sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第7节
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mercy meekly of my king； I patiently submit me to the law； But God
forgive them that were cause of it！ And； as a Christian； truly from my heart
I likewise crave they would forgive me too （As freely as I do forgive their
wrong） That others by example of the same Henceforth be warned to
attempt the like Gainst any alien that repaireth hither。 Fare ye well； all： the
next time that we meet； I trust in heaven we shall each other greet。
＇He leaps off。＇
DOLL。 Farewell； John Lincoln： say all what they can； Thou liv'dst a
good fellow； and diedst an honest man。
CLOWN。 Would I wear so fair on my journey！ the first stretch is the
worst； me thinks。
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SHERIFF。 Bring Williamson there forward。
DOLL。 Good Master Shrieve； I have an earnest suit； And； as you are a
man； deny't me not。
SHERIFF。 Woman； what is it？ be it in my power； Thou shalt obtain it。
DOLL。 Let me die next； sir； that is all I crave： You know not what a
comfort you shall bring To my poor heart； to die before my husband。
SHERIFF。 Bring her to death； she shall have her desire。
CLOWN。 Sir； and I have a suit for you too。
SHERIFF。 What is it？
CLOWN。 That； as you have hanged Lincoln first； and will hang her
next； so you will not hang me at all。
SHERIFF。 Nay； you set ope' the Counter gates； and you must hang for
the folly。
CLOWN。 Well； then； so much for it！
DOLL。 Sir； your free bounty much contents my mind。 Commend me
to that good shrieve Master More； And tell him； had't not been for his
persuasion； John Lincoln had not hung here as he does： We would first
have locked us up in Leadenhall； And there been burnt to ashes with the
roof。
SHERIFF。 Woman； what Master More did was a subject's duty； And
hath so pleased our gracious lord the king； That he is hence removed to
higher place； And made of council to his majesty。
DOLL。 Well is he worthy of it； by my troth； An honest； wise； well
spoken gentleman； Yet would I praise his honesty much more； If he had
kept his word； and saved our lives： But let that pass； men are but men； and
so Words are but words； and pays not what men owe。 You； husband；
since perhaps the world may say That through my means thou comest thus
to thy end； Here I begin this cup of death to thee； Because thou shalt be
sure to taste no worse Than I have taken that must go before thee。 What
though I be a woman？ that's no matter； I do owe God a death； and I must
pay him。 Husband； give me thy hand； be not dismayed； This chair being
chaired； then all our debt is paid。 Only two little babes we leave behind us；
And all I can bequeath them at this time Is but the love of some good
honest friend； To bring them up in charitable sort： What； masters！ he goes
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SIR THOMAS MORE
upright that never halts； And they may live to mend their parents' faults。
WILLIAMSON。 Why； well said； wife； yfaith； thou cheerest my heart：
Give me thy hand； let's kiss； and so let's part。
＇He kisses her on the ladder。＇
DOLL。 The next kiss； Williamson； shall be in heaven。 Now cheerily；
lads！ George Betts； a hand with thee； And thine too； Rafe； and thine； good
honest Sherwin。 Now let me tell the women of this town； No stranger yet
brought Doll to lying down： So long as I an Englishman can see； Nor
French nor Dutch shall get a kiss of me； And when that I am dead； for me
yet say； I died in scorn to be a stranger's prey。
＇A great shout and noise； cry within 'Pardon； pardon； pardon； pardon！
Room for the Earl of Surrey； room there； room！'。＇
＇Enter Surrey。＇
SURREY。 Save the man's life； if it be possible。
SHERIFF。 It is too late； my lord； he's dead already。
SURREY。 I tell ye； Master Sheriff； you are too forward； To make such
haste with men unto their death； I think your pains will merit little thanks；
Since that his highness is so merciful As not to spill the blood of any
subject。
SHERIFF。 My noble lord； would we so much had known！ The
Councils' warrant hastened our dispatch； It had not else been done so
suddenly。
SURREY。 Sir Thomas More humbly upon his knee Did beg the lives
of all； since on his word They did so gently yield： the king hath granted it；
And made him Lord High Chancellor of England。 According as he
worthily deserves。 Since Lincoln's life cannot be had again； Then for the
rest； from my dread sovereign's lips； I here pronounce free pardon for
them all。
ALL。 God save the king； God save the king！ My good Lord
Chancellor； and the Earl of Surrey！
＇Flinging up caps。＇
DOLL。 And Doll desires it from her very heart； More's name may live
for this right noble part； And whensoere we talk of ill May day； Praise
More。。。。
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SURREY。 In hope his highness' clemency and mercy； Which in the
arms of mild and meek compassion Would rather clip you； as the loving
nurse Oft doth the wayward infant； then to leave you To the sharp rod of
justice； so to draw you To shun such lewd assemblies as beget Unlawful
riots and such traitorous acts； That； striking with the hand of private hate；
Maim your dear country with a public wound： Oh God； that Mercy；
whose majestic brow Should be unwrinkled； and that awful Justice； Which
looketh through a vail of sufferance Upon the frailty of the multitude；
Should with the clamours of outrageous wrongs Be stirred and wakened
thus to punishment！ But your deserved death he doth forgive： Who gives
you life； pray all he long may live。
ALL。 God save the king； God save the king！ My good Lord
Chancellor； and the Earl of Surrey！
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE II。 Chelsea。 A Room in More's House。
＇A table being covered with a green carpet； a state cushion on it； and
the Purse and Mace lying thereon； enter Sir Thomas More。＇
MORE。 it is in heaven that I am thus and thus； And that which we
profanely term our fortunes Is the provision of the power above； Fitted and
shaped just to that strength of nature Which we are borne withal。 Good
God； good Go； That I from such an humble bench of birth Should step as
twere up to my country's head； And give the law out there！ I； in my father's
life； To take prerogative and tithe of knees From elder kinsmen； and him
bind by my place To give the smooth and dexter way to me That owe it
him by nature！ Sure； these things； Not physicked by respect； might turn
our blood To much corruption： but； More； the more thou hast； Either of
honor； office； wealth； and calling； Which might excite thee to embrace and
hub them； The more doe thou in serpents' natures think them； Fear their
gay skins with thought of their sharp state； And let this be thy maxim； to
be great Is when the thread of hayday is once 'spon； A bottom great wound
up great undone。 Come on； sir： are you ready？
＇Enter Randall； attired like Sir Thomas More。＇
RANDALL。 Yes； my lord； I stand but on a few points； I shall have
done presently。 Before God； I have practised your lordship's shift so well；
that I think I shall grow proud； my lord。
MORE。 Tis fit thou shouldst wax proud； or else thou'lt ne'er Be near
allied to greatness。 Observe me； sirrah。 The learned clark Erasmus is
arrived Within our English court： last night I hear He feasted with our
honored English poet； The Earl of Surrey； and I learned today The famous
clark of Rotterdam will visit Sir Thomas More。 Therefore； sir； take my
seat； you are Lord Chancellor： dress your behavior According to my
carriage； but beware You talk not over much； for twill betray thee： Who
prates not much seems wise； his wit few scan； While the tongue blabs
tales of the imperfect man。 I'll see if great Erasmus can distinguish Merit
and outward cerem
