Page 174 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

ESCANES

’Tis very true.

Enter two or three Lords.

FIRST LORD
See, not a man in private conference
Or council has respect with him but he.

SECOND LORD
It shall no longer grieve without reproof.

THIRD LORD
And cursed be he that will not second it. [20]

FIRST LORD

Follow me then. Lord Helicane, a word.

HELICANUS

With me? And welcome. Happy day, my lords.

FIRST LORD
Know that our griefs are risen to the top,
And now at length they overflow their banks.

HELICANUS
Your griefs? For what? Wrong not your prince you love [25]

FIRST LORD
Wrong not yourself then, noble Helicane,

But if the prince do live, let us salute him
And know what ground’s made happy by his breath.
If in the world he live, we’ll seek him out;
If in his grave he rest, we’ll find him there; [30]

And be resolved he lives to govern us,
Or dead, give’s cause to mourn his funeral
And leave us to our free election.