Classic Poem

SCENE IV. — A Court at Dunley Tower

Enter Lord D UNLEY and Z EBRA , meeting .

D UN . By the whiteness of your nostril,
Dilating so, you've done it?
Z EB . There he hangs!
D UN . Varlet! he come betwixt my King and me,
Handling my name so!
Z EB . 'Twas a devil, though,
For fighting: Two of our fellows he struck dead,
Ere we could master him. At last we noosed him,
And tucked him up — hang there, Sir Hugh de Valma!
You rose in France: In England too you've risen
To this fair height! On the King's Oak we did it,
By way o' poetic justice, for insulting
His Sovereign so

Enter a Servant. He gives letters to Lord D UNLEY , and retires D UNLEY reads them

D UN . Here's news! Wait me here, Zebra.
The bearer, ho!
Z EB . Martin would take my hint:
So then, if he has made Wold think Hugh's hanging
Was Richard's work, wrenched from his King for ever
Is that proud heart. And when our Liege has learnt,
As learn we'll make him, how his men's rash zeal
Dealt with Wold's friend, he'll feel all terms with Wold
Closed. Thus they're foes for life. That's one point gained

Re-enter Lord D UNLEY .

D UN . Here's Hereford back, and pushing for the Throne:
The land's ablaze: Wold's out against the King
Z EB . Wold out?
D UN What think you now? Hot thanks he'll give us
For our device. An outer wheel is he,
Heavy, and black, and slow; but what a world
Of clattering powers within, annexed to him,
His slightest move sets on!
Z EB . We strike for Richard?
D UN . Our horses, there! yes, yes.