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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 8
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Henry VI, Part 2 - Act 4, scene 8Act 4, scene 8
⌜Scene 8⌝
Synopsis:
Lord Clifford and Buckingham persuade Cade’s followers to return to King Henry. Cade flees.
Alarum, and retreat. Enter again Cade andall his rabblement.
CADE 2656 Up Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner!
2657 Kill and knock down! Throw them into Thames!
Sound a parley.
2658 What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to
2659 sound retreat or parley when I command them
2660 5 kill?
Enter Buckingham and old Clifford ⌜with Attendants.⌝
BUCKINGHAM
2661 Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
2662 Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
2663 Unto the Commons, whom thou hast misled,
2664 And here pronounce free pardon to them all
2665 10 That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
CLIFFORD
2666 What say you, countrymen? Will you relent
2667 And yield to mercy whil’st ’tis offered you,
2668 Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths?
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207
2669
Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,2670 15 Fling up his cap and say “God save his Majesty!”
2671 Who hateth him and honors not his father,
2672 Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
2673 Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
ALL 2674 God save the King! God save the King!
⌜They fling their caps in the air.⌝
CADE 2675 20What, Buckingham and Clifford, are you so
2676 brave?—And, you base peasants, do you believe
2677 him? Will you needs be hanged with your pardons
2678 about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke
2679 through London gates, that you should leave me at
2680 25 the White Hart in Southwark? I thought you
2681 would never have given out these arms till you had
2682 recovered your ancient freedom. But you are all
2683 recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery
2684 to the nobility. Let them break your backs with
2685 30 burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish
2686 your wives and daughters before your faces. For
2687 me, I will make shift for one, and so God’s curse
2688 light upon you all!
ALL 2689 We’ll follow Cade! We’ll follow Cade!
CLIFFORD 2690 35Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
2691 That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
2692 Will he conduct you through the heart of France
2693 And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
2694 Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to,
2695 40 Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
2696 Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
2697 Were ’t not a shame that, whilst you live at jar,
2698 The fearful French, whom you late vanquishèd,
2699 Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
2700 45 Methinks already in this civil broil
2701 I see them lording it in London streets,
2702 Crying “Villiago!” unto all they meet.
2703 Better ten thousand baseborn Cades miscarry
p.
209
2704
Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.2705 50 To France, to France, and get what you have lost!
2706 Spare England, for it is your native coast.
2707 Henry hath money; you are strong and manly.
2708 God on our side, doubt not of victory.
ALL
2709 À Clifford! À Clifford! We’ll follow the King and
2710 55 Clifford!
CADE, ⌜aside⌝ 2711 Was ever feather so lightly blown to and
2712 fro as this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth
2713 hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes
2714 them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads
2715 60 together to surprise me. My sword make way for
2716 me, for here is no staying!—In despite of the devils
2717 and hell, have through the very middest of you!
2718 And heavens and honor be witness that no want of
2719 resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and
2720 65 ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my
2721 heels.He exits, ⌜running.⌝
BUCKINGHAM
2722 What, is he fled? Go, some, and follow him;
2723 And he that brings his head unto the King
2724 Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
Some of them exit.
2725 70 Follow me, soldiers. We’ll devise a means
2726 To reconcile you all unto the King.
All exit.