Volume Vii Part 89 (1/2)

Well, farewell he, better and better still, These seek for me; yet I will have my will.

SCENE THE NINETEENTH.

_Enter_ PRINCE JOHN, PRINCE RICHARD, _and the_ SHERIFF.

JOHN. Sheriff, in any case be diligent.

Who's yonder? Fauconbridge?

GLO. How now, sweet chuck; how fares my lovely prince?

JOHN. What carest thou? or well or ill, we crave No help of thee.

GLO. G.o.d's mother, do ye scorn me?

JOHN. Go'ut! what then?

RICH. Fie, leave these idle brawls, I prythee, John; Let's follow that we are enjoin'd unto.

GLO. Ay, marry, prince, if now you slip the time, Gloster will slip away; but, though he hate me, I have done service; I have found him out.

RICH. A shame confound thee for thy treachery, Inconstant dotard, timorous old a.s.s, That shakes with cowardice, not with years.

GLO. Go, I have found him, I have winded him.

JOHN. O, let me hug thee, gentle Fauconbridge; Forgive my oft ill-using of thine age.

I'll call thee father; I'll be penitent; Bring me where Gloster is; I'll be thy slave, All that is mine thou in reward shalt have.

GLO. Soft; not too hasty; I would not be seen in't; Marry a' G.o.d, my wife would chide me dead, If Gloster by my means should lose his head.

Princely Richard, at this corner make your stand: And for I know you love my sister well, Know I am Gloster, and not Fauconbridge.

RICH. Heaven prosper thee, sweet prince, in thy escape!

GLO. Sheriff, make this your quarter, make good guard; John, stay you here; this way he means to turn, By Thomas, I lack a sword, body a' me!

JOHN. What wouldst thou with a sword, old Fauconbridge?

GLO. O sir, to make show in his defence, For I have left him yonder at a house, A friend's of mine, an honest citizen.

JOHN. We'll fetch him thence.

GLO. Nay, then, you injure me. Stay, till he come; he's in a russet cloak, And must attend me like a serving-man.

JOHN. Hold, there's my sword, and with my sword my heart.

Bring him, for G.o.d's sake, and for thy desert My brother king and mother queen shall love thee.

GLO. Mark me, good prince; yonder away we come, I go afore, and Gloster follows me; Let not the sheriff nor Richard meddle with us.

Begin you first; seize Gloster, and arrest him.