Ver. Well, miscreant, I'll be there as soon as you; And, after, meet you sooner than you would. ACT IV. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE I. A room of state. Enter KING HENRY, GLOSTER, EXETER, YORK, SUFFOLK, SOMERSET, WINCHESTER, WARWICK, TALBOT, Governor of Paris, and others. Glos. Lord bishop, set the crown upon his head. Win. God save King Henry, of that name the sixth ! Glos. Now, governor of Paris, take your oath,— That you elect no other king but him : This shall ye do, so help you righteous God! 1 [Exeunt Governor and his train. Enter SIR JOHN FASTOLfe. Fas. My gracious sovereign, as I rode from Calais, Intend, design. To haste unto your coronation, A letter was deliver'd to my hands, Writ to your grace from the duke of Burgundy. 1 (Which I have done) because unworthily Glos. To say the truth, this fact was infamous, And ill beseeming any common man; Much more a knight, a captain, and a leader. Tal. When first this order was ordain'd, my lords, Knights of the garter were of noble birth; Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, Such as were grown to credit by the wars; 1 Mean, dastardly. Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress, And should (if I were worthy to be judge) K. Hen. Stain to thy countrymen! thou hear'st thy doom: Be packing therefore, thou that wast a knight; [Exit Fastolfe. And now, my lord protector, view the letter Sent from our uncle, duke of Burgundy. Glos. What means his grace, that he hath changed [viewing the superscription. No more but, plain and bluntly,- To the king?' Hath he forgot, he is his sovereign? his style? Or doth this churlish superscription 1 Pretend 1 some alteration in good will? What's here?' I have, upon especial cause, [reads. Moved with compassion of my country's wreck, 1 Denote. And join'd with Charles, the rightful king of France.' O monstrous treachery! Can this be so; There should be found such false dissembling guile ? K. Hen. What! doth my uncle Burgundy revolt? Glos. He doth, my lord; and is become your foe. K. Hen. Is that the worst this letter doth con tain? Glos. It is the worst, and all, my lord, he writes. K. Hen. Why then, lord Talbot there shall talk with him, And give him chastisement for this abuse.— I should have begg'd I might have been employ'd. K. Hen. Then gather strength, and march unto him straight: Let him perceive how ill we brook his treason, Tal. I go, my lord; in heart desiring still, Enter VERNON and BASSET. [Exit. Ver. Grant me the combat, gracious sovereign! 'Anticipated. Bas. And me, my lord, grant me the combat too! York. This is my servant: hear him, noble prince! Som. And this is mine: sweet Henry, favor him! K. Hen. Be patient, lords, and give them leave to speak. Say, gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim? And wherefore crave you combat? 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. K. Hen. What is that wrong whereof you both complain ? First let me know, and then I'll answer you. Bas. Crossing the sea from England into France, This fellow here, with envious carping tongue, Upbraided me about the rose I wear; Saying, the sanguine color of the leaves Did represent my master's blushing cheeks, When stubbornly he did repugn1 the truth, About a certain question in the law, Argued betwixt the duke of York and him; With other vile and ignominious terms: In confutation of which rude reproach, And in defence of my lord's worthiness, I crave the benefit of law of arms. Ver. And that is my petition, noble lord: SHAK. 1 Resist. VIII. F |