Marchionesse of Pembrooke to which Title A Thousand pound a yeare Annuall support Out of his Grace he addes An. I doe not know What kinde of my obedience I should tender More then my All is Nothing Nor my Prayers Are not words duely hallowed nor my Wishes More worth then empty vanities yet Prayers Wishes Are all I can returne ' Beseech your Lordship Vouchsafe to speake my thankes and my obedience As from a blushâ—ng Handmaid to his Highnesse Whose health and Royalty I pray for Cham. Lady I shall not faile t' approue the faire conceit The King hath of you I haue perus'd her well Beauty and Honour in her are so mingled That they haue caught the King and who knowes yet But from this Lady may proceed a Iemme To lighten all this I le I 'le to the King And say I spoke with you Exit Lord Chamberlaine An. My honour'd Lord. Old L. Why this it is See see I haue beene begging sixteene yeares in Court Am yet a Courtier beggerly nor could Come pat betwixt too early and too late For any suit of poundâ— and you oh fate A very fresh Fish heere fye fye fye vpon This compel'd fortune haue your mouth fild vp Before you open it An. This is strange to me Old L. How tasts it Is it bitter Forty pence no There was a Lady once t is an old Story That would not be a Queene that would she not For all the mud in Egypt haue you heard it An. Come you are pleasant Old L. With your Theame I could O're-mount the Larke The Marchionesse of Pembrooke A thousand pounds a yeare for pure respect No other obligation by my Life That promises mo thousands Honours traine Is longer then his fore-skirt by this time I know your backe will beare a Dutchesse Say Are you not stronger then you were An. Good Lady Make your selfe mirth with your particular fancy And leaue me out on 't Would I had no being If this salute my blood a â—ot it faints me To thinke what followes The Queene is comfortlesse and wâ—e forgetfull In our long absence pray doe not deliuer What heere y' haue heard to her Old L. What doe you thinke me Exeunt Scena Quarta Trumpets Sennet and Cornets Enter two Vergers with shoÌ„t siluer wands next them two Scribes in the habite of Doctors after them the Bishop of Canterbury alone after him the Bishops of Lincolne Ely Rochester and S. Asaph Next them with some small distance followes a Gentleman bearing the Purse with the great Seale and a Cardinals Hat Then two Priests bearing each a Siluer Crosse Then a Gentleman Vsher bare-headed accompanyed with a Sergeant at Armes bearing a Siluer Mace Then two Gentlemen bearing two great Siluer Pillers After them side by side the two Cardinals two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace The King takes place vnder the Cloth of State The two Cardinalls sit vnder him as Iudges The Queene takes place some distance from the King The Bishops place themselues on each side the Court in manner of a Consistory Below them the Scribes The Lords sit next the Bishops The rest of the Attendants stand in conuenient order about the Stage Car. Whil'st our Commission from Rome is read Let silence be commanded King What 's the need It hath already publiquely bene read And on all sides th' Authority allow'd You may then spare that time Car. Bee 't so proceed Scri. Say Henry K. of England come into the Court. Crier Henry King of England c. King Heere Scribe Say Katherine Queene of England Come into the Court. Crier Katherine Queene of England c. The Queene makes no answer rises out of her Chaire goes about the Court comes to the King and kneeles at his Feete Then speakes Sir I desire you do me Right and Iustice And to bestow your pitty on me for I am a most poore Woman and a Stranger Borne out of your Dominions hauing heere No Iudge indifferent nor no more assurance Of equall Friendship and Proceeding Alas Sir In what haue I offended you What cause Hath my behauiour giuen to your displeasure That thus you should proceede to put me off And take your good Grace from me Heauen witnesse I haue bene to you a true and humble Wife At all times to your will conformable Euer in feare to kindle your Dislike Yea subiect to your Countenance Glad or sorry As I saw it inclin'd When was the houre I euer contradicted your Desire Or made it not mine too Or which of your Friends Haue I not stroue to loue although I knew He were mine Enemy What Friend of mine That had to him deriu'd your Anger did I Continue in my Liking Nay gaue notice He was from thence discharg'd Sir call to minde That I haue beene your Wife in this Obedience Vpward of twenty yeares and haue bene blest With many Children by you If in the course And processe of this time you can report And proue it too against mine Honor aught My bond to Wedlocke or my Loue and Dutie Against your Sacred Person in Gods name Turne me away and let the fowl'st Contempt Shut doore vpon me and so giue me vp To the sharp'st kinde of Iustice Please you Sir The King your Father was reputed for A Prince most Prudent of an excellent And vnmatch'd Wit and Iudgement Ferdinand My Father King of Spaine was reckon'd one The wisest Prince that there had reign'd by many A yeare before It is not to be question'd That they had gather'd a wise Councell to them Of euery Realme that did debate this Businesse Who deem'd our Marriage lawful Wherefore I humbly Beseech you Sir to spare me till I may Be by my Friends in Spaine aduis'd whose Counsaile I will implore If not i' th' name of God Your pleasure be fulfill'd Wol. You haue heere Lady And of your choice these Reuerend Fathers men Of singular Integrity and Learning Yea the elect o' th' Land who are assembled To pleade your Cause It shall be therefore bootlesse That longer you desire the Court as well For your owne quiet as to rectifie What is vnsetled in the King Camp His Grace Hath spoken well and iustly Therefore Madam It 's fit this Royall Session do proceed And that without delay their Arguments Be now produc'd and heard Qu. Lord Cardinall to you I speake Wol. Your pleasure Madam Qu. Sir I am about to weepe but thinking that We are a Queene or long haue dream'd so certaine The daughter of a King my drops of teares I le turne to sparkes of fire Wol. Be patient yet Qu. I will when you are humble Nay before Or God will punish me I do beleeue Induc'd by potent Circumstances that You are mine Enemy and make my Challenge You shall not be my Iudge For it is you Haue blowne this Coale betwixt my Lord and me Which Gods dew quench therefore I say againe I vtterly abhorre yea from my Soule Refuse you for my Iudge whom yet once more I hold my
