William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT II 3. SCENE III. A Hall of Justice. (continued)

2 PRENTICE.
Be merry, Peter, and fear not thy master: fight
for credit of the prentices.

PETER.
I thank you all; drink, and pray for me, I pray you, for I
think I have taken my last draught in this world.--Here, Robin,
an if I die, I give thee my apron;--and, Will, thou shalt have my
hammer;--and here, Tom, take all the money that I have.--O Lord
bless me! I pray God! for I am never able to deal with my master,
he hath learnt so much fence already.

SALISBURY.
Come, leave your drinking and fall to blows.--
Sirrah, what's thy name?

PETER.
Peter, forsooth.

SALISBURY.
Peter? what more?

PETER.
Thump.

SALISBURY.
Thump! then see thou thump thy master well.

HORNER.
Masters, I am come hither, as it were, upon my man's instigation,
to prove him a knave and myself an honest man; and touching the
Duke of York, I will take my death, I never meant him any ill,
nor the
king, nor the queen;--and therefore, Peter, have at thee with a
downright
blow!

YORK.
Dispatch; this knave's tongue begins to double.--
Sound, trumpets, alarum to the combatants!

[Alarum. They fight, and Peter strikes him down.]

HORNER.
Hold, Peter, hold! I confess, I confess treason.

[Dies.]

YORK.
Take away his weapon.--Fellow, thank God, and the good
wine in thy master's way.

PETER.
O God, have I overcome mine enemies in this presence? O
Peter, thou hast prevail'd in right!

KING.
Go, take hence that traitor from our sight,
For by his death we do perceive his guilt;
And God in justice hath reveal'd to us
The truth and innocence of this poor fellow,
Which he had thought to have murther'd wrongfully.--
Come, fellow, follow us for thy reward.

[Sound a flourish. Exeunt.]