To offer service to the duke of Hereford; North. Have you forgot the duke of Hereford, boy? North. Then learn to know him now; this is the duke. Percy. My gracious lord, I tender you my service, Such as it is, being tender, raw, and young; Which elder days shall ripen, and confirm To more approved service and desert. Bol. I thank thee, gentle Percy; and be sure, I count myself in nothing else so happy, As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends; And, as my fortune ripens with thy love, It shall be still thy true love's recompense: My heart this covenant makes, my hand thus seals it. North. How far is it to Berkley? And what stir Keeps good old York there, with his men of war? Percy. There stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees, Mann'd with three hundred men, as I have heard: And in it are the lords of York, Berkley, and Seymour; None else of name, and noble estimate. Enter Ross and Willoughby. North. Here come the lords of Ross and Willoughby, Bloody with spurring, fiery-red with haste. Bol. Welcome, my lords: I wot, your love pursues A banish'd traitor; all my treasury Is yet but unfelt thanks, which, more enrich'd, Ross. Your presence makes us rich, most noble lord. Which, till my infant fortune comes to years, North. It is my lord of Berkley, as I guess. Berk. My lord of Hereford, my message is to you. Bol. My lord, my answer is-to Lancaster; And I am come to seek that name in England: And I must find that title in your tongue, Before I make reply to aught you say. Berk. Mistake me not, my lord: 'tis not my meaning, To raze one title of your honour out : To you, my lord, I come, (what lord you will,) And fright our native peace with self-born arms. Bol. I shall not need transport my words by you; Here comes his grace in person.-My noble uncle! [Kneels. York. Show me thy humble heart, and not thy knee, Whose duty is deceivable and false. Bol. My gracious uncle! York. Tut, Tut! Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle: And ostentation of despised arms? Com'st thou because the anointed king is hence? And in my loyal bosom lies his power. And minister correction to thy fault! Bol. My gracious uncle, let me know my fault; On what condition stands it, and wherein? York. Even in condition of the worst degree,In gross rebellion, and detested treason: Thou art a banish'd man, and here art come, Before the expiration of thy time, In braving arms against thy sovereign. Bol. As I was banish'd, I was banish'd Hereford; And yet my letters-patent give me leave: And therefore personally I lay my claim North. The noble duke hath been too much abus'd. Ross. It stands your grace upon, to do him right. Willo. Base men by his endowments are made great. York. My lords of England, let me tell you this, I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs, And labour'd all I could to do him right: But in this kind to come, in braving arms, Be his own carver, and cut out his way, To find out right with wrong,-it may not be ; And you, that do abet him in this kind, Cherish rebellion, and are rebels all. North. The noble duke hath sworn, his coming is Bol. An offer, uncle, that we will accept. York. It may be, I will go with you :-but yet I'll pause; For I am loath to break our country's laws. Nor friends, nor foes, to me welcome you are: Things past redress, are now with me past care. [Exeunt. SCENE IV-A Camp in Wales. Enter Salisbury, and a Captain. Capt. My lord of Salisbury, we have staid ten days, And hardly kept our countrymen together, And yet we hear no tidings from the king; Sal. Stay yet another day, thou trusty Welshman; The king reposeth all his confidence In thee. Capt. 'Tis thought, the king is dead; we will not stay. The bay-trees in our country are all wither'd, These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.- Fall to the base earth from the firmament! |