1 KEEPER
Under this thick-grown brake we’ll shroud ourselves,
For through this laund the deer will come;
And in this covert will we make our stand,
Culling the principal of all the deer.
2 KEEPER
I’ll stay above the hill, so both may shoot.
1 KEEPER
That cannot be; the noise of crossbow
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 what befell me on a day
In this self place where now we mean to stand.
2 KEEPER
Here comes a man; let’s stay till he be past.
KING HENRY
From Scotland am I stolen, even of pure love,
To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.
No, Harry, Harry, no land of ;
place is filled, sceptre wrung from ,
balm washed off wherewith wast anointed.
No bending knee will call Caesar now,
No humble suitors press to speak for right,
No, not a man comes for redress of ;
For how can I help them and not myself?
1 KEEPER
Ay, here’s a deer whose skin’s a keeper’s fee.
This is the quondam king; let’s seize upon him.
KING HENRY
Let me embrace , sour adversity,
For wise men say it is the wisest course.
2 KEEPER
Why linger we? Let us lay hands upon him.
1 KEEPER
Forbear awhile; we’ll hear a little more.
KING HENRY
My queen and son are gone to France for aid;
And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
Is 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 pitied much.
Her sighs will make a batt’ry in his breast,
Her tears will pierce into a marble heart;
The tiger will be mild whiles she 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 deposed;
He smiles and says his Edward is installed;
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 , poor soul,
Art then forsaken, as went’st forlorn.
2 KEEPER
Say, what art , that talk’st of kings and queens?
KING HENRY
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?
2 KEEPER
Ay, but talk’st as if wert a king.
KING HENRY
Why, so I am, in mind; and that’s enough.
2 KEEPER
But, if be a king, where is crown?
KING HENRY
My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Not to be seen. My crown is called content;
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
2 KEEPER
Well, if you be a king crowned 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 deposed;
And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,
Will apprehend you as his enemy.
KING HENRY
But did you never swear, and break an oath?
2 KEEPER
No, never such an oath; nor will not now.
KING HENRY
Where did you dwell when I was King of England?
2 KEEPER
Here in this country, where we now remain.
KING HENRY
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?
1 KEEPER
No, for we were subjects but while you were king.
KING HENRY
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.
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.
1 KEEPER
We are true subjects to the King, King Edward.
KING HENRY
So would you be again to Henry
If he were seated as King Edward is.
1 KEEPER
We charge you, in God’s name and the King’s
To go with us unto the officers.
KING HENRY
In God’s name, lead; your king’s name be obeyed,
And what God will, that let your king perform;
And what he will, I humbly yield unto.