Sinklo.
Under this thick-grown brake we'll shroud ourselves;
For through this lawn anon the deer will come;
And in this covert will we make our stand,
Culling the principal of all the deer.

Hum.
I'll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.

Sin.
That cannot be; the noise of thy cross-bow
Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
Here stand we both, and aim we at the best:
And, for the time shall not seem tedious,
I'll tell thee what befel me on a day,
In this self place where now we mean to stand.

Hum.
Here comes a man, let's stay 'till he be past. Enter King Henry, disguised.

K. H.
From Scotland am I stoln, even of pure love,
To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.
No, Harry, Harry, 'tis no land of thine;
Thy place is fill'd, thy scepter wrung from thee,
Thy balm wash'd off, wherewith thou wast anointed:
No bending knee will call thee Cæsar now,
No humble suitors prease to speak for right,
No, not a man comes for redress of thee;
For how can I help them, and not myself?

Sin.
Ay, here's a deer, whose skin's a keeper's fee:
This is the quondam king; let's seize upon him. [Aside.

K. H.
Let me embrace these sour adversities;
For wise men say, it is the wisest course.

Hum.
Why linger we? let us lay hands upon him. [Aside.

Sin.
Forbear a while, we'll hear a little more. [Aside.

K. H.
My queen, and son, are gone to France for aid;
And (as I hear) the great commanding Warwick

Is thither gone, to crave the French king's sister
To wife for Edward: If this news be true,
Poor queen, and son, your labour is but lost;
For Warwick is a subtle orator,
And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words.
By this account, then, Margaret may win him;
For she's a woman to be pity'd much:
Her sighs will make a battery in his breast;
Her tears will pierce into a marble heart;
The tiger will be mild, while she doth mourn;
And Nero will be tainted with remorse,
To hear, and see, her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she's come to beg; Warwick, to give:
She, on his left side, craving aid for Henry;
He, on his right, asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps, and says—her Henry is depos'd;
He smiles, and says—his Edward is install'd;
That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more:
Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
Inferreth arguments of mighty strength;
And, in conclusion, wins the king from her,
With promise of his sister, and what else,
To strengthen and support king Edward's place.
O Margaret, thus 'twill be; and thou (poor soul)
Art then forsaken, as thou went'st forlorn.

Hum.
Say, what art thou, that talk'st of kings and queens? [starting out upon him.

K. H.
More than I seem, and less than I was born to:
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I?

Hum.
Ay, but thou talk'st as if thou wert a king.

K. H.
Why, so I am, in mind; and that's enough.

Hum.
But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?

K. H.
My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not deck'd with diamonds, and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen: my crown is call'd, content* ^note;
A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy.

Hum.
Well, if you be a king crown'd with content,
Your crown content, and you, must be contented
To go along with us; for, as we think,
You are the king, king Edward hath depos'd;
And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,
Will apprehend you as his enemy.

K. H.
But did you never swear and break an oath?

Hum.
No, never such an oath; nor will not now.

K. H.
Where did you dwell, when I was king of England?

Hum.
Here in this country, where we now remain.

K. H.
I was anointed king at nine months old;
My father, and my grandfather, were kings;
And you were sworn true subjects unto me:
And, tell me then, have you not broke your oaths?

Sin.
No; for we were subjects but while you were king.

K. H.
Why, am I dead? do I not breathe a man?
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear.
Look, as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust;
Such is the lightness of you common men‡ ^note.
But do not break your oaths; for, of that sin,
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.
Go where you will, the king shall be commanded;
And be you kings, command, and I'll obey.

Sin.
We are true subjects to the king, king Edward.

K. H.
So would you be again to Henry,
If he were seated as king Edward is.

Sin.
We charge you in Heav'n's name, and in the king's,
To go with us unto the officers.

K. H.
In Heav'n's name, lead; your king's name be obey'd:
And what Heav'n will, that let your king perform;
And what he will, I humbly yield unto. [Exeunt.

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