john old castle(约翰古老的城堡)-第9节
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ding down the enemy to morrow； ye shall not come into the field like
beggars。 Where be Leonard and Laurence； my two loaders？ Lord have
mercy upon us； what a world is this？ I would give a couple of shillings
for a dozen of good feathers for ye； and forty pence for as many scarfs to
set ye out withal。 Frost and snow！ a man has no heart to fight till he be
brave。
DICK。 Master； I hope we be no babes。 For our manhood； our
bucklers and our town foot…balls can bear witness： and this light parrel
we have shall off； and we'll fight naked afore we run away。
TOM。 Nay； I am of Laurence mind for that； for he means to leave his
life behind him； he and Leonard； your two loaders； are making their
wills because they have wives。 Now we Bachelors bid our friends
scramble for our goods if we die： but； master； pray ye； let me ride upon
Cutte。
MURLEY。 Meal and salt； wheat and malt； fire and tow； frost and
snow！ why； Tom； thou shalt。 Let me see： here are you； William and
George are with my cart； and Robin and Hodge holding my own two
horses： proper men； handsome men； tall men； true men。
DICK。 But； master； master； me thinks you are a mad man to hazard
your own person and a cart load of money too。
TOM。 Yea； and； master； there's a worse matter in't。 If it be as I heard
say； we go to fight against all the learned Bishops； that should give us their
blessing； and if they curse us； we shall speed ne'er the better。
DICK。 Nay； bir lady； some say the King takes their part； and； master；
dare you fight against the King？
MURLEY。 Fie； paltry； paltry！ in and out； to and fro； upon occasion； if
the King be so unwise to come there； we'll fight with him too。
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TOM。 What； if ye should kill the King？
MURLEY。 Then we'll make another。
DICK。 Is that all？ do ye not speak treason？
MURLEY。 If we do； who dare trip us？ we come to fight for our
conscience； and for honor。 Little know you what is in my bosom； look
here； mad knaves； a pair of gilt spurs。
TOM。 A pair of golden spurs？ Why do you not put them on your
heels？ Your bosom's no place for spurs。
MURLEY。 Be't more or less upon occasion； Lord have mercy upon us；
Tom； th'art a fool； and thou speakest treason to knighthood。 Dare any wear
golden or silver spurs till he be a knight？ No； I shall be knighted to
morrow； and then they shall on。 Sirs； was it ever read in the church book
of Dunstable； that ever malt man was made knight？
TOM。 No； but you are more： you are meal…man； maltman； miller；
corn…master and all。
DICK。 Yea； and half a brewer too； and the devil and all for wealth。 You
bring more money with you； than all the rest。
MURLEY。 The more's my honor。 I shall be a knight to morrow！
Let me spose my men： Tom upon cut； Dick upon hob； Hodge upon Ball；
Raph upon Sorell； and Robin upon the forehorse。
＇Enter Acton； Bourne； and Beverly。＇
TOM。 Stand； who comes there？
ACTON。 All friends； good fellow。
MURLEY。 Friends and fellows； indeed； sir Roger。
ACTON。 Why； thus you shew your self a Gentleman； To keep your
day； and come so well prepared。 Your cart stands yonder； guarded by your
men； Who tell me it is loaden with coin。 What sum is there？
MURLEY。 Ten thousand pound； sir Roger： and modestly； decently；
soberly； and handsomely； see what I have here against I be knighted。
ACTON。 Gilt spurs？ tis well。
MURLEY。 But where's your army； sir？
ACTON。 Dispersed in sundry villages about： Some here with us in
Highgate； some at Finchley； Totnam； Enfield； Edmunton； Newington；
Islington； Hogsdon； Pancredge； Kensington； Some nearer Thames；
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Ratcliffe； Blackwall and Bow； But our chief strength must be the
Londoners； Which； ere the Sun to morrow shine； Will be near fifty
thousand in the field。
MURLEY。 Mary； God dild ye； dainty my dear！ but upon occasion； sir
Roger Acton； doth not the King know of it； and gather his power against
us？
ACTON。 No； he's secure at Eltham。
MURLEY。 What do the Clergy？
ACTON。 Fear extremely； yet prepare no force。
MURLEY。 In and out； to and fro； Bully my boikin； we shall carry the
world afore us！ I vow by my worship； when I am knighted； we'll take
the King napping； if he stand on their part。
ACTON。 This night we few in Highgate will repose。 With the first
cock we'll rise and arm our selves； To be in Ficket field by break of day；
And there expect our General。
MURLEY。 Sir John Old…castle？ what if he come not？
BOURNE。 Yet our action stands。 Sir Roger Acton may supply his
place。
MURLEY。 True； Master Bourne； but who shall make me knight？
BEVERLY。 He that hath power to be our General。
ACTON。 Talk not of trifles； come； let's away。 Our friends of London
long till it be day。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE III。 A high road in Kent。
＇Enter sir John of Wrotham and Doll。＇
DOLL。 By my troth； thou art as jealous a man as lives。
PRIEST。 Canst thou blame me； Doll？ thou art my lands； my goods； my
jewels； my wealth； my purse。 None walks within xl。 miles of London；
but a plies thee as truly as the parish does the poor man's box。
DOLL。 I am as true to thee as the stone is in the wall； and thou
knowest well enough； sir John； I was in as good doing； when I came to
thee； as any wench need to be； and therefore thou hast tried me； that thou
hast： by God's body； I will not be kept as I have been； that I will not。
PRIEST。 Doll； if this blade hold； there's not a peddlar walks with a
pack； but thou shalt as boldly choose of his wares； as with thy ready
money in a Merchant's shop。 We'll have as good silver as the King
coins any。
DOLL。 What； is all the gold spent you took the last day from the
Courtier？
PRIEST。 Tis gone； Doll； tis flown； merely come； merely gone： he
comes a horse back that much pay for all。 We'll have as good meat as
money can get； and as good gowns as can be bought for gold。 Be merry；
wench； the malt…man comes on Monday。
DOLL。 You might have left me at Cobham； until you had been better
provided for。
PRIEST。 No； sweet Doll； no： I do not like that。 Yond old ruffian is
not for the priest： I do not like a new clerk should come in the old belfry。
DOLL。 Ah； thou art a mad priest； yfaith。
PRIEST。 Come； Doll； I'll see thee safe at some alehouse here at Cray；
and the next sheep that comes shall leave his fleece。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SCENE IV。 Blackheath。
＇Enter the King； Suffolk and Butler。＇
KING。 ＇In great haste。＇ My lord of Suffolk； post away for life； And
let our forces of such horse and foot； As can be gathered up by any means；
Make speedy rendezvous in Tuttle fields。 It must be done this evening； my
Lord； This night the rebels mean to draw to head Near Islington； which if
your speed prevent not； If once they should unite their several forces；
Their power is almost thought invincible。 Away； my Lord； I will be with
you soon。
SUFFOLK。 I go； my Sovereign； with all happy speed。
＇Exit。＇
KING。 Make haste； my lord of Suffolk； as you love us。 Butler； post
you to London with all speed； Command t
