dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation 170 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. WILL. 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon his 175 own head: the king is not to answer it. BATES. I do not desire he should answer for me; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him. K. HEN. I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed. WILL. Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser. K. HEN. If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after. 180 185 WILL. You pay him then. That's a perilous shot out of an elder-gun, that a poor and private displeasure can do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a foolish saying. 190 K. HEN. Your reproof is something too round: I should angry with you, if the time were convenient. be WILL. Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live. K. HEN. I embrace it. WILL. How shall I know thee again? K. HEN. Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I will make it my quarrel. WILL. Here's my glove: give me another of thine. WILL. 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. K. HEN. If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it. 195 200 WILL. Thou darest as well be hanged. 205 K. HEN. Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the king's company. WILL. 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. K. HEN. Indeed, the French may lay twenty French. Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our children and our sins lay on the king! 210 215 Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath 220 And what have kings, that privates have not too, 225 What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What is thy soul of adoration? 230 Art thou ought else but place, degree and form, Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd Than they in fearing. What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, 235 But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? 240 Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee, That play'st so subtly with a king's repose; I am a king that find thee, and I know 245 250 Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread; 255 Never sees horrid night, the child of hell; But, like a lackey, from the rise to set, 260 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. 265 The slave, a member of the country's peace, Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Enter ERPINGHAM. ERP. My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence, 270 Seek through your camp to find you. K. HEN. O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts; Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord, My father made in compassing the crown! I Richard's body have interrèd new ; 280 285 290 Re-enter GLOUCESTER. GLOU. My liege! K. HEN. My brother Gloucester's voice? Aye; 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. ORL. The sun doth gild our armour; up, my lords! DAU. Via! les eaux et la terre! |