vnto my friend Hath made me publisher of this pretence Duke Vpon mine Honor he shall neuer know That I had any light from thee of this Pro. Adiew my Lord Sir Valentine is comming Duk. Sir Valentine whether away so fast Val. Please it your Grace there is a Messenger That stayes to beare my Letters to my friends And I am going to deliuer them Duk. Be they of much import Val. The tenure of them doth but signifie My health and happy being at your Court. Duk. Nay then no matter stay with me a while I am to breake with thee of some affaires That touch me neere wherein thou must be secret 'T is not vnknown to thee that I haue sought To match my friend Sir Thurio to my daughter Val. I know it well my Lord and sure the Match Were rich and honourable besides the gentleman Is full of Vertue Bounty Worth and Qualities Beseeming such a Wife as your faire daughter Cannot your Grace win her to fancie him Duk. No trust me She is peeuish sullen froward Prowd disobedient stubborne lacking duty Neither regarding that she is my childe Nor fearing me as if I were her father And may I say to thee this pride of hers Vpon aduice hath drawne my loue from her And where I thought the remnant of mine age Should haue beene cherish'd by her child-like dutie I now am full resolu'd to take a wife And tur◠her out to who will take her in Then let her beauty be her wedding dowre For me and my possessions she esteemes not Val. What would your Grace haue me to do in this Duk. There is a Lady in Verona heere Whom I affect but she is nice and coy And naught esteemes my aged eloquence Now therefore would I haue thee to my Tutor For long agone I haue forgot to court Besides the fashion of the time is chang'd How and which way I may bestow my selfe To be regarded in her sun-bright eye Val. Win her with gifts if she respect not words Dumbe Iewels often in their silent kinde More then quicke words doe moue a womans minde Duk. But she did scorne a present that I sent her Val. A woman somtime scorns what best cōtents her Send her another neuer giue her ore For scorne at first makes after-loue the more If she doe frowne 't is not in hate of you But rather to beget more loue in you If she doe chide 't is not to haue you gone For why the fooles are mad if left alone Take no repulse what euer she doth say For get you gon she doth not meane away Flatter and praise commend extoll their graces Though nere so blacke say they haue Angells faces That man that hath a tongue I say is no man If with his tongue he cannot win a woman Duk. But she I meane is promis'd by her friends Vnto a youthfull Gentleman of worth And kept seuerely from resort of men That no man hath accesse by day to her Val. Why then I would resort to her by night Duk. I but the doores be lockt and keyes kept safe That no man hath recourse to her by night Val What letts but one may enter at her window Duk. Her chamber is aloft far from the ground And built so sheluing that one cannot climbe it Without apparant hazard of his life Val Why then a Ladder quaintly made of Cords To cast vp with a paire of anchoring hookes Would serue to scale another Hero's towre So bold Leander would aduenture it Duk. Now as thou art a Gentleman of blood Aduise me where I may haue such a Ladder Val. When would you vse it pray sir tell me that Duk. This very night for Loue is like a childe That longs for euery thing that he can come by Val. By seauen a clock I le get you such a Ladder Duk But harke thee I will goe to her alone How shall I best conuey the Ladder thither Val. It will be light my Lord that you may beare it Vnder a cloake that is of any length Duk. A cloake as long as thine will serue the turne Val I my good Lord. Duk. Then let me see thy cloake I le get me one of such another length Val. Why any cloake will serue the turn my Lord Duk. How shall I fashion me to weare a cloake I pray thee let me feele thy cloake vpon me What Letter is this same what 's here to Siluia And heere an Engine fit for my proceeding I le be so bold to breake the seale for once My thoughts do harbour with my Siluia nightly And slaues they are to me that send them flying Oh could their Master come and goe as lightly Himselfe would lodge where senceles they are lying My Herald Thoughts in thy pure bosome rest-them While I their King that thither them importune Doe curse the grace that with such grace hath blest them Because my selfe doe want my seruants fortune I curse my selfe for they are sent by me That they should harbour where their Lord should be What 's here Siluia this night I will enfranchise thee 'T is so and heere 's the Ladder for the purpose Why Phaeton for thou art Merops sonne Wilt thou aspire to guide the heauenly Car And with thy daring folly burne the world Wilt thou reach stars because they shine on thee Goe base Intruder ouer-weening Slaue Bestow thy fawning smiles on equall mates And thinke my patience more then thy desert Is priuiledge for thy departure hence Thanke me for this more then for all the fauors Which all too much I haue bestowed on thee But if thou linger in my Territories Longer then swiftest expedition Will giue thee time to leaue our royall Court By heauen my wrath shall farre exceed the loue I euer bore my daughter or thy selfe Be gone I will not heare thy vaine excuse But as thou lou'st thy life make speed from hence Val. And why not death rather then liuing torment To die is to be banisht from my selfe And Siluia is my selfe banish'd from her Is selfe from selfe A deadly banishment What light is light if Siluia be not seene What ioy is ioy if Siluia be not by Vnlesse it be to thinke that she is by And feed vpon the shadow of perfection Except I be by Siluia in the night There is no musicke in the Nightingale Vnlesse I looke on Siluia in the day There is no day for me to looke vpon Shee is my essence and I leaue to be If I be not by her faire influence Foster'd illumin'd cherish'd kept aliue I flie not death to flie his deadly doome Tarry I heere I but attend on death But flie I hence I flie away from life Pro. Run boy run run and seeke him out Lau. So-hough Soa hough Pro. What seest thou Lau. Him we goe to finde There 's not a haire on 's head but t' is a Valentine Pro. Valentine Val. No. Pro. Who then his Spirit Val. Neither Pro. What then Val Nothing Lau. Can nothing speake Master shall
fancie that Armado hight For interim to our studies shall relate In high-borne words the worth of many a Knight From tawnie Spaine lost in the worlds debate How you delight my Lords I know not I But I protest I loue to heare him lie And I will vse him for my Minstrelsie Bero. Armado is a most illustrious wight A man of fire new words fashions owne Knight Lon. Costard the swaine and he shall be our sport And so to studie three yeeres is but short Enter a Constable with Costard with a Letter Const Which is the Dukes owne person Ber. This fellow What would'st Con. I my selfe reprehend his owne person for I am his graces Tharborough But I would see his own person in flesh and blood Ber. This is he Con. Signeor Arme Arme commends you Ther 's villanie abroad this letter will tell you more Clow. Sir the Contempts thereof are as touching mee Fer. A letter from the magnificent Armado Ber. How low soeuer the matter I hope in God for high words Lon. A high hope for a low heauen God grant vs patience Ber. To heare or forbeare hearing Lon. To heare meekely sir and to laugh moderately or to forbeare both Ber. Well sir be it as the stile shall giue vs cause to clime in the merrinesse Clo. The matter is to me sir as concerning Iaquenetta The manner of it is I was taken with the manner Ber. In what manner Clo. In manner and forme following sir all those three I was seene with her in the Mannor house sitting with her vpon the Forme and taken following her into the Parke which put to gether is in manner and forme following Now sir for the manner It is the manner of a man to speake to a woman for the forme in some forme Ber. For the following sir Clo. As it shall follow in my correction and God defend the right Fer. Will you heare this Letter with attention Ber. As we would