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  • Title: The History of King Leir (Modern)
  • Editor: Andrew Griffin

    • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Andrew Griffin
    Peer Reviewed

    The History of King Leir (Modern)

    1293.1[Scene 17] [Video Sc.17]
    Enter Messenger [alone]
    1295 Messenger
    It is a world to see, now I am flush,
    How many friends I purchase everywhere!
    How many seek to creep into my favor,
    And kiss their hands and bend their knees to me!
    No more, here comes the queen; now shall I know her mind,
    1300And hope for to derive more crowns from her.
    Enter Ragan
    Ragan
    My friend, I see thou mindst thy promise well
    And art before me here, methinks, today.
    Messenger
    I am a poor man, an it like your grace,
    But yet I always love to keep my word.
    1305Ragan
    Well, keep thy word with me and thou shalt see
    That of a poor man I will make thee rich.
    Messenger
    I long to hear it; it might have been dispatched
    If you had told me of it yesternight.
    Ragan
    It is a thing of right strange consequence,
    1310And well I cannot utter it in words.
    Messenger
    It is more strange that I am not by this
    Beside myself with longing for to hear it.
    Were it to meet the devil in his den
    And try a bout with him for a scratched face,
    1315I'd undertake it if you would but bid me.
    Ragan
    Ah, good my friend, that I should have thee do
    Is such a thing as I do shame to speak,
    Yet it must needs be done.
    Messenger
    I'll speak it for thee, Queen; shall I kill thy father?
    1320I know 'tis that, an if it be so, say.
    Ragan
    Ay.
    Messenger
    Why, that's enough.
    Ragan
    And yet that is not all.
    Messenger
    What else?
    Ragan
    Thou must kill that old man that came with him.
    1325Messenger
    Here are two hands; for each of them is one.
    Ragan
    And for each hand here is a recompense.
    Give[s] him two purses.
    Messenger
    Oh, that I had ten hands by miracle,
    I could tear ten in pieces with my teeth,
    1330So in my mouth you'd put a purse of gold.
    But in what manner must it be effected?
    Ragan
    Tomorrow morning ere the break of day,
    I by a wile will send them to the thicket
    That is about some two miles from the court,
    1335And promise them to meet them there myself
    Because I must have private conference
    About some news I have received from Cornwall.
    This is enough, I know, they will not fail,
    And then be ready for to play thy part,
    1340Which done, thou mayst right easily escape
    And no man once mistrust thee for the fact.
    But yet, before thou prosecute the act,
    Show him the letter which my sister sent;
    There let him read his own indictment first,
    1345And then proceed to execution.
    But see thou faint not, for they will speak fair.
    Messenger
    Could he speak words as pleasing as the pipe
    Of Mercury, which charmed the hundred eyes
    Of watchful Argos and enforced him sleep,
    1350Yet here are words so pleasing to my thoughts,
    To the purse
    As quite shall take away the sound of his.
    Exit [Messenger].
    Ragan
    About it then, and when thou hast dispatched,
    I'll find a means to send thee after him.
    Exit.
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