Page 604 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Take heed lest by your heat you burn yourselves. [160]

KING HENRY

Why, Warwick, hath thy knee forgot to bow?
Old Salisbury, shame to thy silver hair,
Thou mad misleader of thy brain-sick son!
What, wilt thou on thy death-bed play the ruffian
And seek for sorrow with thy spectacles? [165]
O, where is faith? O, where is loyalty?
If it be banished from the frosty head,
Where shall it find a harbour in the earth?
Wilt thou go dig a grave - to find out war
And shame thine honourable age with blood? [170]
Why, art thou old and want’st experience?
Or wherefore dost abuse it, if thou hast it?
For shame! In duty bend thy knee to me,
That bows unto the grave with mickle age.

SALISBURY

My lord, I have considered with myself [175]
The title of this most renownèd duke;
And in my conscience do repute his grace
The rightful heir to England’s royal seat.

KING HENRY

Hast thou not sworn allegiance unto me?

SALISBURY

I have. [180]

KING HENRY

Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an oath?

SALISBURY

It is great sin to swear unto a sin,
But greater sin to keep a sinful oath.
Who can be bound by any solemn vow
To do a murderous deed, to rob a man, [185]
To force a spotless virgin’s chastity,
To reave the orphan of his patrimony,