按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
me； But whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for； I'm sure Thou hast a cruel nature
72
… Page 73…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
and a bloody。 ＇To CRANMER＇ Good man； sit down。 Now let me see the
proudest He that dares most but wag his finger at thee。 By all that's holy；
he had better starve Than but once think this place becomes thee not。
SURREY。 May it please your Grace KING。 No； sir； it does not please me。
I had thought I had had men of some understanding And wisdom of my
Council； but I find none。 Was it discretion； lords； to let this man； This good
manfew of you deserve that title This honest man； wait like a lousy
footboy At chamber door？ and one as great as you are？ Why； what a
shame was this！ Did my commission Bid ye so far forget yourselves？ I
gave ye Power as he was a councillor to try him； Not as a groom。 There's
some of ye； I see； More out of malice than integrity； Would try him to the
utmost； had ye mean； Which ye shall never have while I live。
CHANCELLOR。 Thus far； My most dread sovereign； may it like your
Grace To let my tongue excuse all。 What was purpos'd Concerning his
imprisonment was rather If there be faith in menmeant for his trial And
fair purgation to the world； than malice； I'm sure； in me。 KING。 Well； well；
my lords； respect him； Take him； and use him well； he's worthy of it。 I will
say thus much for him： if a prince May be beholding to a subject； Am for
his love and service so to him。 Make me no more ado； but all embrace him；
Be friends； for shame； my lords！ My Lord of Canterbury； I have a suit
which you must not deny me： That is； a fair young maid that yet wants
baptism； You must be godfather； and answer for her。 CRANMER。 The
greatest monarch now alive may glory In such an honour； how may I
deserve it； That am a poor and humble subject to you？ KING。 Come； come；
my lord； you'd spare your spoons。 You shall have Two noble partners with
you： the old Duchess of Norfolk And Lady Marquis Dorset。 Will these
please you？ Once more； my Lord of Winchester； I charge you； Embrace
and love this man。 GARDINER。 With a true heart And brother…love I do it。
CRANMER。 And let heaven Witness how dear I hold this confirmation。
KING。 Good man； those joyful tears show thy true heart。 The common
voice； I see； is verified Of thee； which says thus： 'Do my Lord of
Canterbury A shrewd turn and he's your friend for ever。' Come； lords； we
trifle time away； I long To have this young one made a Christian。 As I
have made ye one； lords； one remain； So I grow stronger； you more
73
… Page 74…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
honour gain。 Exeunt
74
… Page 75…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT V。 SCENE 4。
The palace yard
Noise and tumult within。 Enter PORTER and his MAN
PORTER。 You'll leave your noise anon； ye rascals。 Do you take the
court for Paris garden？ Ye rude slaves； leave your gaping。 ＇Within： Good
master porter； I belong to th' larder。＇ PORTER。 Belong to th' gallows； and
be hang'd； ye rogue！ Is this a place to roar in？ Fetch me a dozen crab…tree
staves； and strong ones； these are but switches to 'em。 I'll scratch your
heads。 You must be seeing christenings？ Do you look for ale and cakes
here； you rude rascals？ MAN。 Pray； sir； be patient； 'tis as much impossible；
Unless we sweep 'em from the door with cannons； To scatter 'em as 'tis to
make 'em sleep On May…day morning； which will never be。 We may as
well push against Paul's as stir 'em。 PORTER。 How got they in； and be
hang'd？ MAN。 Alas； I know not： how gets the tide in？ As much as one
sound cudgel of four foot You see the poor remaindercould distribute； I
made no spare； sir。 PORTER。 You did nothing； sir。 MAN。 I am not Samson；
nor Sir Guy； nor Colbrand； To mow 'em down before me； but if I spar'd
any That had a head to hit； either young or old； He or she； cuckold or
cuckold…maker； Let me ne'er hope to see a chine again； And that I would
not for a cow； God save her！ ＇ Within： Do you hear； master porter？＇
PORTER。 I shall be with you presently； good master puppy。 Keep the door
close； sirrah。 MAN。 What would you have me do？ PORTER。 What should
you do； but knock 'em down by th' dozens？ Is this Moorfields to muster in？
Or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court； the
women so besiege us？ Bless me； what a fry of fornication is at door！ On
my Christian conscience； this one christening will beget a thousand： here
will be father； godfather； and all together。 MAN。 The spoons will be the
bigger； sir。 There is a fellow somewhat near the door； he should be a
brazier by his face； for； o' my conscience； twenty of the dog…days now
reign in's nose； all that stand about him are under the line； they need no
other penance。 That fire…drake did I hit three times on the head； and three
times was his nose discharged against me； he stands there like a mortar…
piece； to blow us。 There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him；
75
… Page 76…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
that rail'd upon me till her pink'd porringer fell off her head； for kindling
such a combustion in the state。 I miss'd the meteor once； and hit that
woman； who cried out 'Clubs！' when I might see from far some forty
truncheoners draw to her succour； which were the hope o' th' Strand；
where she was quartered。 They fell on； I made good my place。 At length
they came to th' broomstaff to me； I defied 'em still； when suddenly a file
of boys behind 'em； loose shot； deliver'd such a show'r of pebbles that I
was fain to draw mine honour in and let 'em win the work： the devil was
amongst 'em； I think surely。 PORTER。 These are the youths that thunder at
a playhouse and fight for bitten apples； that no audience but the tribulation
of Tower…hill or the limbs of Limehouse； their dear brothers； are able to
endure。 I have some of 'em in Limbo Patrum； and there they are like to
dance these three days； besides the running banquet of two beadles that is
to come。
Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN
CHAMBERLAIN。 Mercy o' me； what a multitude are here！ They
grow still too； from all parts they are coming； As if we kept a fair here！
Where are these porters； These lazy knaves？ Y'have made a fine hand；
fellows。 There's a trim rabble let in： are all these Your faithful friends o' th'
suburbs？ We shall have Great store of room； no doubt； left for the ladies；
When they pass back from the christening。 PORTER。 An't please your
honour； We are but men； and what so many may do； Not being torn a
pieces； we have done。 An army cannot rule 'em。 CHAMBERLAIN。 As I
live； If the King blame me for't； I'll lay ye all By th' heels； and suddenly；
and on your heads Clap round fines for neglect。 Y'are lazy knaves； And
here ye lie baiting of bombards； when Ye should do service。 Hark！ the
trumpets sound； Th' are come already from the christening。 Go break
among the press and find a way out To let the troops pass fairly； or I'll find
A Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months。 PORTER。 Make way
there for the Princess。 MAN。 You great fellow； Stand close up； or I'll make
your head ache。 PORTER。 You i' th' camlet； get up o' th' rail； I'll peck you
o'er the pales else。 Exeunt
76
… Page 77…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT V。 SCENE 5。
The palace
Enter TRUMPETS； sounding； then two ALDERMEN； LORD
MAYOR； GARTER； CRANMER； DUKE OF NORFOLK； with his
marshal's staff； DUKE OF SUFFOLK； two Noblemen bearing great
standing…bowls for the christening gifts；