heare an Oracle Clo. Such is the simplicitie of man to harken after the flesh Ferdinand GReat Deputie the Welkâ—ns Vicegerent and sole dominator of Nauar my soules earths God and bodies fostring patrone Cost Not a vvord of Costard yet Ferd. So it is Cost It may be so but if he say it is so he is in telling true but so Ferd. Peace Clow. Be to me and euery man that dares not fight Ferd. No words Clow. Of other mens secrets I beseech you Ferd. So it is besieged with sable coloured melancholie I did commend the blacke oppressing humour to the most wholesome Physicke of thy health-giuing ayre And as I am a Gentleman betooke my selfe to walke the time When about the sixt houre When beasts most grase birds best pecke and men sit downe to that nourishment which is called supper So much for the time When. Now for the ground Which which I meane I walkt vpon it is ycliped Thy Parke Then for the place Where where I meane I did encounter that obscene and most preposterous euent that draweth from my snow-white pen the ebon coloured Inke which heere thou viewest beholdest suruayest 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 Swaine that base Minow of thy myrth Clown Mee that vnletered small knowing soule Clow Me that shallow vassall Clow. Still mee which as I remember hight Costard Clow. O me sorted and consorted contrary to thy established proclaymed Edict and Continet Cannon Which with ô with but with this I passion to say wherewith Clo. With a Wench Ferd. With a childe of our Grandmother Eâ—e a female or for thy more sweet vnderstanding a woman him I as my euer esteemed dutie prickes me on haue sent to thee to receiue the meed of punishment by thy sweet Graces Officer Anthony Dull a man of good repute carriage bearing estimation Anth. Me an 't shall please you I am Anthony Dull Ferd. For Iaquenetta so is the weaker vessell called which I apprehended with the aforesaid Swaine I keeper her as a vessell of thy Lawes furie and shall at the least of thy sweet notice bring her to triall Thine in all complements of deuoted and heart-burning heat of dutie Don Adriana de Armado Ber. This is not so well as I looked for but the best that euer I heard Fer. I the best for the worst But sirra What say you to this Clo. Sir I confesse the Wench Fer. Did you heare the Proclamation Clo. I doe confesse much of the hearing it but little of the marking of it Fer. It was proclaimed a yeeres imprisonment to bee taken with a Wench Clow. I was taken with none sir I was taken vvith a Damosell Fer. Well it was proclaimed Damosell Clo. This was no Damosell neyther sir shee was a Virgin Fer. It is so varried to for it was proclaimed Virgin Clo. If it were I denie her Virginitie I was taken with a Maide Fer. This Maid will not serue your turne sir Clo. This Maide will serue my turne sir Kin. Sir I will pronounce your sentence You shall fast a Weeke with Branne and water Clo. I had rather pray a Moneth with Mutton and Porridge Kin. And Don Armado shall be your keeper My Lord Berowne see him deliuer'd ore And goe we Lords to put in practice that Which each to other hath so strongly sworne Bero. I le lay my head to any good mans hat These oathes and lawes will proue an idle scorne Sirra come on Clo. I suffer for the truth sir for true it is I was taken with Iaquenetta and Iaquenetta is a true girle and therefore welcome the sowre cup of prosperitie affliction may one day smile againe and vntill then sit downe sorrow Exit Enter Armado and Moth his Page Arma. Boy What signe is it when a man of great spirit growes melancholy Boy A great signe sir that he will looke sad Brag. Why sadnesse is one and the selfe-same thing deare impe Boy No no O Lord sir no. Brag. How canst thou part sadnesse and melancholy my tender Iuuenall Boy By a familiar demonstration of the working my tough signeur Brag. Why tough signeur Why tough signeur Boy Why tender Iuuenall Why tender Iuuenall Brag. I spoke it tender Iuuenall as a congruent apathaton appertaining to thy young daies which we may nominate tender Boy And I tough signeur as an appertinent title to your olde time which we may name tough Brag. Pretty and apt Boy How meane you sir I pretty and my saying apt or I apt and my saying prettie Brag. Thou pretty because little Boy Little pretty because little wherefore apt Brag And therefore apt because quicke Boy Speake you this in my praise Master Brag. In thy condigne praise Boy I will praise an Eele with the same praise Brag. What that an Eele is ingenuous Boy That an Eele is quicke Brag. I doe say thou art quicke in answeres Thou heat'st my bloud Boy I am answer'd sir
the hand of time Shall draw this breefe into as huge a volume That Geffrey was thy elder brother borne And this his sonne England was Geffreys right And this is Geffreyes in the name of God How comes it then that thou art call'd a King When liuing blood doth in these temples beat Which owe the crowne that thou ore-masterest K. Iohn From whom hast thou this great commission To draw my answer from thy Articles Fra. FroÌ„ that supernal Iudge that stirs good thoughts France In any beast of strong authoritie To looke into the blots and staines of right That Iudge hath made me guardian to this boy Vnder whose warrant I impeach thy wrong And by whose helpe I meane to chastise it K. Iohn Alack thou dost vsurpe authoritie Fran. Excuse it is to beat vsurping downe Queen Who is it thou dost call vsurper France Const Let me make answer thy vsurping sonne Queen Out insolent thy bastard shall be King That thou maist be a Queen and checke the world Con. My bed was euer to thy sonne as true As thine was to thy husband and this boy Liker in feature to his father Geffrey Then thou and Iohn in manners being as like As raine to water or deuill to his damme My boy a bastard by my soule I thinke His father neuer was so true begot It cannot be and if thou wert his mother Queen There 's a good mother boy that blots thy father Const There 's a good grandame boy That would blot thee Aust Peace Bast Heare the Cryer Aust What the deuill art thou Bast One that wil play the deuill sir with you And a may catch your hide and you alone You are the Hare of whom the Prouerb goes Whose valour plucks dead Lyons by the beard I le smoake your skin-coat and I catch you right Sirra looke too 't yfaith I will yfaith Blan. O well did he become that Lyons robe That did disrobe the Lion of that robe Bast It lies as sightly on the backe of him As great Alcides shooes vpon an Asse But Asse I le take that burthen from your backe Or lay on that shall make your shoulders cracke Aust What cracker is this same that deafes our eares With this abundance of superfluous breath King Lewis determine what we shall doe strait Lew. Women fooles breake off your conference King Iohn this is the very summe of all England and Ireland Angiers Toraine Maine In right of Arthur doe I claime of thee Wilt thou resigne them and lay downe thy Armes Iohn My life as soone I doe defie thee France Arthur of Britaine yeeld thee to my hand And out of my deere loue I le giue thee more Then ere the coward hand of France can win Submit thee boy Queen Come to thy grandame child Coâ—s Doe childe goe to yt grandame childe Giue grandame kingdome and it grandame will Giue yt a plum a cherry and a figge There 's a good grandame Arthur Good my mother