Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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SCENE V.
Manet King Henry.
K. Henry.
Indeed, the French may lay twenty French
crowns to one, they will beat us, for they bear them on
their shoulders; but it is no English treason to cut
French crowns, and to morrow the King himself will
be a clipper.
9 noteUpon the King! let us our lives, our souls,
Our debts, our careful wives, our children and
Our sins, lay on the King; he must bear all.
O hard condition, and twin-born with greatness,
Subject to breath of ev'ry fool, whose sense
No more can feel but his own wringing.
What infinite heart-ease must Kings neglect,
That private men enjoy? and what have Kings,
That private have not too, save ceremony?
Save gen'ral ceremony?—
&plquo;And what art thou, thou idol ceremony?
&plquo;What kind of God art thou, that suffer'st more
&plquo;Of mortal griefs, than do thy worshippers?
-- 390 --
&plquo;1 note
What are thy rents? what are thy comings-in?
&plquo;O ceremony, shew me but thy worth:
&plquo;What is thy toll, O adoration?
&plquo;Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form,
&plquo;Creating awe and fear in other men?
&plquo;Wherein thou art less happy, being fear'd,
&plquo;Than they in fearing.
&plquo;What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
&plquo;But poison'd flatt'ry? O be sick, great Greatness,
&plquo;And bid thy ceremony give thee cure.
&plquo;Think'st thou, the fiery fever will go out
&plquo;With titles blown from adulation?
&plquo;Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
&plquo;Can'st thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee,
&plquo;Command the health of it?&prquo; no, thou proud dream,
That play'st so subtly with a King's repose;
I am a King, that find thee; and I know,
&wlquo;'Tis not the balm, the scepter and the ball,
&wlquo;The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
&wlquo;The enter-tissued robe of gold and pearl,
&wlquo;The farsed title running 'fore the King,
&wlquo;The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
-- 391 --
&wlquo;That beats upon the high shoar of this world;
&wlquo;No, not all these thrice gorgeous ceremonies,
&wlquo;Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
&wlquo;Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave;
&wlquo;Who, with a body fill'd, and vacant mind,
&wlquo;Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread;
&wlquo;Never sees horrid night, the child of hell:
&wlquo;But, like a lacquey, from the rise to set,
&wlquo;Sweats in the eye of Phœbus; and all night
&wlquo;Sleeps in Elysium; next day, after dawn,
&wlquo;Doth rise, and help Hyperion to his horse;
&wlquo;And follows so the ever-running year
&wlquo;With profitable labour to his grave:
&wlquo;And (but for ceremony) such a wretch,
&wlquo;Winding up days with toil, and nights with sleep,
&wlquo;Hath the fore-hand and vantage of a King:&wrquo;
The slave, a member of the country's peace,
Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots,
What watch the King keeps to maintain the peace;
Whose hours the peasant best advantages.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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