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ours are: yet, in reason, no man should possess

him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by

showing it, should dishearten his army.

Bates. He may show what outward courage

he will, but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he

could wish himself in Thames up to the neck,

and so I would he were, and I by him, at all

adventures, so we were quit here.

K. Hen. By my troth, I will speak my con-

science of the king: I think he would not wish

himself anywhere but where he is.

Bates. Then I would he were here alone; so

should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many

poor men's lives saved.

K. Hen. I dare say you love him not so ill

to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak

this to feel other men's minds. Methinks I

could not die anywhere so contented as in the

king's company, his cause being just and his

quarrel honourable.

Will. That's more than we know.

Bates. Ay, or more than we should seek after;

for we know enough if we know we are the king's

subjects. If his cause be wrong, our obedience

to the king wipes the crime of it out of us.

Will. But if the cause be not good, the king

himself hath a heavy reckoning to make; when

all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off

in a battle, shall join together at the latter day,

and cry all, 'We died at such a place'; some

swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon

their wives left poor behind them, some upon

the debts they owe, some upon their children

 116 possess: infect

124 conscience: private opinion 