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More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
Which ye shal never have, while I live.

Chan.

Thus far, My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace To let my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd Concerning his imprisonment, was rather (If there be faith in men) meant for his trial, And fair purgation to the world, than malice, I am sure, in me.

K. Hen. Well, well, my lords, respect him;
Take him, and use him well, he is worthy of it.
I will say thus much for him, If a prince
May be beholden to a subject, I

Am. for his love and service, so to him.
Make me no more ado, but all embrace him;

Man. I am not Samson, nor sir Guy, nor Colbrand, to mow them down before me: but, if I spared any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would not for a cow, God save her.

[Within.] Do you hear, master porter? Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy.-Keep the door close, sirrah.

Man. What would you have me do?

Port. What should you do but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us! Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my Christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thou

Be friends, for shame, my lords.-My lord of Canter-sand; here will be father, godfather, and all together.
I have a suit which you must not deny me; [bury,
That is, a fair young maid that yet wants baptism,
You must be godfather, and answer for her.

Cran. The greatest monarch now alive may glory In such an honor: How may I deserve it, That am a poor and humble subject to you?

K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your spoons; you shall have

Two noble partners with you; the old duchess of Norfolk,

And lady marquis Dorset; Will these please you? Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you, Embrace, and love this man.

With a true heart,

Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nose; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: That fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me; he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that rail'd upon me till her pink'd porringer' fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I miss'd the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cried out, clubs! when I might see from far some forty truncheoneers draw to her succor, which were the hope of the Strand, where she was quartered. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff with me, I defied them still; when suddenly a file of boys behind them, loose shot, delivered such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain draw mine honor in, and let them win the work : The devil was amongst them, I think, surely.

Gar.
And brother-love, I do it.
Cran.
And let heaven
Witness, how dear I hold this confirmation.
K. Hen. Good man, those joyful tears show thy
The common voice, I see, is verified [true heart.
Of thee, which says thus, Do my lord of Canterbury
A shrewd turn, and he is your friend forever.—to
Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long
To have this young one made a Christian.
As I have made ye one, lords, one remain;
So I grow stronger, you more honor gain. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The Palace Yard.

Noise and Tumult within. Enter Porter and his Man. Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals: Do you take the court for Paris-garden ?2 ye rude slaves, leave your gaping."

[Within.] Good master porter, I belong to the larder.

Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, you rogue: Is this the place to roar in?-Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are but switches to them.-I'll scratch your heads: You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cake here, you rude rascals?

Man. Pray, sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible (Unless we sweep them from the door with cannons) To scatter them, as 'tis to make them sleep On May-day morning; which will never be: We may as well push against Paul's, as stir them. Port. How got they in, and be hang'd? Man. Alas, I know not: How gets the tide in? As much as one sound cudgel of four foot (You see the poor remainder) could distribute, I made no spare, sir.

Port.

You did nothing, sir.

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Port. These are the youths that thunder at a play-house, and fight for bitten-apples; that no audience, but the Tribulation of Tower-hill, or the Limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able to endure. I have some of them in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles,' that is to come.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here They grow still too, from all parts they are coming, As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters, These lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand.

fellows,

There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have
Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,,
When they pass back from the christening.

Port.
An't please your honor,
We are but men; and what so many may do,
Not being torn a pieces, we have done :
An army cannot rule them.

Cham.

As I live,
If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all

By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads
Clap round fines, for neglect: You are lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bumbards," when

4 Guy of Warwick, nor Colbrand the Danish giant.
Pink'd cap.
The brazier.

Place of confinement.

A dessert of whipping.

Black leather vessels to hold beer.

Ye should do service. Hark, the trumpets sound;
They are come already from the christening:
Go, break among the press, and find a way out
To let the troop pass fairly; or I'll find

A Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months.
Port. Make way there for the princess.

Mun. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ache.

Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll pick' you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt.

FOLK,

SCENE IV.-The Palace."

Enter Trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, DUKE OF NORwith his Marshal's Stuff, DUKE OF SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing Bowls for the Christening Gifts; then four Noblemen, bearing a Canopy, under which the DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, Godmother, bearing the Child richly habited in a Mantle, &c., Train borne by a Lady; then follows the MARCHIONESS OF DORSET, the other Godmother, and Ladies. The Troop pass once about the Stage, and Garter speaks.

Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth.

Flourish. Enter KING, and Train. Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and the good queen,

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray :-
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,
May hourly fall upon ye!

K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop; What is her name?

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K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:

I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
When she has so much English.

Cran.
Let me speak, sir,
For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find them truth.
This royal infant, (Heaven still move about her!)
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness: She shall be
(hut few now living can behold that goodness)
A pattern to all princes living with her,
And all that shall succeed: Sheba was never

| More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue,
Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,
That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be lov'd and fear'd: Her own shall bless her
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
And hang their heads with sorrow: Good grows
with her:

|
In her days, every man shall eat in safety
Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbors.
God shall be truly known; and those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor,
And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
[Nor shall this peace sleep with her: But as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
Her ashes new create another heir,
As great in admiration as herself;
So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
(When heaven shall call her from this cloud of
darkness,)

Who, from the sacred ashes of her honor,
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
That were the servants to this chosen infant,
And so stand fix'd: Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him;
Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
His honor and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations: He shall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him:- -Our children's
children

Shall see this, and bless heaven.

K. Hen.
Thou speakest wonders.]
Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England,
An aged princess; many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
'Would I had known no more! but she must die,
She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,
A most unspotted lily shall she pass
To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
K. Hen. O lord archbishop,

Thou hast made me now a man; never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me,
That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire
To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.-
I thank ye all:-To you, my good lord mayor,
And your good brethren, I am much beholden;
I have received much honor by your presence,
And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords;
Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
He has business at his house; for all shall stay:
This little one shall make it holiday. [Exeunt.

EPILOGUE.

'Tis ten to one, this play can never please
All that are here: Some come to take their ease,
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,
They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty!
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to hear

1 Pitch

2 At Greenwich

For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful construction of good women;
For such a one we show'd them; If they smile,
And say, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours; for, 'tis ill hap,
If they hold, when their ladies bid them clap.

This and the following seventeen lines were probably written by B. Jonson, after the accession of king James.

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ANTENOR,

Trojan Commanders.

PATROCLUS,

CALCHAS, a Trojan Priest, taking part with the THERSITES, a deformed and scurrilous Grecian.

Greeks.

PANDARUS, Uncle to Cressida.

MARGARELON, a bastard son of Priam.

ALEXANDER, Servant to Cressida.

Servant to Troilus; Servant to Paris; Servant to
Diomedes.

HELEN, Wife to Menelaus.
ANDROMACHE, Wife to Hector.

CASSANDRA, Daughter to Priam, a Prophetess.
CRESSIDA, Daughter to Calchas.

Trojan and Greek Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Troy, and the Grecian Camp before it.

PROLOGUE.

In Troy there lies the scene. From isles of Greece | And Antenorides, with massy staples,

The princes orgulous,' their high blood chafed,

Have to the port of Athens sent their ships,
Fraught with the ministers and instruments
Of cruel war: Sixty and nine, that wore
Their crownets regal, from the Athenian bay
Put forth toward Phrygia: and their vow is made,
To ransack Troy; within whose strong immures
The ravish'd Helen, Menelaus' queen,

With wanton Paris sleeps; and that's the quarrel.
To Tenedos they come;

And the deep-drawing barks do there disgorge
Their warlike fraughtage: Now on Dardan plains
The fresh and yet unbruised Greeks do pitch
Their brave pavilions: Priam's six-gated city,
Dardan, and Tymbria, Ilias, Chetas, Trojan,

And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts,
Speer up the sons of Troy.

Now, expectation, tickling skittish spirits,
On one and other side, Trojan and Greek,
Sets all on hazard:--And hither am I come
A prologue arm'd,—but not in 'confidence
Of author's pen, or actor's voice; but suited
In like conditions as our argument,-
To tell you, fair beholders, that our play
Leaps o'er the vaunt' and firstlings of those br. ils,
'Ginning in the middle; starting thence away
To what may be digested in a play.
Like, or find fault; do as your pleasures are;.
Now good, or bad, 'tis but the chance of war.

ACT I.

SCENE I-Troy. Before Priam's Palace.

Enter TROILUs, armed, and PANDARUS. Tro. Call here my varlet,' I'll unarm again: Why should I war without the walls of Troy, Proud, disdainful.

2 Freight.

Servant.

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