafter shall attend it shall be waited on with jealousy find sweet beginning but unsavoury end neer settled equally but high or low that all loves pleasure shall not match his woe it shall be fickle false and full of fraud bud and be blasted in a breathing while the bottom poison and the top oerstrawd with sweets that shall the truest sight beguile the strongest body shall it make most weak strike the wise dumb and teach the fool to speak it shall be sparing and too full of riot teaching decrepit age to tread the measures the staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet pluck down the rich enrich the poor with treasures it shall be raging mad and silly mild make the young old the old become a child it shall suspect where is no cause of fear it shall not fear where it should most mistrust it shall be merciful and too severe and most deceiving when it seems most just perverse it shall be where it shows most toward put fear to valour courage to the coward it shall be cause of war and dire events and set dissension twixt the son and sire subject and servile to all discontents as dry combustious matter is to fire sith in his prime death doth my love destroy they that love best their love shall not enjoy by this the boy that by her side lay killd was melted like a vapour from her sight and in his blood that on the ground lay spilld a purple flower sprung up chequerd with white resembling well his pale cheeks and the blood which in round drops upon their whiteness stood she bows her head the new sprung flower to smell comparing it to her adonis breath and says within her bosom it shall dwell since he himself is reft from her by death she drops the stalk and in the breach appears green dropping sap which she compares to tears poor flower quoth she this was thy fathers guise sweet issue of a more sweet smelling sire for every little grief to wet his eyes to grow unto himself was his desire and so tis thine but know it is as good to wither in my breast as in his blood here was thy fathers bed here in my breast thou art the next of blood and tis thy right lo in this hollow cradle take thy rest my throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night there shall not be one minute in an hour wherein i will not kiss my sweet loves flower thus weary of the world away she hies and yokes her silver doves by whose swift aid their mistress mounted through the empty skies in her light chariot quickly is conveyd holding their course to paphos where their queen means to immure herself and not be seen finis