Page:Henry VI Part 2 (1923) Yale.djvu/89

King Henry the Sixth, IV. i

Suf. Ay, but these rags are no part of the duke:

Jove sometime went disguis'd, and why not I?

Lieu. But Jove was never slain, as thou shalt be.

Suf. Obscure and lowly swain, King Henry's blood,

The honourable blood of Lancaster,

Must not be shed by such a jaded groom.

Hast thou not kiss'd thy hand and held my stirrupt?

Bare-headed plodded by my foot-cloth mule,

And thought thee happy when I shook my head?

How often hast thou waited at my cup,

Fed from my trencher, kneel'd down at the board,

When I have feasted with Queen Margaret?

Remember it and let it make thee crest-fall'n;

Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride.

How in our voiding lobby hast thou stood

And duly waited for my coming forth?

This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf,

And therefore shall it charm thy riotous tongue.

Whit. Speak, captain, shall I stab the forlorn swain?

Lieu. First let my words stab him, as he hath me.

Suf. Base slave, thy words are blunt, and so art thou.

Lieu. Convey him hence, and on our longboat's side

Strike off his head.

Suf.Thou dar'st not for thy own.

Lieu. Yes, Pole.

Suf.Pole!

Lieu.Pool! Sir Pool! lord!

Ay, kennel, puddle, sink; whose filth and dirt

Troubles the silver spring where England drinks.

Now will I dam up this thy yawning mouth

 48-50 Cf. n.

50 King Henry's blood; cf. n.

52 jaded: contemptible

54 foot-cloth mule; cf. n.

61 voiding lobby: antechamber

71 kennel: gutter

sink: cesspool 