William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (52 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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WHITMORE
Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.
What, are ye daunted now? Now will ye stoop?
What, are ye daunted now? Now will ye stoop?
FIRST GENTLEMAN (to
Suffolk)
Suffolk)
My gracious lord, entreat him—speak him fair.
SUFFOLK
Suffolk’s imperial tongue is stern and rough,
Used to command, untaught to plead for favour.
Far be it we should honour such as these
With humble suit. No, rather let my head
Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
Save to the God of heaven and to my king;
And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
Than stand uncovered to the vulgar groom.
True nobility is exempt from fear;
More can I bear than you dare execute.
Used to command, untaught to plead for favour.
Far be it we should honour such as these
With humble suit. No, rather let my head
Stoop to the block than these knees bow to any
Save to the God of heaven and to my king;
And sooner dance upon a bloody pole
Than stand uncovered to the vulgar groom.
True nobility is exempt from fear;
More can I bear than you dare execute.
CAPTAIN
Hale him away, and let him talk no more.
SUFFOLK
Come, ‘soldiers’, show what cruelty ye can,
That this my death may never be forgot.
Great men oft die by vile Besonians;
A Roman sworder and banditto slave
Murdered sweet Tully ; Brutus’ bastard hand
Stabbed Julius Caesar; savage islanders
Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.
Exit Whitmore with Suffolk
That this my death may never be forgot.
Great men oft die by vile Besonians;
A Roman sworder and banditto slave
Murdered sweet Tully ; Brutus’ bastard hand
Stabbed Julius Caesar; savage islanders
Pompey the Great; and Suffolk dies by pirates.
Exit Whitmore with Suffolk
CAPTAIN
And as for these whose ransom we have set,
It is our pleasure one of them depart.
(To the Second Gentleman)
Therefore, come you with us and (to his men, pointing
to the First Gentleman) let him go.
Exeunt
all
but the First Gentleman
Enter Whitmore with
Suffolk’s
head
and
body
It is our pleasure one of them depart.
(To the Second Gentleman)
Therefore, come you with us and (to his men, pointing
to the First Gentleman) let him go.
Exeunt
all
but the First Gentleman
Enter Whitmore with
Suffolk’s
head
and
body
WHITMORE
There let his head and lifeless body lie,
Until the Queen his mistress bury it. Exit
Until the Queen his mistress bury it. Exit
FIRST GENTLEMAN
O barbarous and bloody spectacle!
His body will I bear unto the King.
If he revenge it not, yet will his friends;
So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
Exit with Suffolk’s head and body
4.2His body will I bear unto the King.
If he revenge it not, yet will his friends;
So will the Queen, that living held him dear.
Exit with Suffolk’s head and body
Enter two Rebels ⌈with long staves⌉
FIRST REBEL Come and get thee a sword, though made of a lath; they have been up these two days.
SECOND REBEL They have the more need to sleep now then.
FIRST REBEL I tell thee, Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the commonwealth, and turn it, and set a new nap upon it.
SECOND REBEL So he had need, for ‘tis threadbare. Well, I say it was never merry world in England since gentlemen came up.
FIRST REBEL O, miserable age! Virtue is not regarded in handicraftsmen.
SECOND REBEL The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons.
FIRST REBEL Nay more, the King’s Council are no good workmen.
SECOND REBEL True; and yet it is said ‘Labour in thy vocation’; which is as much to say as ‘Let the magistrates be labouring men’; and therefore should we be magistrates.
FIRST REBEL Thou hast hit it; for there’s no better sign of a brave mind than a hard hand.
SECOND REBEL I see them! I see them! There’s Best’s son, the tanner of Wingham—
FIRST REBEL He shall have the skins of our enemies to make dog’s leather of. SECOND REBEL And Dick the butcher—
FIRST REBEL Then is sin struck down like an ox, and iniquity’s throat cut like a calf.
SECOND REBEL And Smith the weaver—
FIRST REBEL Argo, their thread of life is spun.
SECOND REBEL Come, come, let’s fall in with them.
Enter Jack Cade, Dick the Butcher, Smith the
Weaver, a sawyer, ⌈and a drummer,⌉ with infinite
numbers, fall with long staves⌉
CADE We, John Cade, so termed of our supposed father—BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.
to his fellows
) Or rather of stealing a cade of herrings.
CADE For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes—command silence!
BUTCHER Silence!
