Classic Poem

[SCENE XXIII.]

[ Enter L ONGSHANKS , L ANCASTER , and Lords. To them ] Enter Two Messengers, the one that D AVID shall be hanged, the other [S IR T HOMAS Spencer ] of the Q UEEN'S sinking .

Messenger . Honour and fortune wait upon the crown
Of princely Edward, England's valiant king!
Longsh . Thanks, messenger; and if my God vouchsafe
That winged Honour wait upon my throne,
I'll make her spread her plumes upon their heads
Whose true allegiance doth confirm the crown.
What news in Wales? how wends our business there?
Messenger . The false disturber of that wasted soil,
With his adherents, is surprised, my king;
And in assurance he shall start no more,
Breathless he lies, and headless too, my lords.
The circumstance these lines shall here unfold.
Longsh . A harmful weed, by wisdom rooted out,
Can never hurt the true engrafted plant.
But what's the news Sir Thomas Spencer brings?
Spencer . Wonders, my lord, wrapt up in homely words,
And letters to inform your majesty.
Longsh . O heavens, what may these miracles portend?
Nobles, my queen is sick; but what is more —
Read, brother Edmund, read a wondrous chance.
Lancaster . And I not heard nor read so strange a thing!
Longsh . Sweet queen, this sinking is a surfeit ta'en
Of pride, wherewith thy woman's heart did swell;
A dangerous malady in the heart to dwell. —
Lords, march we towards London now in haste:
I will go see my lovely Elinor,
And comfort her after this strange affright.
And where she is importune to have talk
And secret conference with some friars of France,
Mun, thou with me, and I with thee will go,
And take the sweet confession of my Nell;
We'll have French enough to parle with the queen.
Lancaster . Might I advise your royal majesty,
I would not go for millions of gold.
What knows your grace, disguised if you wend,
What you may hear, in secrecy revealed,
That may appal and discontent your highness?
A goodly creature is your Elinor,
Brought up in niceness and in delicacy:
Then listen not to her confession, lord,
To wound thy heart with some unkind conceit.
But as for Lancaster, he may not go.
Longsh . Brother, I am resolv'd, and go I will,
If God give life, and cheer my dying queen.
Why, Mun, why, man, whate'er King Edward hears,
It lies in God and him to pardon all.
I'll have no ghostly fathers out of France:
England hath learned clerks and confessors
To comfort and absolve, as men may do;
And I'll be ghostly father for this once.
Lancaster [ aside ]. Edmund, thou mayst not go, although thou die:
And yet how mayst thou here thy king deny?
Edward is gracious, merciful, meek, and mild;
But furious when he finds he is beguiled.
Longsh . Messenger, hie thee back to Shrewsbury;
Bid Mortimer, thy master, speed him fast,
And with his fortune welcome us to London.
I long to see my beauteous lovely queen.