English

SCENE 3

Aligi:

I follow, for I did not tell thee all. —

Mila:

Aligi, true thou didst not tell the whole!
Go to the road and seek the crucifer
And pray that he will take thy message home. The saint goes away across the pastures. Now and then is heard the singing of the pilgrims.
Aligi, Aligi, all we did not tell!
And in my mouth 't were better I should have
A good handful of dust, yes, or a stone
To shut it fast. But listen just to this,
Aligi, I have never done thee harm,

Scene 2 The saint opens his arms, lifting his face from his hands .

Mila:

What art thou dreaming, Cosma? Cosma, speak!

Cosma wakens, and rises.

Aligi:

What hast thou seen, O Cosma? Cosma, speak!

Cosma:

Horrible things came to me in my sleep.
I saw — I dare not tell what I have seen.
Oh, every dream that comes from God must be
Made pure with fire, before it can be told.
I saw, I saw, and, surely, I will tell —
But let me not profanely use the name

ACT II

ACT I

[SCENE XXV.]

E LINOR in child-bed, with her daughter J OAN and other Ladies.

Q. Elinor . Call forth those renowmed friars come from France;
And raise me, gentle ladies, in my bed,
That while this faltering engine of my speech
I learn to utter my concealed guilt,
I may repeat and so repent my sins.
Joan . What plague afflicts your royal majesty?
Q. Elinor . Ah, Joan, I perish through a double war!
First in this painful prison of my soul,
A world of dreadful sins holp thee to fight,

[SCENE XXIV.]

Enter D AVID drawn on a hurdle, with M ORTIMER and Officers, accompanied with the Friar, the Novice, the Harper, and L LUELLEN'S head on a spear .

Friar . On afore, on afore!
Jack . Hold up your torches for dropping.
Friar . A fair procession. — Sir David, be of good cheer: you cannot go out of the way, having so many guides at hand.
Jack . Be sure of that; for we go all the highway to the gallows, I warrant you.
Sir David . I go where my star leads me, and die in my country's just cause and quarrel.

[SCENE XXIII.]

[ Enter L ONGSHANKS , L ANCASTER , and Lords. To them ] Enter Two Messengers, the one that D AVID shall be hanged, the other [S IR T HOMAS Spencer ] of the Q UEEN'S sinking .

Messenger . Honour and fortune wait upon the crown
Of princely Edward, England's valiant king!
Longsh . Thanks, messenger; and if my God vouchsafe
That winged Honour wait upon my throne,
I'll make her spread her plumes upon their heads
Whose true allegiance doth confirm the crown.
What news in Wales? how wends our business there?

[SCENE XXII.]

Enter the Potter's Wife and John her man, near the Potter's dwelling, called the Potter's Hive.

Potter's Wife . John, come away: you go as though you slept. A great knave and be afraid of a little thundering and lightening!
John . Call you this a little thundering? I am sure my breeches find it a great deal, for I am sure they are stuft with thunder.
Potter's Wife . They are stuft with a fool, are they not? Will it please you to carry the lantern a little handsomer, and not to carry it with your hands in your slops?

[SCENE XXI.]

Alarum: a charge: after long skirmish, assault; flourish. Enter King E DWARD with his train, and B ALIOL prisoner . E DWARD speaketh .

Longsh . Now, trothless king, what fruits have braving boasts?
What end hath treason but a sudden fall?
Such as have known thy life and bringing up,
Have praised thee for thy learning and thy art:
How comes it, then, that thou forgett'st thy books
That school'd thee to forget ingratitude?
Unkind! this hand hath 'nointed thee a king;

[SCENE XX.]

Here's thunder and lightning when the Queen comes in .

Enter Queen E LINOR and J OAN .

Q. Elinor . Why, Joan,
Is this the welcome that the clouds affords?
How dare these disturb our thoughts, knowing
That I am Edward's wife and England's Queen,
Here thus on Charing-Green to threaten me?
Joan . Ah, mother, blaspheme not so!
Your blaspheming and other wicked deeds
Hath caused our God to terrify your thoughts.
And call to mind your sinful fact committed