peace I would that I were low laid in my graue I am not worth this coyle that 's made for me Qu. Mo. His mother shames him so poore boy hee weepes Con. Now shame vpon you where she does or no His granâ—ames wrongs and not his mothers shames Drawes those heauen-mouing pearles froÌ„ his poor eies Which heauen shall take in nature of a fee I with these Christall beads heauen shall be brib'd To doe him Iustice and reuenge on you Qu. Thou monstrous slanderer of heauen and earth Con. Thou monstrous of Iniurer of heauen and earth Call not me slanderer thou and thine vsurpe The Dominations Royalties and rights Of this oppressed boy this is thy eldest sonnes sonne Infortunate in nothing but in thee Thy sinnes are visited in this poore childe The Canon of the Law is laide on him Being but the second generation Remoued from thy sinne-conceiuing wombe Iohn Bedlâ— haue done Con. I haue but this to say That he is not onely plagued for her sin But God hath made her sinne and her the plague On this remoued issue plagued for her And with her plague her sinne his iniury Her iniurie the Beadle to her sinne All punish'd 〈◊〉 the person of this childe And all for her a plague vpon her Que. Thou vnaduised scold I can produce A Will that barres the title of thy sonne Con. I who doubts that a Will a wicked will A womans will a cankred Grandams will Fra. Peace Lady pause or be more temperate It ill beseemes this presence to cry ayme To these ill-tuned repetitions Some Trumpet summon hither to the walles These men of Angiers let vs heare them speake Whose title they admit Arthurs or Iohns Trumpet sounds Enter a Citizen vpon the walles Cit. Who is it that hath warn'd vs to the walles Fra. 'T is France for England Iohn England for it selfe You men of Angiers and my louing subiects Fra. You louing men of Angiers Arthurs subiects Our Trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle Iohn For our aduantage therefore heare vs first These flagges of France that are aduanced heere Before the eye and prospect of your Towne Haue hither march'd to your endamagement The Canons haue their bowels full of wrath And ready mounted are they to spit forth Their Iron indignation ' gainst your walles All preparation for a bloody siedge And merciles proceeding by these French Comfort yours Citties eies your winking gates And but for our approch those sleeping stones That as a waste doth girdle you about By the compulsion of their Ordinance By this time from their fixed beds of lime Had bin dishabited and wide hauocke made For bloody power to rush vppon your peace But on the sight of vs your lawfull King Who painefully with much expedient march Haue brought a counter-cheeke before your gates To saue vnscratch'd your Citties threatned cheekes Behold the French amaz'd vouchsafe a parle And now insteed of bulletts wrapt in fire To make a shaking feuer in your walles They shoote but calme words folded vp in smoake To make a faithlesse errour in your eares Which trust accordingly kinde Cittizens And let vs in Your King whose labour'd spirits Fore-wearied in this action of swift speede Craues harbourage within your Citie walles France When I haue saide make answer to vs both Loe in this right hand whose protection Is most diuinely vow'd vpon the right Of him it holds stands yong Plâ—tagenâ—s Sonne to the elder brother of this man And King ore him and all that he enioyes For this downe-troden equity we tread In warlike march these greenes before your Towne Being no further enemy to you Then the constraint of hospitable zeale In the releefe of this oppressed childe Religiously prouokes Be pleased then To pay that dutie which you truly owe To him that owes it namely this yong Prince And then our Armes like to a muzled Beare Saue in aspect hath all offence seal'd vp Our Cannons malice vainly shall be spent Against th' involuerable clouds of heauen And with a blessed and
her part in this And doth deserue a Coronet of Gold Charles Now let vs on my Lords And ioyne our Powers And seeke how we may preiudice the Foe Exeunt Scoena Quarta Enter the King Gloucester Winchester Yorke Suffolke Somerset Warwicke Exeter To them with his Souldiors Talbot Talb. My gracious Prince and honorable Peeres Hearing of your arriuall in this Realme I haue a while giuen Truce vnto my Warres To doe my dutie to my Soueraigne In signe whereof this Arme that hath reclaym'd To your obedience fiftie Fortresses Twelue Cities and seuen walled Townes of strength Beside fiue hundred Prisoners of esteeme Le ts fall his Sword before your Highnesse feet And with submissiue loyaltie of heart Ascribes the Glory of his Conquest got First to my God and next vnto your Grace King Is this the Lord Talbot Vnckle Gloucester That hath so long beene resident in France Glost. Yes if it please your Maiestie my Liege King Welcome braue Captaine and victorious Lord. When I was young as yet I am not old I doe remember how my Father said A stouter Champion neuer handled Sword Long since we were resolued of your truth Your faithfull seruice and your toyle in Warre Yet neuer haue you tasted our Reward Or beene reguerdon'd with so much as Thanks Because till now we neuer saw your face Therefore stand vp and for these good deserts We here create you Earle of Shrewsbury And in our Coronation take your place Senet Flourish Exeunt Manet Vernon and Basset Vern Now Sir to you that were so hot at Sea Disgracing of these Colours that I weare In honor of my Noble Lord of Yorke Dar'st thou maintaine the former words thou spak'st Bass Yes Sir as well as you dare patronage The enuious barking of your sawcie Tongue Against my Lord the Duke of Somerset Vern. Sirrha thy Lord I honour as he is Bass Why what is he as good a man as Yorke Vern Hearke ye not so in witnesse take ye that Strikes him Bass Villaine thou knowest The Law of Armes is such That who so drawes a Sword 't is present death Or else this Blow should broach thy dearest Bloud But I le vnto his Maiestie and craue I may haue libertie to venge this Wrong When thou shalt see I le meet thee to thy cost Vern Well miscreant I le be there as soone as you And after meete you sooner then you would Exeunt Actus Quartus Scena Prima Enter King Glocester Winchester Yorke Suffolke Somerset Warwicke Talbot and Gouernor Exeter Glo. Lord Bishop set the Crowne vpon his head Win. God saue King Henry of that name the sixt Glo. Now Gouernour of Paris take your oath That you elect no other King but him Esteeme none Friends but such as are his Friends And none your Foes but such as shall pretend Malicious practises against his State This shall ye do so helpe you righteous God Enter Falstaffe Fal. My gracious Soueraigne as I rode from Calice To haste vnto your Coronation A Letter was deliuer'd to my hands Writ to your Grace from th' Duke of Burgundy Tal. Shame to the Duke of Burgundy and thee I vow'd base Knight when I did meete the next To teare the Garter from thy Crauens legge Which I haue done because vnworthily Thou was 't installed in that High Degree Pardon me Princely Henry and the rest This Dastard at the battell of Poictiers When but in all I was sixe thousand strong And that the French were almost ten to one Before we met or that a stroke was giuen Like to a trustie Squire did run away In which assault we lost twelue hundred men My selfe and