Page 2892 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ROSS

My heart is great, but it must break with silence
Ere’t be disburdened with a liberal tongue.

NORT HUMBERLAND

Nay, speak thy mind; and let him ne’er speak more [230]
That speaks thy words again to do thee harm.

WILLOUGHBY

Tends that thou wouldst speak to the Duke of Hereford?
If it be so, out with it boldly, man!
Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him.

ROSS

No good at all that I can do for him, [235]
Unless you call it good to pity him,
Bereft and gelded of his patrimony.

NORT HUMBERLAND

Now, afore God, ’tis shame such wrongs are borne
In him, a royal prince, and many more
Of noble blood in this declining land. [240]
The King is not himself, but basely led
By flatterers; and what they will inform
Merely in hate ’gainst any of us all,
That will the King severely prosecute
’Gainst us, our lives, our children, and our heirs. [245]

ROSS

The commons hath be pill’d with grievous taxes,
And quite lost their hearts. The nobles hath he fin’d
For ancient quarrels, and quite lost their hearts.

WILLOUGHBY

And daily new exactions are devised,
As blanks, benevolences, and I wot not what. [250]
But what o’ God’s name doth become of this?

NORT HUMBERLAND

Wars hath not wasted it; for warr’d he hath not,