Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/123

King Henry the Sixth, V. i

If thou dar'st bring them to the baiting-place.

Rich. Oft have I seen a hot o'erweening cur

Run back and bite, because he was withheld;

Who, being suffer'd, with the bear's fell paw,

Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs, and cried:

And such a piece of service will you do,

If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.

Clif. Hence, heap of wrath, foul indigested lump,

As crooked in thy manners as thy shape!

York. Nay, we shall heat you thoroughly anon.

Clif. Take heed, lest by your heat you burn yourselves.

King. Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?

Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,

Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!

What! wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian,

And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles?

O! where is faith? O, where is loyalty?

If it be banish'd from the frosty head,

Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?

Wilt thou go dig a grave to find out war,

And shame thine honourable age with blood?

Why art thou old, and want'st experience?

Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?

For shame! in duty bend thy knee to me,

That bows unto the grave with mickle age.

Sal. My lord, I have consider'd with myself

The title of this most renowned duke;

And in my conscience do repute his Grace

The rightful heir to England's royal seat.

 150 baiting place: bear-pit

153 suffer'd: allowed to have his way

with: at a blow of

156 oppose yourselves: venture

157 indigested: unformed, shapeless

165 with spectacles: with careful scrutiny

169 Will you ensure your own death by promoting war?

174 That: i.e. thy knee

mickle: much 