Page 588 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

SAY

Tell me, wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? Speak.
Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injured, that ye seek my death? [95]
These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O let me live!

CADE

[aside]
I feel remorse in myself with his words; but I’ll bridle it: he shall die, an it
be but for pleading so [100] well for his life. - Away with him! He has a
familiar under his tongue; he speaks not a God’s name. Go, take him away,
I say, and strike off his head presently; and then break into his son-in-law’s
house, Sir James Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both
upon two [105] poles hither.

ALL

It shall be done.

SAY

Ah, countrymen! If, when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed souls? [110]
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

CADE

Away with him, and do as I command ye.
[Exeunt one or two with the Lord Say.]

The proudest peer in the realm shall not wear a head on his shoulders,
unless he pay me tribute; there shall not a maid be married, but she shall
pay to me her [115] maiden-head ere they have it; men shall hold of me in
capite; and we charge and command that their wives be as free as heart
can wish or tongue can tell.

DICK

My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside and take up commodities upon our
bills? [120]