Urs. They have; Which, as if life and health had reign'd among them, With open hearts they joyfully received. K. Hen. Young Buckingham is a fair-natured prince, Lovely in hopes, and worthy of his father; Attended by a hundred knights and squires Of special name, he tender'd humble service, Which we must ne'er forget; and Devonshire's wounds, Though slight, shall find sound cure in our respect. Enter DAWBENEY, with a guard, leading in WARBECK, HERON, JOHN A-WATER, ASTLEY, and SKETON, chained. Daw. Life to the king, and safety fix his throne! We observe no wonder; I behold, 't is true, A handsome youth indeed, but not admire him. Daw. From sanctuary At Bewley, near Southampton; register'd To infringe the liberty of houses sacred: Dare we be irreligious? Daw. Gracious lord, They voluntarily resign'd themselves, K. Hen. So? 't was very well; 'Twas very, very well!-turn now thine eyes, Young man, upon thyself and thy past actions. What revels in combustion through our kingdom, A phrensy of aspiring youth hath danced, Till, wanting breath, thy feet of pride have slipp'd To break thy neck! War. But not my heart! my heart Will mount, till every drop of blood be frozen There was a shooting in of light, when Richmond, Daw. Whither speeds his boldness? K. Hen. O, let him range: The player's on the stage still, 't is his part; War. Bosworth Field! Where, at an instant, to the world's amazement, K. Hen. A pretty gallant! thus your aunt of Burgundy, Your dutchess aunt, inform'd her nephew; so. Till, learn'd by heart, 't is now received for truth. To put a feigned blush on: scorn wears only Wisdom and gravity are proper robes, By which the sovereign is best distinguish'd K. Hen. Sirrah, shift Your antic pageantry, and now appear In your own nature, or you'll taste the danger War. I expect No less than what severity calls justice, As feed on alms: but, if there can be mercy In a protested enemy, then may it Descend to these poor creatures, whose engage ments, To the bettering of their fortunes, have incurr'd Flow from some noble orator, in death, I owe the fee of thankfulness. K. Hen. So brave! What a bold knave is this! Which of these rebels Has been the mayor of Cork? Daw. This wise formality: Kneel to the king, ye rascals! [They kneel. A pardon, where thy guilt is so apparent? J. a-Wat. Under your good favours, as men are men, they may err; for I confess, respectively, in taking great parts, the one side prevailing, the other side must go down: herein the point is clear, if the proverb hold, that hanging goes by destiny, that it is to little purpose to say, this thing, or that, shall be thus, or thus; for, as the fates will have it, so it must be; and who can help it? Daw. O blockhead! thou a privy-counsellor ? Beg life, and cry aloud, "Heaven save king Henry!" J. a-Wat. Every man knows what is best, as it happens for my own part, I believe it is true, if I be not deceived, that kings must be kings, and subjects subjects: but which is which, you shall pardon me for that; whether we speak or hold our peace, all are mortal, no man knows his end. K. Hen. We trifle time with follies. K. Hen. Urswick, commend the dukeling and these [They rise. To Digby, the lieutenant of the Tower: Taunts, or abuse be suffered to their persons; Time may restore their wits, whom vain ambition War. Noble thoughts Meet freedom in captivity: the Tower! Our childhood's dreadful nursery. K. Hen. No more! Urs. Come, come, you shall have leisure to bethink you. [Exit URS. with PERKIN and his followers, guarded. K. Hen. Was ever so much impudence in forgery? The custom sure of being styled a king, Hath fastened in his thought that he is such; But we shall teach the lad another language: 'Tis good we have him fast. Daw. The hangman's physic Will purge this saucy humour. Yet we could temper mercy with extremity, Enter OXFORD, KATHERINE in her richest attire, DAL- Oxf. Great sir, be pleased, With your accustomed grace, to entertain K. Hen. Oxford, herein We must beshrew thy knowledge of our nature. A lady of her birth and virtues could not Half-way in point of love. Excuse, fair cousin, As both are now befriended, sir; however, K. Hen. Our arms Shall circle them from malice-a sweet lady! Kath. Oh sir, I have a husband. K. Hen. We'll prove your father, husband, friend, and servant; Prove what you wish to grant us. Lords, be careful A thousand pounds from our exchequer yearly, Kath. But my husband? K. Hen. By all descriptions, you are noble Dalyell, Whose generous truth hath famed a rare observance. We thank you; 't is a goodness gives addition To every title boasted from your ancestry, In all most worthy. Dal. Worthier than your praises, Right princely sir, I need not glory in. K. Hen. Embrace him, lords.-Whoever calls you mistress Is lifted in our charge:-a goodlier beauty Kath. Cruel misery Of fate! what rests to hope for? |