Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/99



I do not wish to kill him, Although I think I ought; he shall go mark'd, By all the saints, though!

Enter (guarded) Now, Sir Lambert, now! What sort of death do you expect to get, Being taken this way?

Cousin! cousin! think! I am your own blood; may God pardon me! I am not fit to die; if you knew all, All I have done since I was young and good. O! you would give me yet another chance, As God would, that I might wash all clear out, By serving you and Him. Let me go now! And I will pay you down more golden crowns Of ransom than the king would!

Well, stand back, And do not touch me! No, you shall not die, Nor yet pay ransom. You, John Curzon, cause Some carpenters to build a scaffold, high, Outside the gate; when it is built, sound out To all good folks, "Come, see a traitor punish'd!" Take me my knight, and set him up thereon, And let the hangman shave his head quite clean, And cut his ears off close up to the head; And cause the minstrels all the while to play