Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

* 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.

[ocr errors]

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another Part of Blackheath.

Alarums. The two Parties enter and fight, and both the STAFFORDS are slain.

'Cade. Where's 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 license to kill for a hun'dred lacking one.

• Dick. I desire no more.

*Cade. And, to speak truth, thou deservest no * less. 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 mayor's 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, * let's march towards London. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

London. A Room in the Palace.

Enter King HENRY, reading a Supplication; the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and Lord SAY with him: at a distance, Queen MARGARET, mourning over SUFFOLK'S Head.

* Q. Mar. 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 where's the body that I should embrace?

[ocr errors]

• Buck. What answer makes your grace to the rebels' supplication?

* K. Hen. I'll 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, I'll read it over once again.

*Q. Mar. Ah, barbarous villains! hath this lovely face

* Rul'd, like a wandering planet,9 over me;

*And could it not enforce them to relent,

That were unworthy to behold the same?

'K. Hen. Lord Say, Jack Cade hath sworn to have thy head.

Predominated irresistibly over my passions; as the planets over those born under their influence.

[ocr errors]

Say. Ay, but I hope, your highness shall have his. K. Hen. How now, madam? Still

Lamenting, and mourning for Suffolk's death;
I fear, my love, if that I had been dead,

Thou wouldest not have mourn'd so much for me.
Q. Mar. No, my love, I should not mourn, but die
for thee.

Enter a Messenger.

* K. Hen. How now! what news? why com'st thou in such haste?

'Mess. 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. C His army is a ragged multitude

'Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless; 'Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death Hath given them heart and courage to proceed: 'All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen, 'They call-false caterpillars, and intend their death. * K. Hen. O graceless men! they know not what they do.

Buck. My gracious lord, retire to Kenelworth, 'Until a power be rais'd to put them down.

* Q. Mar. Ah! were the duke of Suffolk now alive, * These Kentish rebels would be soon appeas'd. 'K. Hen. Lord Say, the traitors hate thee, 'Therefore away with us to Kenelworth.

Say. So might your grace's person be in danger; 'The sight of me is odious in their eyes :

· And therefore in this city will I stay,

[ocr errors]

And live alone as secret as I may.

Enter another Messenger.

2 Mess. 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.

* Buck. Then linger not, my lord; away, take

horse.

* K. Hen. Come, Margaret; God, our hope, will

succour us.

* Q. Mar. My hope is gone, now Suffolk is deceas'd.

*K. Hen. Farewell, my lord; [To Lord SAY.] trust not the Kentish rebels.

* Buck. Trust no body, for fear you be betray'd.

[ocr errors]

Say. The trust I have is in mine innocence,

'And therefore am I bold and resolute.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The same. The Tower.

Enter Lord SCALES, and Others, on the Walls. Then enter certain Citizens, below.

Scales. How now? is Jack Cade slain?

1 Cit. 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 com

mand;

But I am troubled here with them myself,
The rebels have assay'd to win the Tower.
But get you to Smithfield, and gather head,
And thither I will send you Matthew Gough:
Fight for your king, your country, and your lives;
And so farewell, for I must hence again.

SCENE VI.

[Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Enter JACK CADE, and his Followers. He 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 city's 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.

Sold. Jack Cade! Jack Cade!

Cade. Knock him down there.

[They kill him.

*Smith. If this fellow be wise, he'll never call you Jack Cade more; I think, he hath a very fair warning.

Dick. My lord, there's an army gathered together in Smithfield.

Cade. Come then, let's go fight with them: But,

« AnteriorContinuar »