Act 5, Scene 6: An open place in the neighbourhood of Swinstead Abbey

SCENE VI. An open place in the neighbourhood of Swinstead Abbey.

    Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally

HUBERT

    Who's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.

BASTARD

    A friend. What art thou?

HUBERT

    Of the part of England.

BASTARD

    Whither dost thou go?

HUBERT

    What's that to thee? why may not I demand
    Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?

BASTARD

    Hubert, I think?

HUBERT

    Thou hast a perfect thought:
    I will upon all hazards well believe
    Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well.
    Who art thou?

BASTARD

    Who thou wilt: and if thou please,
    Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think
    I come one way of the Plantagenets.

HUBERT

    Unkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night
    Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me,
    That any accent breaking from thy tongue
    Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.

BASTARD

    Come, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?

HUBERT

    Why, here walk I in the black brow of night,
    To find you out.

BASTARD

    Brief, then; and what's the news?

HUBERT

    O, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night,
    Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.

BASTARD

    Show me the very wound of this ill news:
    I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.

HUBERT

    The king, I fear, is poison'd by a monk:
    I left him almost speechless; and broke out
    To acquaint you with this evil, that you might
    The better arm you to the sudden time,
    Than if you had at leisure known of this.

BASTARD

    How did he take it? who did taste to him?

HUBERT

    A monk, I tell you; a resolved villain,
    Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the king
    Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.

BASTARD

    Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?

HUBERT

    Why, know you not? the lords are all come back,
    And brought Prince Henry in their company;
    At whose request the king hath pardon'd them,
    And they are all about his majesty.

BASTARD

    Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven,
    And tempt us not to bear above our power!
    I'll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night,
    Passing these flats, are taken by the tide;
    These Lincoln Washes have devoured them;
    Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped.
    Away before: conduct me to the king;
    I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.

    Exeunt

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