1156.1[Scene 15] [Video Sc.15] Now happily I am arrivèd here
15.21159Before the stately palace of the Cambrian king.
15.31160If Leir be here safe-seated and in rest,
15.41161To rouse him from it I will do my best.
15.51162Now, bags of gold, your virtue is, no doubt,
15.61163To make me in my message bold and stout. --
15.71164The king of heaven preserve your majesty,
15.81165And send your highness everlasting reign.
Thanks, good my friend, but what imports thy message?
Kind greetings from the Cornwall queen;
15.111168The residue these letters will declare.
How fares our royal sister?
I did leave her at my parting in good health.
15.141173[Aside] See how her color comes and goes again,
15.151174Now red as scarlet, now as pale as ash;
15.161175See how she knits her brow, and bites her lips,
15.171176And stamps, and makes a dumbshow of disdain
15.181177Mixed with revenge and violent extremes.
15.191178Here will be more work and more crowns for me.
[Aside] Alas, poor soul, and hath he used her thus?
15.211180And is he now come hither with intent
15.221181To set divorce betwixt my lord and me?
15.231182Doth he give out that he doth hear report
15.241183That I do rule my husband as I list,
15.251184And therefore means to alter so the case
15.261185That I shall know my lord to be my head?
15.271186Well, it were best for him to take good heed,
15.281187Or I will make him hop without a head
15.291188For his presumption, dotard that he is.
15.301189In Cornwall he hath made such mutinies --
15.311190First, setting of the king against the queen,
15.321191Then stirring up the commons 'gainst the king --
15.331192That had he there continued any longer,
15.341193He had been called in question for his fact.
15.351194So upon that occasion thence he fled,
15.361195And comes thus slyly stealing unto us,
15.371196And now already since his coming hither,
15.381197My lord and he are grown in such a league
15.391198That I can have no conference with his grace.
15.411200Some forgèd cavillations 'gainst my state.
15.421201'Tis therefore best to cut him off in time,
15.431202Lest slanderous rumors, once abroad dispersed,
15.441203It is too late for them to be reversed. --
15.451204[To the Messenger] Friend, as the tenor of these letters shows,
15.461205My sister puts great confidence in thee.
She never yet committed trust to me
15.481207But that, I hope, she found me always faithful.
15.501209That hath occasion to employ my help.
Hast thou the heart to act a stratagem,
15.521211And give a stab or two if need require?
I have a heart compact of adamant
15.541213Which never knew what melting pity meant.
15.551214I weigh no more the murd'ring of a man
15.561215Than I respect the cracking of a flea
15.571216When I do catch her biting on my skin.
15.581217If you will have your husband or your father
15.591218Or both of them sent to another world,
15.601219Do but command me do't: it shall be done.
It is enough; we make no doubt of thee.
15.621221Meet us tomorrow, here, at nine o'clock.
[She gives him a purse.]
Meanwhile, farewell, and drink that for my sake.
Ay, this is it will make me do the deed.
15.661225This were the gainful'st trade in Christendom!
15.671226A purse of gold giv'n for a paltry stab!
15.681227Why, here's a wench that longs to have a stab.
15.691228Well, I could give it her, and ne'er hurt her neither.
King Leir