William Shakespeare: King Henry VI, Second Part

ACT IV. 7. SCENE VII. London. Smithfield. (continued)

SAY.
Tell me wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
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 well for his
life.--
Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not
o' 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
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?
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.

CADE.
Away with him! and do as I command ye.--[Exeunt some with
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
maidenhead 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?

CADE.
Marry, presently.

ALL.
O, brave!

[Re-enter one with the heads.]

CADE.
But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
for they loved well when they were alive. Now part them again,
lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in
France.--Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night; for
with these borne before us, instead of maces will we ride
through the streets, and at every corner have them kiss.--Away!

[Exeunt.]