A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
English drama
GLO. I thank you, kinsman King; your father knows,
Gloster may boldly give a base slave blows.
FAU. O, but not here; it was not well done here.
KING. Farewell, good Gloster, you shall hear from us.
GLO. Even what your sons will suffer you to send.
Is't not a misery to see you stand,
That sometime was the monarch of this land,
Intreating traitors for a subject's freedom?
LEI. Let him not speak; away with him to prison.
GLO. Here's like to be a well-stay'd commonwealth,
Wherein proud Leicester and licentious John
Are pillars for the king to lean upon.
JOHN. We'll hear your railing lecture in the Fleet.
GLO.[461] On thy displeasure--well ye have me here.
O, that I were within my fort of Bungay,
Whose walls are wash'd with the clear streams of Waveney,[462]
Then would not Gloster pass a halfpenny,
For all these rebels and their poor king too.[463]
Laughtst thou, King Henry? Thou know'st my words are true,
God help thee, good old man! adieu, adieu!
JOHN. That castle shall be mine, wherein stands[464] Fauconbridge.
FAU. Far from your reach, sure, under Feckhill-ridge,
Five hundred men (England hath few such wight)
Keep it for Gloster's use both day and night:
But you may easily win it. Wantons' words
Quickly can master men, tongues out-brawl swords!
JOHN. Ye are an idiot.
RICH. I prythee, John, forbear.
JOHN. What, shall old winter with his frosty jests
Cross flow'ry pleasures?
FAU. Ay, and nip you too!
God Mary mother,[465] I would tickle you,
Were there no more in place but I and you.
KING. Cease these contentions; forward to the Tower.
Release Queen Elinor, and leave me there.
Your prisoner I am, sure, if ye had power;
There's nothing let's you but the Commons' fear:
Keep your state, lords; we will by water go,
Making the fresh Thames salt with tears of woe.
HEN. And we'll by land thorough the City ride,
Making the people tremble at our pride.
[_Exeunt with trumpets two ways_.
SCENE THE FIFTH.
_Enter_ SKINK _solus_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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