CADE My father was a Mortimer—
BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) He was an honest man and a good bricklayer.
to his fellows
) He was an honest man and a good bricklayer.
CADE My mother a Plantagenet—
BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) I knew her well, she was a midwife. CADE My wife descended of the Lacys—
to his fellows
) I knew her well, she was a midwife. CADE My wife descended of the Lacys—
BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) She was indeed a pedlar’s daughter and sold many laces.
to his fellows
) She was indeed a pedlar’s daughter and sold many laces.
WEAVER (
to his fellows
) But now of late, not able to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home. CADE Therefore am I of an honourable house.
to his fellows
) But now of late, not able to travel with her furred pack, she washes bucks here at home. CADE Therefore am I of an honourable house.
BUTCHER (
to his fellows)
Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable, and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had never a house but the cage.
to his fellows)
Ay, by my faith, the field is honourable, and there was he born, under a hedge; for his father had never a house but the cage.
CADE Valiant I am—
WEAVER (
to his fellows
) A must needs, for beggary is valiant.
to his fellows
) A must needs, for beggary is valiant.
CADE I am able to endure much—
BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) No question of that, for I have seen him whipped three market days together.
to his fellows
) No question of that, for I have seen him whipped three market days together.
CADE I fear neither sword nor fire.
WEAVER (
to his fellows
) He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of proof.
to his fellows
) He need not fear the sword, for his coat is of proof.
BUTCHER (
to his fellows
) But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burned i’th’ hand for stealing of sheep.
to his fellows
) But methinks he should stand in fear of fire, being burned i’th’ hand for stealing of sheep.
CADE Be brave, then, for your captain is brave and vows reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny, the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops, and I will make it felony to drink small beer. All the realm shall be in common, and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass. And when I am king, as king I will be—
ALL CADE’S FOLLOWERS God save your majesty!
CADE I thank you good people!—there shall be no money. All shall eat and drink on my score, and I will apparel them all in one livery that they may agree like brothers, and worship me their lord.
BUTCHER The first thing we do let’s kill all the lawyers.
CADE Nay, that I mean to do. Is not this a lamentable thing that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment? That parchment, being scribbled o‘er, should undo a man? Some say the bee stings, but I say ‘tis the bee’s wax. For I did but seal once to a thing, and I was never mine own man since. How now? Who’s there?
Enter some bringing forth the Clerk of Chatham
Enter some bringing forth the Clerk of Chatham
WEAVER The Clerk of Chatham—he can write and read and cast account.
CADE O, monstrous!
WEAVER We took him setting of boys’ copies.
CADE Here’s a villain.
WEAVER He’s a book in his pocket with red letters in’t. CADE Nay, then he is a conjuror!
BUTCHER Nay, he can make obligations and write court hand.
CADE I am sorry for’t. The man is a proper man, of mine honour. Unless I find him guilty, he shall not die. Come hither, sirrah, I must examine thee. What is thy name?
CLERK Emmanuel.
BUTCHER They use to write that on the top of letters—‘twill go hard with you.
CADE Let me alone. (To the Clerk) Dost thou use to write thy name? Or hast thou a mark to thyself like an honest plain-dealing man?
CLERK Sir, I thank God I have been so well brought up that I can write my name.
ALL CADE’S FOLLOWERS He hath confessed—away with him He’s a villain and a traitor.
CADE Away with him, I say, hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck.
Exit one with the Clerk Enter a Messenger
Exit one with the Clerk Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER Where’s our general? no CADE Here I am, thou particular fellow.
MESSENGER Fly, fly, fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are hard by with the King’s forces.
CADE Stand, villain, stand—or I’ll fell thee down. He shall be encountered with a man as good as himself. He is but a knight, is a?
MESSENGER No.
CADE To equal him I will make myself a knight presently.
He kneels and knights himself
He kneels and knights himself
Rise up, Sir John Mortimer.
He rises
He rises
Now have at him!
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother, with a drummer and soldiers
Enter Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother, with a drummer and soldiers
STAFFORD (to Cade’s followers)
Rebellious hinds, the filth and scum of Kent,
Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down;
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom.
The King is merciful, if you revolt.
Marked for the gallows, lay your weapons down;
Home to your cottages, forsake this groom.
The King is merciful, if you revolt.
STAFFORD’S BROTHER (
to Cade’s followers
)
to Cade’s followers
)
But angry, wrathful, and inclined to blood,
If you go forward. Therefore, yield or die.
