Edward the First - Scene 22
[SCENE XXII.]
Enter the Potter's Wife and John her man, near the Potter's dwelling, called the Potter's Hive.
Potter's Wife . John, come away: you go as though you slept. A great knave and be afraid of a little thundering and lightening!
John . Call you this a little thundering? I am sure my breeches find it a great deal, for I am sure they are stuft with thunder.
Potter's Wife . They are stuft with a fool, are they not? Will it please you to carry the lantern a little handsomer, and not to carry it with your hands in your slops?
John . Slops, quoth you! Would I had tarried at home by the fire, and then I should not have need to put my hands in my pockets! But I'll lay my life I know the reason of this foul weather.
Potter's Wife . Do you know the reason? I pray thee, John, tell me, and let me hear this reason.
John . I lay my life some of your gossips be crosslegged that we came from: but you are wise, mistress, for you come now away, and will not stay a-gossipping in a dry house all night.
Potter's Wife . Would it please you to walk and leave off your knavery? [Q UEEN E LINOR slowly rises out of the earth .] But stay, John: what's that riseth out of the ground? Jesus bless us, John! look how it riseth higher and higher!
John . By my troth, mistress, 'tis a woman. Good Lord, do women grow? I never saw none grow before.
Potter's Wife . Hold thy tongue, thou foolish knave; it is the spirit of some woman.
Q. Elinor . Ha, let me see; where am I? On Charing-Green? Ay, on Charing-Green here, hard by Westminster, where I was crowned, and Edward there made king. Ay, 'tis true; so it is: and therefore, Edward, kiss not me, unless you will straight perfume your lips, Edward.
Potter's Wife. Ora pro nobis! John, I pray, fall to your prayers. For my life, it is the queen that chafes thus, who sunk this day on Charing-Green, and now is risen up on Potter's Hive; and therefore truly, John, I'll go to her.
Q. Elinor . Welcome, good woman. What place is this? sea or land? I pray show to me.
Potter's Wife . Your grace need not to fear; you are on firm ground: it is the Potter's Hive: and therefore cheer your majesty, for I will see you safe conducted to the court, if case your highness be therewithal pleased.
Q. Elinor . Ay, good woman, conduct me to the court,
That there I may bewail my sinful life,
And call to God to save my wretched soul.
Woman, what noise is this I hear?
Potter's Wife . And like your grace, it is the watermen that calls for passengers to go westward now.
Q. Elinor . That fits my turn, for I will straight with them
To King's-town to the court,
And there repose me till the king come home.
And therefore, sweet woman, conceal what thou hast seen,
And lead me to those watermen, for here
Doth Elinor droop.
John . Come, come; here's a goodly leading of you, is there not? first, you must make us afeard, and now I must be troubled in carrying of you. I would you were honestly laid in your bed, so that I were not troubled with you.
Enter the Potter's Wife and John her man, near the Potter's dwelling, called the Potter's Hive.
Potter's Wife . John, come away: you go as though you slept. A great knave and be afraid of a little thundering and lightening!
John . Call you this a little thundering? I am sure my breeches find it a great deal, for I am sure they are stuft with thunder.
Potter's Wife . They are stuft with a fool, are they not? Will it please you to carry the lantern a little handsomer, and not to carry it with your hands in your slops?
John . Slops, quoth you! Would I had tarried at home by the fire, and then I should not have need to put my hands in my pockets! But I'll lay my life I know the reason of this foul weather.
Potter's Wife . Do you know the reason? I pray thee, John, tell me, and let me hear this reason.
John . I lay my life some of your gossips be crosslegged that we came from: but you are wise, mistress, for you come now away, and will not stay a-gossipping in a dry house all night.
Potter's Wife . Would it please you to walk and leave off your knavery? [Q UEEN E LINOR slowly rises out of the earth .] But stay, John: what's that riseth out of the ground? Jesus bless us, John! look how it riseth higher and higher!
John . By my troth, mistress, 'tis a woman. Good Lord, do women grow? I never saw none grow before.
Potter's Wife . Hold thy tongue, thou foolish knave; it is the spirit of some woman.
Q. Elinor . Ha, let me see; where am I? On Charing-Green? Ay, on Charing-Green here, hard by Westminster, where I was crowned, and Edward there made king. Ay, 'tis true; so it is: and therefore, Edward, kiss not me, unless you will straight perfume your lips, Edward.
Potter's Wife. Ora pro nobis! John, I pray, fall to your prayers. For my life, it is the queen that chafes thus, who sunk this day on Charing-Green, and now is risen up on Potter's Hive; and therefore truly, John, I'll go to her.
Q. Elinor . Welcome, good woman. What place is this? sea or land? I pray show to me.
Potter's Wife . Your grace need not to fear; you are on firm ground: it is the Potter's Hive: and therefore cheer your majesty, for I will see you safe conducted to the court, if case your highness be therewithal pleased.
Q. Elinor . Ay, good woman, conduct me to the court,
That there I may bewail my sinful life,
And call to God to save my wretched soul.
Woman, what noise is this I hear?
Potter's Wife . And like your grace, it is the watermen that calls for passengers to go westward now.
Q. Elinor . That fits my turn, for I will straight with them
To King's-town to the court,
And there repose me till the king come home.
And therefore, sweet woman, conceal what thou hast seen,
And lead me to those watermen, for here
Doth Elinor droop.
John . Come, come; here's a goodly leading of you, is there not? first, you must make us afeard, and now I must be troubled in carrying of you. I would you were honestly laid in your bed, so that I were not troubled with you.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.