diuers Gentlemen beside Were there surpriz'd and taken prisoners Then iudge great Lords if I haue done amisse Or whether that such Cowards ought to weare This Ornament of Knighthood yea or no Glo. To say the truth this fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man Much more a Knight a Captaine and a Leader Tal. When first this Order was ordain'd my Lords Knights of the Garter were of Noble birth Valiant and Vertuous full of haughtie Courage Such as were growne to credit by the warres Not fearing Death nor shrinking for Distresse But alwayes resolute in most extreames He then that is not furnish'd in this sort Doth but vsurpe the Sacred name of Knight Prophaning this most Honourable Order And should if I were worthy to be Iudge Be quite degraded like a Hedge-borne Swaine That doth presume to boast of Gentle blood K. Staine to thy Countrymen thou hear'st thy doom Be packing therefore thou that was 't a knight Henceforth we banish thee on paine of death And now Lord Protector view the Letter Sent from our Vnckle Duke of Burgundy Glo. What meanes his Grace that he hath chaung'd his Stile No more but plaine and bluntly To the King Hath he forgot he is his Soueraigne Or doth this churlish Superscription Pretend some alteration in good will What 's heere I haue vpon especiall cause Mou'd with compassion of my Countries wracke Together with the pittifull complaints Of such as your oppression feedes vpon Forsaken your pernitious Faction And ioyn'd with Charles the rightfull king of France O monstrous Treachery Can this be so That in alliance amity and oathes There should be found such false dissembling guile King What doth my Vnckle Burgundy reuolt Glo. He doth my Lord and is become your foe King Is that the worst this Letter doth containe Glo. It is the worst and all my Lord he writes King Why then Lord Talbot there shal talk with him And giue him chasticement for this abuse How say you my Lord are you not content Tal. Content my Liege Yes But y t I am preuented I should haue begg'd I might haue bene employd King Then gather strength and march vnto him straight Let him perceiue how ill we brooke his Treason And what offence it is to flout his Friends Tal. I go my Lord in heart desiring still You may behold confusion of your foes Enter Vernon and Bassit Ver. Grant me the Combate gracious Soueraigne Bas And me my Lord grant me the Combate too Yorke This is my Seruant heare him Noble Prince Som. And this is mine sweet Henry fauour him King Be patient Lords and giue them leaue to speak Say Gentlemen what makes you thus exclaime And wherefore craue you Combate Or with whom Ver. With him my Lord for he hath done me wrong Bas And I with him for he hath done me wrong King What is that wrong wherof you both complain First let me know and then I le answer you Bas Crossing the Sea from England into France This Fellow heere with enuious carping tongue Vpbraided me about the Rose I weare Saying the sanguine colour of the Leaues Did represent my Masters blushing cheekes When stubbornly he did repugne the truth About a certaine question in the Law Argu'd betwixt the Duke of Yorke and him With other vile and ignominious tearmes In confutation of which rude
erre he did it Now this followes Which as I take it is a kinde of Puppie To th' old dam Treason Charles the Emperour Vnder pretence to see the Queene his Aunt For t was indeed his colour but he came To whisper Wolsey here makes visitation His feares were that the Interview betwixt England and France might through their amity Breed him some preiudice for from this League Peep'd harmes that menac'd him Priuily Deales with our Cardinal and as I troa Which I doe well for I am sure the Emperour Paid ere he promis'd whereby his Suit was granted Ere it was ask'd But when the way was made And pau'd with gold the Emperor thus desir'd Thaâ— he would please to alter the Kings course And breake the foresaid peace Let the King know As soone he shall by me that thus the Cardinall Does buy and sell his Honour as he pleases And for his owne aduantage Norf. I am sorry To heare this of him and could wish he were Somthing mistaken in 't Buck. No not a sillable I doe pronounce him in that very shape He shall appeare in proofe Enter Brandon a Sergeant at Armes before him and two or theee of the Guard Brandon Your Office Sergeant execute it Sergeant Sir My Lord the Duke of Buckingham and Earle Of Hertford Stafford and Northampton I Arrest thee of High Treason in the name Of our most Soueraigne King Buck. Lo you my Lord The net has falne vpon me I shall perish Vnder deuice and practise Bran. I am sorry To see you tane from liberty to looke on The busines present T is his Highnes pleasure You shall to th' Tower Buck. It will helpe me nothing To plead mine Innocence for that dye is on me Which makes my whit'st part black The will of Heau'n Be done in this and all things I obey O my Lord Aburgany Fare you well Bran. Nay he must beare you company The King Is pleas'd you shall to th' Tower till you know How he determines further Abur As the Duke said The will of Heauen be done and the Kings pleasure By me obey'd Bran. Here is a warrant from The King t'attach Lord Mountacute and the Bodies Of the Dukes Confessor Iohn de la Car One Gilbert Pecke his Councellour Buck. So so These are the limbs o' th' Plot no more I hope Bra. A Monke o' th' Chartreux Buck O Michaell Hopkins Bra. He. Buck. My Surueyor is falce The ore-great Cardinall Hath shew'd him gold my life is spand already I am the shadow of poore Buckingham Whose Figure euen this instant Clowd puts on By Darkning my cleere Sunne My Lords farewell Exe. Scena Secunda Cornets Enter King Henry leaning on the Cardinals shoulder the Nobles and Sir Thomas Louell the Cardinall places himselfe vnder the Kings feete on his right side King My life it selfe and the best heart of it Thankes you for this great care I stood i' th' leuell Of a full-charg'd consederacie and giue thankes To you that choak'd it Let be cald before vs That Gentleman of Buckinghams in person I le heare him his confessions iustifie And point by point the Treasons of his Maister He shall againe relate A noyse within crying roome for the Queene vsher'd by the Duke of Norfolke Enter the Queene Norfolke and Suffolke she kneels King riseth from his State takes her vp kisses and placeth her by him Queen Nay we must longer kneele I am a Suitor King Arise and take place by vs halfe your Suit Neuer name to vs you haue halfe our power The other moity ere you aske is giuen Repeat your will and take it Queen Thanke your Maiesty That you would loue your selfe and in that loue Not vnconsidered leaue your Honour nor The dignity of your Office is the poynt Of my Petition Kin. Lady mine proceed Queen I am solicited not by a few And those of true condition That your Subiects Are in great grieuance There haue beene Commissions Sent downe among 'em which hath flaw'd the heart Of all their Loyalties wherein although My good Lord Cardinall they vent reproches Most bitterly on you as putter on Of these exactions yet the King our Maister Whose Honor Heauen shield from soile euen he escapes not Language vnmannerly yea such which breakes The sides of loyalty and almost appeares In lowd Rebellion Norf. Not almost appeares It doth appeare for vpon these Taxations The Clothiers