john old castle(约翰古老的城堡)-第12节
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with peasants： gentry is divine； But thou hast made it more than popular。
ACTON。 Pardon； my Lord； my conscience urged me to it。
KING。 Thy conscience？ then thy conscience is corrupt； For in thy
conscience thou art bound to us； And in thy conscience thou shouldst love
thy country； Else what's the difference twixt a Christian And the uncivil
manners of the Turk？
BEVERLEY。 We meant no hurt unto your majesty； But reformation of
Religion。
KING。 Reform Religion？ was it that ye sought？ I pray who gave you
that authority？ Belike； then； we do hold the scepter up And sit within the
throne but for a cipher。 Time was； good subjects would make known their
grief And pray amendment； not enforce the same； Unless their King were
tyrant； which I hope You cannot justly say that Harry is。 What is that
other？
SUFFOLK。 A malt…man； my Lord； And dwelling in Dunstable as he
says。
KING。 Sirra； what made you leave your barley broth； To come in
armour thus against your King？
MURLEY。 Fie； paltry； paltry； to and fro； in and out upon occasion；
what a world's this！ Knight…hood （my liege） twas knight…hood brought
me hither。 They told me I had wealth enough to make my wife a lady。
KING。 And so you brought those horses which we saw； Trapped all in
costly furniture； and meant To wear these spurs when you were knighted
once？
MURLEY。 In and out upon occasion； I did。
KING。 In and out upon occasion； therefore； You shall be handed； and
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in the stead of wearing These spurs upon your heels； about your neck They
shall bewray your folly to the world。
SIR JOHN。 In and out upon occasion； that goes hard。
MURLEY。 Fie； paltry； paltry； to and fro； good my liege； a pardon。 I
am sorry for my fault。
KING。 That comes too late： but tell me； went there none Beside sir
Roger Acton； upon whom You did depend to be your governour？
MURLEY。 None； none； my Lord； but sir John Old…castle。
KING。 Bears he part in this conspiracy？
＇Enter Bishop。＇
ACTON。 We looked； my Lord； that he would meet us here。
KING。 But did he promise you that he would come？
ACTON。 Such letters we received forth of Kent。
BISHOP。 Where is my Lord the King？Health to your grace。
Examining； my Lord； some of these caitive rebels； It is a general voice
amongst them all； That they had never come unto this place； But to have
met their valiant general； The good Lord Cobham； as they title him：
Whereby； my Lord； your grace may now perceive； His treason is apparent；
which before He sought to colour by his flattery。
KING。 Now； by my royalty； I would have sworn But for his conscience；
which I bear withal； There had not lived a more true hearted subject。
BISHOP。 It is but counterfeit； my gracious lord； And therefore； may it
please your majesty To set your hand unto this precept here； By which
we'll cause him forthwith to appear； And answer this by order of the law。
KING。 Bishop； not only that； but take commission To search； attach；
imprison； and condemn This most notorious traitor as you please。
BISHOP。 It shall be done； my Lord； without delay。 So now I hold；
Lord Cobham； in my hand； That which shall finish thy disdained life。
KING。 I think the iron age begins but now； （Which learned poets have
so often taught） Wherein there is no credit to be given； To either words； or
looks； or solemn oaths。 For if there were； how often hath he sworn； How
gently tuned the music of his tongue； And with what amiable face beheld
he me； When all； God knows； was but hypocricy。
＇Enter Cobham。＇
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COBHAM。 Long life and prosperous reign unto my lord。
KING。 Ah； villain； canst thou wish prosperity； Whose heart includeth
naught but treachery？ I do arrest thee here my self； false knight； Of treason
capital against the state。
COBHAM。 Of treason； mighty prince？ your grace mistakes。 I hope it
is but in the way of mirth。
KING。 Thy neck shall feel it is in earnest shortly。 Darst thou intrude
into our presence； knowing How heinously thou hast offended us？ But this
is thy accustomed deceit； Now thou perceivest thy purpose is in vain； With
some excuse or other thou wilt come； To clear thy self of this rebellion。
COBHAM。 Rebellion； good my Lord？ I know of none。
KING。 If you deny it； here is evidence。 See you these men？ you never
counseled； Nor offered them assistance in their wars？
COBHAM。 Speak； sirs。 Not one but all； I crave no favour。 Have ever
I been conversant with you； Or written letters to encourage you； Or
kindled but the least or smallest part Of this your late unnatural rebellion？
Speak； for I dare the uttermost you can。
MURLEY。 In and out upon occasion； I know you not。
KING。 No？ didst not say that sir John Old…castle Was one with whom
you purposed to have met？
MURLEY。 True； I did say so； but in what respect？ Because I heard it
was reported so。
KING。 Was there no other argument but that？
ACTON。 To clear my conscience ere I die； my lord； I must confess； we
have no other ground But only Rumor； to accuse this lord； Which now I
see was merely fabulous。
KING。 The more pernitious you to taint him then； Whom you knew not
was faulty； yea or no。
COBHAM。 Let this； my Lord； which I present your grace； Speak for
my loyalty： read these articles； And then give sentence of my life or
death。
KING。 Earl Cambridge； Scroop； and Gray corrupted With bribes from
Charles of France； either to win My Crown from me； or secretly contrive
My death by treason？ Is this possible？
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COBHAM。 There is the platform； and their hands； my lord； Each
severally subscribed to the same。
KING。 Oh never heard of； base ingratitude！ Even those I hug within
my bosom most Are readiest evermore to sting my heart。 Pardon me；
Cobham； I have done thee wrong； Hereafter I will live to make amends。 Is；
then； their time of meeting no near hand？ We'll meet with them； but little
for their ease； If God permit。 Go； take these rebels hence； Let them have
martial law： but as for thee； Friend to thy king and country； still be free。
＇Exeunt。＇
MURLEY。 Be it more or less； what a world is this？ Would I had
continued still of the order of knaves； And never sought knighthood； since
it costs so dear。 Sir Roger； I may thank you for all。
ACTON。 Now tis too late to have it remedied； I prithee； Murley； do
not urge me with it。
HUNTINGTON。 Will you away； and make no more to do？
MURLEY。 Fie； paltry； paltry！ to and fro； as occasion serves； If you be
so hasty； take my place。
HUNTINGTON。 No； good sir knight； you shall begin in your hand。
MURLEY。 I could be glad to give my betters place。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。 Kent。 Court before lord Cobham's
house。
＇Enter Bishop； lord Warden； Cromer the Shrieve； Lady Cob； and
attendants。＇
BISHOP。 I tell ye； Lady； it's not possible But you should know where
he conveys himself； And you have hid him in some secret place。
LADY COBHAM。 My Lord； believe me； as I have a soul； I know not
where my lord my husband is。
BISHOP。 Go to； go to； ye are an heretic； And will be forced by torture
to confess； If fair means will not serve to make ye tell。
LADY COBHAM。 My husband is a noble gentleman； And need not
hide himself for any fact That ere I heard of； therefore wrong him not。
BISHOP。 Your husband is a dangerous schismatic； Traitor to God； the
King； and common wealth： And therefore； master Croamer； shrieve of
Kent； I charge you take her to your custody； And seize the goods of Sir
John Old…castle To the King's use。 Let her go in no more； To fetch so
much as her apparel out。 T
