O willing hearts, a thousand thanks I render unto you: Strike up your drums with courage great; We will march forth even now. COUNCIL. Permit (O King) few words to hear, My duty serves no less; Therefore give leave to Council thine, His mind for to express. KING. Speak on, my Council, what it be; You shall have favour mine. COUNCIL. Then will I speak unto your grace, As duty doth me bind: Your grace doth mean for to attempt Of war the manly art; Your grace therein may hap receive, With others, for your part The dent of death: in those affairs All persons are alike: The heart courageous oftentimes His detriment doth seek; It’s best therefore for to permit A ruler of your land To sit and judge with equity, When things of right are scann’d. KING. My grace doth yield to this your talk, To be thus now it shall: My Knight, therefore prepare yourself Sisamnes for to call: A judge he is of prudent skill, Even he shall bear the sway, In absence mine, when from the land I do depart my way. KNIGHT. Your Knight before your grace even here Himself hath ready prest, With willing heart for to fulfil, As your grace made request. [_Exit._ COUNCIL. Pleaseth your grace, I judge of him To be a man right fit; For he is learned in the law, Having the gift of wit: In your grace’s precinct I do not view For it a meeter man: His learning is of good effect, Bring proof thereof I can. I do not know what is his life, His conscience hid from me, I doubt not but the fear of God Before his eyes to be. LORD. Report declares, he is a man That to himself is nigh; One that favoureth much the world, And too much sets thereby: But this I say of certainty, If he your grace succeed, In your absence but for a while, He will be warn’d indeed No injustice for to frequent, No partial judge to prove, But rule all things with equity, To win your grace’s love. KING. Of that he shall a warning have My hests for to obey; Great punishment for his offence Against him will I lay. COUNCIL. Behold, I see him now aggress, And enter into place. SISAMNES. O puissant prince and mighty king, The gods preserve your grace! Your grace’s message came to me, Your will purporting forth: With grateful mind I it received, According to mine oath, Erecting then myself with speed, Before your grace’s eyes, The tenor of your princely will From you for to agnise. KING.