all not able to maintaine The many to them longing haue put off The Spinsters Carders Fullers Weauers who Vnfit for other life compeld by hunger And lack of other meanes in desperate manner Daring th' euent too th' teeth are all in vprore And danger serues among them Kin. Taxation Wherein and what Taxation My Lord Cardinall You that are blam'd for it alike with vs Know you of this Taxation Card. Please you Sir I know but of a single part in ought Pertaines to th' State and front but in that File Where others tell steps with me Queen No my Lord You know no more then others But you frame Things that are knowne alike which are not wholsome To those which would not know them and yet must Perforce be their acquaintance These exactions Whereof my Soueraigne would haue note they are Most pestilent to th' hearing and to beare 'em The Backe is Sacrifice to th' load They say They are deuis'd by you er else you suffer Too hard an exclamation Kin. Still Exaction The nature of it in what kinde let 's know Is this Exaction Queen I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience but am boldned Vnder your promis'd pardon The Subiects griefe Comes through Commissions which compels from each The sixt part of his Substance to be leuied Without delay and the pretence for this Is nam'd your warres in France this makes bold mouths Tongues spit their duties out and cold hearts freeze Allegeance in them their curses now Liue where their prayers did and it 's come to passe This tractable obedience is a Slaue To each incensed Will I would your Highnesse Would giue it quicke consideration for There is no primer basenesse Kin. By my life This is against our pleasure Card. And for me I haue no further gone in this then by A single voice and that not past me but By learned approbation of the Iudges If I am Traduc'd by ignorant Tongues which neither know My faculties nor person yet will be The Chronicles of my doing Let me say 'T is but the fate of Place and the rough Brake That Vertue must goe through we must not stint Our necessary actions in the feare To cope malicious Censurers which euer As rau'nous Fishes doe a Vessell follow That is new trim'd but benefit no further Then vainly longing What we oft doe best By sicke Interpreters once weake ones is Not ours or not allow'd what worst as oft Hitting a grosser quality is cride vp For our best Act if we shall stand still In feare our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at We
whereat greeued That so his Sicknesse Age and Impotence Was falsely borne in hand sends out Arrests On Fortinbras which he in breefe obeyes Receiues rebuke from Norwey and in fine Makes Vow before his Vnkle neuer more To giue th' assay of Armes against your Maiestie Whereon old Norwey ouercome with ioy Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers So leuied as before against the Poleak With an intreaty heerein further shewne That it might please you to giue quiet passe Through your Dominions for his Enterprize On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set downe King It likes vs well And at our more consider'd time wee 'l read Answer and thinke vpon this Businesse Meane time we thanke you for your well-tooke Labour Go to your rest at night wee 'l Feast together Most welcome home Exit Ambass Pol. This businesse is very well ended My Liege and Madam to expostulate What Maiestie should be what Dutie is Why day is day night night and time is time Were nothing but to waste Night Day and Time Therefore since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit And tediousnesse the limbes and outward flourishes I will be breefe Your Noble Sonne is mad Mad call I it for to define true Madnesse What is' t but to be nothing else but mad But let that go Qu. More matter with lesse Art Pol. Madam I sweare I vse no Art at all That he is mad 't is true 'T is true 't is pittie And pittie it is true A foolish figure But farewell it for I will vse no Art Mad let vs grant him then and now remaines That we finde out the cause of this effect Or rather say the cause of this defect For this effect defectiue comes by cause Thus it remaines and the remainder thus Perpend I haue a daughter haue whil'st she is mine Who in her Dutie and Obedience marke Hath giuen me this now gather and surmise The Letter To the Celestiall and my Soules Idoll the most beautified Ophelia That 's an ill Phrase a vilde Phrase beautified is a vilde Phrase but you shall heare these in her excellent white bosome these Qu. Came this from Hamlet to her Pol. Good Madam stay awhile I will be faithfull Doubt thou the Starres are fire Doubt that the Sunne doth moue Doubt Truth to be a Lier But neuer Doubt I loue O deere Ophelia I am ill at these Numbers I haue not Art to reckon my grones but that I loue thee best oh most Best beleeue it Adieu Thine euermore most deere Lady whilst this Machine is to him Hamlet This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me And more aboue hath his soliciting As they fell out by Time by Meanes and Place All giuen to mine eare King But how hath she receiu'd his Loue Pol. What do you thinke of me King As of a man faithfull and Honourable Pol. I wold faine proue so But what might you think When I had seene this hot loue on the wing As I perceiued it I must tell you that Before my Daughter told me what might you Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere think If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke Or giuen my heart a winking mute and dumbe Or look'd vpon this Loue with idle sight What might you thinke No I went round to worke And my yong Mistris thus I did bespeake Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre This must not be and then I Precepts gaue her That she should locke her selfe from his Resort Admit no Messengers receiue no Tokens Which done she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice And he repulsed A short Tale to make Fell into a Sadnesse then into a Fast Thence to a Watch thence into a Weaknesse Thence to a Lightnesse and by this declension Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues And all we waile for King Do you thinke 't is this Qu. It may be very likely Pol. Hath there bene such a time I 'de fain know that That I haue possitiuely said 't is so When it prou'd otherwise King Not that I know Pol. Take this from this if this be otherwise If Circumstances leade me I will finde Where truth is hid though it were hid indeede Within the Center King How may we try it further Pol. You know sometimes He walkes foure houres together heere In the Lobby Qu. So he ha's indeed Pol. At such a time I le loose my Daughter to him Be you and I behinde an Arras then Marke the encounter If he loue her not And be not from his reason falne thereon Let me be no Assistant for a State And keepe a Farme and Carters King We will try it Enter Hamlet reading on a Booke Qu. But looke where sadly the poore wretch Comes reading Pol. Away I do beseech you both away I le boord him presently Exit King Queen Oh giue me leaue How does my good Lord Hamlet Ham. Well God-a-mercy Pol. Do you know me my Lord Ham. Excellent excellent well y' are a Fishmonger Pol. Not I my Lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man Pol. Honest my Lord Ham. I sir to be honest as this world goes is to bee one man pick'd out of two thousand Pol. That 's very true my Lord. Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge being a good kissing Carrion Haue you a daughter Pol. I haue my Lord. Ham. Let her not walke i' th' Sunne Conception is a blessing but not as your daughter may conceiue Friend looke too 't Pol. How say you by that Still harping on my daughter yet he knew me not at first he said I was a Fishmonger he is farre gone farre gone and truly in my youth I suffred much extreamity for loue very neere this I le speake to him againe What do you read my Lord Ham. Words words words Pol. What is the matter my Lord Ham. Betweene who Pol. I meane the matter you meane my Lord. Ham. Slanders Sir for the Satyricall slaue saies here that old men haue gray Beards that their faces are wrinkled their eyes purging thicke Amber or Plum-Tree Gumme and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit together with weake Hammes All which Sir though I most powerfully and potently beleeue yet I holde it not Honestie to haue it thus set downe For you your selfe Sir should be old as I am if like a Crab you could go backward Pol Though this be madnesse Yet there is Method in 't will you walke Out of the ayre my Lord Ham. Into my Graue Pol. Indeed that is out o' th' Ayre How pregnant sometimes his Replies are A happinesse That often Madnesse hits on Which Reason and Sanitie could not So prosperously be deliuer'd of I will leaue him And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting Betweene him and my daughter My Honourable Lord I will most humbly Take my leaue of you Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withall except
Peace be with Burgundie Since that respect and Fortunes are his loue I shall not be his wife Fra. Fairest Cordelia that art most rich being poore Most choise forsaken and most lou'd despis'd Thee and thy vertues here I seize vpon Be it lawfull I take vp what 's cast away Gods Gods 'T is strange that from their cold'st neglect My Loue should kindle to enflam'd respect Thy dowrelesse Daughter King throwne to my chance Is Queene of vs of ours and our faire France Not all the Dukes of watrish Burgundy Can buy this vnpriz'd precious Maid of me Bid them farewell Cordelia though vnkinde Thou loosest here a better where to finde Lear. Thou hast her France let her be thine for we Haue no such Daughter nor shall euer see That face of hers againe therfore be gone Without our Grace our Loue our Benizon Come Noble Burgundie Flourish Exeunt Fra. Bid farwell to your Sisters Cor. The Iewels of our Father with wash'd eies Cordelia leaues you I know you what you are And like a Sister am most loth to call Your faults as they are named Loue well our Father To your professed bosomes I commit him But yet alas stood I within his Grace I would prefer him to a better place So farewell to you both Regn. Prescribe not vs our dutie Gon. Let your study Be to content your Lord who hath receiu'd you At Fortunes almes you haue obedience scanted And well are worth the want that you haue wanted Cor. Time shall vnfold what plighted cunning hides Who couers faults at last with shame derides Well may you prosper Fra. Come my faire Cordelia Exit France and Cor. Gon. Sister it is not little I haue to say Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both I thinke our Father will hence to night Reg. That 's most certaine and with you next moneth with vs. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is the obseruation we haue made of it hath beene little he alwaies lou'd our Sister most and with what poore iudgement he hath now cast her off appeares too grossely Reg. 'T is the infirmity of his age yet he hath euer but slenderly knowne himselfe Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath bin but rash then must we looke from his age to receiue not alone the imperfections of long ingrafted condition but therewithall the vnruly way wardnesse that infirme and cholericke yeares bring with them Reg. Such vnconstant starts are we like to haue from him as this of Kents banishment Gon. There is further complement of leaue-taking betweene France and him pray you let vs sit together it our Father carry authority with such disposition as he beares this last surrender of his will but offend vs. Reg. We shall further thinke of it Gon. We must do something and i' th' heate Exeunt Scena Secunda Enter Bastard Bast Thou Nature art my Goddesse to thy Law My seruices are bound wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custome and permit The curiosity of Nations to depriue me For that I am some twelue or fourteene Moonshines Lag of a Brother Why Bastard Wherefore base When my Dimensions are as well compact My minde as generous and my shape as true As honest Madams issue Why brand they vs With Base With basenes Barstadie Base Base Who in the lustie stealth of Nature take More composition and fierce qualitie Then doth within a dull stale tyred bed Goe to th' creating a whole tribe of Fops Got 'tweene a sleepe and wake Well then Legitimate Edgar I must haue your land Our Fathers loue is to the Bastard Edmond As to th' legitimate fine word Legitimate Well my Legittimate if this Letter speed And my inuention thriue Edmond the base Shall to ' th' Legitimate I grow I prosper Now Gods stand vp for Bastards Enter Gloucester Glo. Kent banish'd thus and France in choller parted And the King gone to night Prescrib'd his powre Confin'd to exhibition All this done Vpon the gad Edmond how now What newes Bast So please your Lordship none Glou. Why so earnestly seeke you to put vp y t Letter Bast I know no newes my Lord. Glou. What Paper were you reading Bast Nothing my Lord. Glou. No what needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your Pocket The quality of nothing hath not such neede to hide it selfe Let 's see come if it bee nothing I shall not neede Spectacles Bast I beseech you Sir pardon mee it is a Letter from my Brother that I haue not all ore-read and for so much as I haue perus'd I finde it not fit for your ore-looking Glou. Giue me the Letter Sir Bast I shall offend either to detaine or giue it The Contents as in part I vnderstand them Are too blame Glou. Let 's see let 's see Bast I hope for my Brothers iustification hee wrote this but as an essay or taste of my Vertue Glou. reads This policie and reuerence of Age makes the world bitter to the best of our times keepes our Fortunes from vs till our oldnesse cannot rellish them I begin to finde an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny who swayes not as it hath power but as it is suffer'd Come to me that of this I may speake more If our Father would sleepe till I wak'd him you should enioy halfe his Reuennew for euer and liue the beloued of your Brother Edgar Hum Conspiracy Sleepe till I wake him you should enioy halfe his Reuennew my Sonne Edgar had hee a hand to write this A heart and braine to breede it in When came you to this Who brought it Bast It was not brought mee my Lord there 's the cunning of it I found it throwne in at the Casement of my Closset Glou. You know the character to be your Brothers Bast If the matter were good my Lord I durst swear it were his but in respect of that I would faine thinke it were not Glou. It is his Bast It is his hand my Lord but I hope his heart is not in the Contents Glo. Has he neuer before sounded you in this busines Bast Neuer my Lord. But I haue heard him oft maintaine it to be fit that Sonnes at perfect age and Fathers declin'd the Father should bee as Ward to the Son and the Sonne manage his Reuennew Glou. O Villain villain his very opinion in the Letter Abhorred Villaine vnnaturall detested brutish Villaine worse then brutish Go sirrah seeke him I le apprehend him Abhominable Villaine where is he Bast I do not well know my L. If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my Brother til you can deriue from him better testimony of his intent you shold run a certaine course where if you violently proceed against him mistaking his purpose it would make a great gap in your owne Honor and shake in peeces the heart of his obedience I dare pawne downe my life for him that he hath writ this to feele my affection to your Honor
