Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/71

 Percy. The merchants are rich enough; Can they not help themselves?

Bish. They can, and may; but how to gain their will Requires our countenance and help.

Percy. When that they find they must, my Lord, they will: Let them but suffer awhile, and you shall see They will bestir themselves.

Bish. Lord Percy cannot mean that we should suffer This disgrace: if so, we are not sovereigns Of the sea—our right, that Heaven gave To England, when at the birth of nature She was seated in the deep; the Ocean ceas'd His mighty roar, and fawning play'd around Her snowy feet, and own'd his awful Queen. Lord Percy, if the heart is sick, the head Must be aggriev'd; if but one member suffer, The heart doth fail. You say, my Lord, the merchants Can, if they will, defend themselves against These rovers: this is a noble scheme, Worthy the brave Lord Percy, and as worthy His generous aid to put it into practice.

Percy. Lord Bishop, what was rash in me is wise In you; I dare not own the plan. 'Tis not Mine. Yet will I, if you please, Quickly to the Lord Mayor, and work him onward To this most glorious voyage; on which cast I'll set my whole estate, But we will bring these Gallic rovers under.

Queen Phil. Thanks, brave Lord Percy; you have the thanks Of England's Queen, and will, ere long, of England.

SCENE, At Cressey. Sir Thomas Dagworth and Lord Audley, meeting.

Aud. Good morrow, brave Sir Thomas; the bright morn Smiles on our army, and the gallant sun Springs from the hills like a young hero Into the battle, shaking his golden locks Exultingly: this is a promising day.

Dagw. Why, my Lord Audley, I don't know. Give me your hand, and now I'll tell you what I think you do not know. Edward 's afraid of Philip.

Aud. Ha, Ha, Sir Thomas! you but joke; Did you ere see him fear? At Blanchetaque, When almost singly he drove six thousand French from the ford, did he fear then?

Dagw. Yes, fear—that made him fight so.

Aud. By the same reason I might say 'tis fear That makes you fight.