If you go forward. Therefore, yield or die.
CADE (
to his followers
)
to his followers
)
As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not.
It is to you, good people, that I speak,
Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign—
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.
It is to you, good people, that I speak,
Over whom, in time to come, I hope to reign—
For I am rightful heir unto the crown.
STAFFORD
Villain, thy father was a plasterer
And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
And thou thyself a shearman, art thou not?
CADE
And Adam was a gardener.
STAFFORD’S BROTHER And what of that?
CADE
Marry, this: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March,
Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?
Married the Duke of Clarence’ daughter, did he not?
STAFFORD Ay, sir.
CADE
By her he had two children at one birth.
STAFFORD’S BROTHER That’s false.
CADE
Ay, there’s the question—but I say ’tis true.
The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol’n away,
And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
His son am I—deny it an you can.
The elder of them, being put to nurse,
Was by a beggar-woman stol’n away,
And, ignorant of his birth and parentage,
Became a bricklayer when he came to age.
His son am I—deny it an you can.
BUTCHER
Nay, ’tis too true—therefore he shall be king.
WEAVER Sir, he made a chimney in my father’s house,
and the bricks are alive at this day to testify. Therefore
deny it not.
and the bricks are alive at this day to testify. Therefore
deny it not.
STAFFORD (
to Cade’s followers
)
to Cade’s followers
)
And will you credit this base drudge’s words
That speaks he knows not what?
That speaks he knows not what?
ALL CADE’S FOLLOWERS
Ay, marry, will we—therefore get ye gone.
STAFFORD’S BROTHER
Jack Cade, the Duke of York hath taught you this.
CADE (
aside
)
aside
)
He lies, for I invented it myself.
(
Aloud
) Go to, sirrah—tell the King from me that for
his father’s sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys
went to span-counter for French crowns, I am content
he shall reign; but I’ll be Protector over him.
(
Aloud
) Go to, sirrah—tell the King from me that for
his father’s sake, Henry the Fifth, in whose time boys
went to span-counter for French crowns, I am content
he shall reign; but I’ll be Protector over him.
BUTCHER And, furthermore, we’ll have the Lord Saye’s head for selling the dukedom of Maine.
CADE And good reason, for thereby is England maimed, and fain to go with a staff, but that my puissance holds it up. Fellow-kings, I tell you that that Lord Saye hath gelded the commonwealth, and made it an eunuch, and, more than that, he can speak French, and therefore he is a traitor!
STAFFORD
O gross and miserable ignorance !
CADE Nay, answer if you can: the Frenchmen are our enemies; go to, then, I ask but this—can he that speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor or no?
ALL CADE’S FOLLOWERS No, no—and therefore we’ll have his head!
STAFFORD’S BROTHER (
to Stafford)
to Stafford)
Well, seeing gentle words will not prevail,
Assail them with the army of the King.
Assail them with the army of the King.
STAFFORD
Herald, away, and throughout every town
Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
That those which fly before the battle ends
May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight,
Be hanged up for example at their doors.
And you that be the King’s friends, follow me!
Proclaim them traitors that are up with Cade;
That those which fly before the battle ends
May, even in their wives’ and children’s sight,
Be hanged up for example at their doors.
And you that be the King’s friends, follow me!
Exeunt
⌈
The Staffords and their soldiers
⌉
⌈
The Staffords and their soldiers
⌉
CADE
And you that love the commons, follow me!
Now show yourselves men—’tis for liberty.
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman—
Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
For they are thrifty honest men, and such
As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.
Now show yourselves men—’tis for liberty.
We will not leave one lord, one gentleman—
Spare none but such as go in clouted shoon,
For they are thrifty honest men, and such
As would, but that they dare not, take our parts.
BUTCHER 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! ⌈
Exeunt
⌉
4.3Most out of order. Come, march forward! ⌈
Exeunt
⌉
Alarums to the fight; ⌈excursions,⌉ wherein both the Staffords are slain. Enter Jack Cade, Dick the Butcher, and the rest
CADE Where’s Dick, the butcher of Ashford?
BUTCHER Here, sir.
CADE They fell before thee like sheep and oxen, and thou behaved’st thyself as if thou hadst been in thine own slaughterhouse. Therefore, thus will I reward thee—the Lent shall be as long again as it is. Thou shalt have licence to kill for a hundred, lacking one.
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