Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?

5.3.22498'Tis full three months since I did see him last.

5.3.32499If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.

5.3.42500I would to God, my lords, he might be found.

5.3.52501Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,

5.3.62502For there, they say, he daily doth frequent

5.3.72503With unrestrainèd loose companions,

5.3.82504Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes

5.3.92505And beat our watch and rob our passengers,

5.3.102506While he, young wanton and effeminate boy,

5.3.112507.2508Takes on the point of honor to support

5.3.11.1So dissolute a crew.

My lord, some two days since I saw the Prince,

5.3.132510And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.

And what said the gallant?

His answer was, he would unto the stews,

5.3.162513And from the common'st creature pluck a glove

5.3.172514And wear it as a favor, and with that

5.3.182515He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.

As dissolute as desperate. Yet through both

5.3.202517I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years,

5.3.212518May happily bring forth. But who comes here?

Where is the King?

What means our cousin, that he stares and looks so wildly?

God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty

5.3.252524To have some conference with your grace alone.

[To his nobles] Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.

5.3.272526What is the matter with our cousin now?

[Kneeling] Forever may my knees grow to the earth,

5.3.292528My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,

5.3.302529Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.

Intended or committed was this fault?

5.3.322531If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,

5.3.332532To win thy after-love I pardon thee.

[Standing] Then give me leave that I may turn the key

5.3.352534That no man enter till my tale be done.

Have thy desire.

[Within] My liege, beware! Look to thyself!

5.3.382537Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.

[To Aumerle] Villain, I'll make thee safe.

Stay thy revengeful hand. Thou hast no cause to fear.

[Within] Open the door, secure, foolhardy King!

5.3.422542Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?

5.3.432543Open the door, or I will break it open.

What is the matter, uncle? Speak.

5.3.452546 Recover breath. Tell us how near is danger

5.3.462547That we may arm us to encounter it.

[Holding out a letter] Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know

5.3.482549The treason that my haste forbids me show.

[To King Henry] Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise passed.

5.3.502551I do repent me. Read not my name there.

5.3.512552My heart is not confederate with my hand.

It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down. --

5.3.532554I tore it from the traitor's bosom, King.

5.3.542555Fear, and not love, begets his penitence.

5.3.552556Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove

5.3.562557A serpent that will sting thee to the heart.

Oh, heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy!

5.3.582559Oh, loyal father of a treacherous son!

5.3.592560Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain

5.3.602561From whence this stream, through muddy passages,

5.3.612562Hath held his current and defiled himself,

5.3.622563Thy overflow of good converts to bad,

5.3.632564And thy abundant goodness shall excuse

5.3.642565This deadly blot in thy digressing son.

So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd,

5.3.662567And he shall spend mine honor with his shame,

5.3.672568As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold.

5.3.682569Mine honor lives when his dishonor dies,

5.3.692570Or my shamed life in his dishonor lies.

5.3.702571Thou kill'st me in his life: giving him breath,

5.3.712572The traitor lives, the true man's put to death.

[Within] What ho, my liege! For God's sake, let me in!

What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry?

[Within] A woman, and thy aunt, great King; 'tis I.

5.3.752577Speak with me. Pity me. Open the door!

5.3.762578A beggar begs that never begged before.

Our scene is altered from a serious thing,

5.3.782580And now changed to "the Beggar and the King." --

5.3.792581My dangerous cousin, let your mother in.

5.3.802582I know she is come to pray for your foul sin.

If thou do pardon whosoever pray,

5.3.822584More sins for this forgiveness prosper may.

5.3.832585This festered joint cut off, the rest rest sound.

5.3.842586This let alone will all the rest confound.

Oh, King! Believe not this hard-hearted man.

5.3.862589Love loving not itself, none other can.

Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here?

5.3.882591Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear?

Sweet York, be patient. -- Hear me, gentle liege.

Rise up, good aunt.

Rise up, good aunt. Not yet, I thee beseech.

5.3.922595Forever will I walk upon my knees

5.3.932596And never see day that the happy sees,

5.3.942597Till thou give joy, until thou bid me joy

5.3.952598By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy.

[Kneeling] Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee.

[Kneeling] Against them both my true joints bended be.

5.3.982600.1Ill mayst thou thrive if thou grant any grace.

Pleads he in earnest? Look upon his face.

5.3.1002602His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest;

5.3.1012603His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast.

5.3.1022604He prays but faintly, and would be denied.

5.3.1032605We pray with heart and soul and all beside.

5.3.1042606His weary joints would gladly rise, I know.

5.3.1052607Our knees still kneel till to the ground they grow.

5.3.1062608His prayers are full of false hypocrisy,

5.3.1072609Ours of true zeal and deep integrity.

5.3.1082610Our prayers do outpray his. Then let them have

5.3.1092611That mercy which true prayer ought to have.

Good aunt, stand up.

Good aunt, stand up. Nay, do not say "stand up."

5.3.1122614Say "pardon" first, and afterwards "stand up."

5.3.1132615An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach,

5.3.1142616"Pardon" should be the first word of thy speech.

5.3.1152617I never longed to hear a word till now.

5.3.1162618Say "pardon," King. Let pity teach thee how.

5.3.1172619The word is short, but not so short as sweet.

5.3.1182620No word like "pardon" for kings' mouths so meet.

Speak it in French, King. Say, "pardonnez-moi.".

Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?

5.3.1212623Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord,

5.3.1222624That sets the word itself against the word!

5.3.1232625Speak "pardon" as 'tis current in our land;

5.3.1242626[To King Henry] The chopping French we do not understand.

5.3.1252627Thine eye begins to speak; set thy tongue there;

5.3.1262628Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear,

5.3.1272629That, hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,

5.3.1282630Pity may move thee "pardon" to rehearse.

Good aunt, stand up.

Good aunt, stand up. I do not sue to stand.

5.3.1312633Pardon is all the suit I have in hand.

I pardon him, as God shall pardon me.

Oh, happy vantage of a kneeling knee!

5.3.1342636Yet am I sick for fear. Speak it again.

5.3.1352637Twice saying "pardon" doth not pardon twain,

5.3.1362638But makes one pardon strong.

I pardon him with all my heart.

A god on earth thou art.

But for our trusty brother-in-law and the Abbot,

5.3.1402642With all the rest of that consorted crew,

5.3.1412643Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.

5.3.1422644Good uncle, help to order several powers

5.3.1432645To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are.

5.3.1442646They shall not live within this world, I swear,

5.3.1452647But I will have them if I once know where.

5.3.1462648Uncle, farewell; -- and cousin, adieu.

5.3.1472649Your mother well hath prayed; and prove you true.

[To Aumerle] Come, my old son. I pray God make thee new.