The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _Before Lord Hastings’ house_.
_Enter a_ Messenger. _Mess._ What, ho! my lord! [fcb001] _Hast._ [_Within_] Who knocks at the door? [fcb002] _Mess._ A messenger from the Lord Stanley. [fcb003] _Enter_ LORD HASTINGS. _Hast._ What is’t o’clock? [fcb004] _Mess._ Upon the stroke of four. ·fcb005· _Hast._ Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights? [fcb006] _Mess._ So it should seem by that I have to say. [fcb007] First, he commends him to your noble lordship. [fcb008] _Hast._ And then? [fcb009] _Mess._ And then he sends you word [fcb010] He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm: [fcb011] Besides, he says there are two councils held; [fcb012] And that may be determined at the one [fcb013] Which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure, ·fcb015· If presently you will take horse with him, [fcb016] And with all speed post with him toward the north, [fcb017] To shun the danger that his soul divines. _Hast._ Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; [fcb019] Bid him not fear the separated councils: [fcb020] His honour and myself are at the one, And at the other is my servant Catesby; [fcb022] Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us Whereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance: [fcb025] And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond [fcb026] To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers: To fly the boar before the boar pursues, [fcb028] Were to incense the boar to follow us And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. [fcb030] Go, bid thy master rise and come to me; And we will both together to the Tower, Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
_Cate._ What, my lord? _Hast._ Ere a fortnight make me elder, [fcb062] I’ll send some packing that yet think not on it. [fcb063] _Cate._ ’Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepared and look not for it. ·fcb065· _Hast._ O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out [fcb066] With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so ’twill do With some men else, who think themselves as safe [fcb068] As thou and I; who, as thou know’st, are dear [fcb069] To princely Richard and to Buckingham. [fcb070] _Cate._ The princes both make high account of you; [_Aside_] For they account his head upon the bridge. [fcb072] _Hast._ I know they do; and I have well deserved it. [fcb073] _Enter_ LORD STANLEY. Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? [fcb074] Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? [fcb075] _Stan._ My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby: [fcb076] You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I. _Hast._ My lord, [fcb079] I hold my life as dear as you do yours; [fcb080] And never in my life, I do protest, [fcb081] Was it more precious to me than ’tis now: [fcb082] Think you, but that I know our state secure, [fcb083] I would be so triumphant as I am?
_Stan._ The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, [fcb085] Were jocund and supposed their state was sure, [fcb086] And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; [fcb087] But yet, you see, how soon the day o’ercast. [fcb088] This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt: [fcb089] Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! [fcb090] What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent. [fcb091] _Hast._ Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord? [fcb092] To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded. [fcb093] _Stan._ They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accused them wear their hats. [fcb095] But come, my lord, let us away. [fcb096] _Enter a_ Pursuivant. _Hast._ Go on before; I’ll talk with this good fellow. [fcb097] [_Exeunt Stanley and Catesby._ How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee? [fcb098] _Purs._ The better that your lordship please to ask. [fcb099] _Hast._ I tell thee, man, ’tis better with me now [fcb100] Than when I met thee last where now we meet: [fcb101] Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen’s allies; But now, I tell thee--keep it to thyself-- This day those enemies are put to death, ·fcb105· And I in better state than e’er I was. [fcb106] _Purs._ God hold it, to your honour’s good content!
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