rightly are Foole. May not an Asse know when the Cart drawes the Horse Whoop Iugge I loue thee Lear. Do's any heere know me This is not Lear Do's Lear walke thus Speake thus Where are his eies Either his Notion weakens his Discernings Are Lethargied Ha! Waking 'T is not so Who is it that can tell me who I am Foole. Lears shadow Lear. Your name faire Gentlewoman Gon. This admiration Sir is much o' th' sauour Of other your new prankes I do beseech you To vnderstand my purposes aright As you are Old and Reuerend should be Wise Heere do you keepe a hundred Knights and Squires Men so disorder'd so debosh'd and bold That this our Court infected with their manners Shewes like a riotous Inne Epicurisme and Lust Makes it more like a Tauerne or a Brothell Then a grac'd Pallace The shame it selfe doth speake For instant remedy Be then desir'd By her that else will take the thing she begges A little to disquantity your Traine And the remainders that shall still depend To be such men as may besort your Age Which know themselues and you Lear. Darknesse and Diuels Saddle my horses call my Traine together Degenerate Bastard I le not trouble thee Yet haue I left a daughter Gon. You strike my people and your disorder'd rable make Seruants of their Betters Enter Albany Lear. Woe that too late repents Is it your will speake Sir Prepare my Horses Ingratitude thou Marble-hearted Fiend More hideous when thou shew'st thee in a Child Then the Sea-monster Alb. Pray Sir be patient Lear. Detested Kite thou lyest My Traine are men of choice and rarest parts That all particulars of dutie know And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name O most small fault How vgly did'st thou in Cordelia shew Which like an Engine wrencht my frame of Nature From the fixt place drew from my heart all loue And added to the gall O Lear Lear Lear Beate at this gate that let thy Folly in And thy deere Iudgement out Go go my people Alb. My Lord I am guiltlesse as I am ignorant Of what hath moued you Lear. It may be so my Lord. Heare Nature heare deere Goddesse heare Suspend thy purpose if thou did'st intend To make this Creature fruitfull Into her Wombe conuey stirrility Drie vp in her the Organs of increase And from her derogate body neuer spring A Babe to honor her If she must teeme Create her childe of Spleene that it may liue And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her Let it stampe wrinkles in her brow of youth With cadent Teares fret Channels in her cheekes Turne all her Mothers paines and benefits To laughter and contempt That she may feele How sharper then a Serpents tooth it is To haue a thanklesse Childe Away away Exit Alb. Now Gods that we adore Whereof comes this Gon. Neuer afflict your selfe to know more of it But let his disposition haue that scope As dotage giues it Enter Lear. Lear. What fiftie of my Followers at a clap Within a fortnight Alb. What 's the matter Sir Lear. I le tell thee Life and death I am asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus That these hot teares which breake from me perforce Should make thee worth them Blastes and Fogges vpon thee Th' vntented woundings of a Fathers curse Pierce euerie sense about thee Old fond eyes Beweepe this cause againe I le plucke ye out And cast you with the waters that you loose To temper Clay Ha Let it be so I haue another daughter Who I am sure is kinde and comfortable When she shall heare this of thee with her nailes Shee 'l flea thy Woluish visage Thou shalt finde That I le resume the shape which thou dost thinke I haue cast off for euer Exit Gon. Do you marke that Alb. I cannot be so partiall Gonerill To the great loue I beare you Gon. Pray you content What Oswald hoa You Sir more Knaue then Foole after your Master Foole. Nunkle Lear Nunkle Lear Tarry take the Foole 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 Foole followes after Exit Gon. This man hath had good Counsell A hundred Knights 'T is politike and safe to let him keepe At point a hundred Knights yes that on euerie dreame Each buz each fancie each complaint dislike He may enguard his dotage with their powres And hold our liues in mercy Oswald I say Alb. Well you may feare too farre Gon. Safer then trust too farre Let me still take away the harmes I feare Not feare still to be taken I know his heart What he hath vtter'd I haue writ my Sister If she sustaine him and his hundred Knights When I haue shew'd th' vnfitnesse Enter Steward How now Oswald What haue you writ that Letter to my Sister Stew. I Madam Gon. Take you some company and away to horse Informe her full of my particular feare And thereto adde such reasons of your owne As may compact it more Get you gone And hasten your returne no no my Lord This milky gentlenesse and course of yours Though I condemne not yet vnder pardon Your are much more at task for want of wisedome Then prai'sd for harmefull mildnesse Alb. How farre your eies may pierce I cannot tell Striuing to better oft we marre what 's well Con. Nay then Alb. Well well the'uent Exeunt Scena Quinta Enter Lear Kent Gentleman and Foole. Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these Letters acquaint my Daughter no further with any thing you know then comes from her demand out of the Letter if your Dilligence be not speedy I shall be there afore you Kent I will not sleepe my Lord till I haue deliuered your Letter Exit Foole. If a mans braines were in 's heeles wert not in danger of kybes Lear. I Boy Foole. Then I prythee be merry thy wit shall not go slip-shod Lear. Ha ha ha Fool. Shalt see thy other Daughter will vse thee kindly for though she 's as like this as a Crabbe's like an Apple yet I can tell what I can tell Lear. What can'st tell Boy Foole. She will taste as like this as a Crabbe do's to a Crab thou canst tell why ones nose stands i' th' middle on 's face Lear. No. Foole. Why to keepe ones eyes of either side 's nose that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into Lear. I did her wrong Foole. Can'st tell how an Oyster makes his shell Lear. No. Foole. Nor I neither but I can tell why a Snaile ha's a house Lear. Why Foole. Why to put 's head in not to giue it away to his daughters and leaue his hornes without a case Lear. I will forget my Nature so kind a Father Be my Horsses ready Foole. Thy Asses are gone about 'em the reason why the seuen Starres are no mo then seuen is a pretty reason Lear. Because they are not eight