Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/67

King Henry the Sixth, III. i

Say but the word and I will be his priest.

Car. But I would have him dead, my Lord of Suffolk,

Ere you can take due orders for a priest:

Say you consent and censure well the deed,

And I'll provide his executioner;

I tender so the safety of my liege.

Suf. Here is my hand, the deed is worthy doing.

Queen. And so say I.

York. And I: and now we three have spoke it,

It skills not greatly who impugns our doom.

Post. Great lords, from Ireland am I come amain,

To signify that rebels there are up,

And put the Englishmen unto the sword.

Send succours, lords, and stop the rage betime,

Before the wound do grow uncurable;

For, being green, there is great hope of help.

Car. A breach that craves a quick expedient stop!

What counsel give you in this weighty cause?

York. That Somerset be sent as regent thither.

'Tis meet that lucky ruler be employ'd;

Witness the fortune he hath had in France.

Som. If York, with all his far-fet policy,

Had been the regent there instead of me,

He never would have stay'd in France so long.

York. No, not to lose it all, as thou hast done:

I rather would have lost my life betimes

Than bring a burden of dishonour home,

By staying there so long till all were lost.

Show me one scar character'd on thy skin:

 272 be his priest: i.e. perform his last offices, arrange his death

275 censure well: approve

277 tender: value

281 skills: matters

282 amain: with speed

285 betime: betimes, early

288 expedient: expeditious

293 far-fet: far-fetched, cunning

300 character'd: written 