sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第12节
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him here。
ROCHESTER。 It shall not need； Yond comes his lordship。
＇Enter Sir Thomas More； with Purse and Mace borne before him。＇
MORE。 Good morrow to this fair assembly。 Come； my good lords；
let's sit。 Oh serious square！
＇They sit。＇
Upon this little board is daily scanned The health and preservation of
the land； We the physicians that effect this good； Now by choice diet； anon
by letting blood； Our toil and careful watching brings the king In league
with slumbers； to which peace doth sing。 Avoid the room there！ What
business； lords； today？
SHREWSBURY。 This； my good lord； About the entertainment of the
emperor Gainst the perfidious French into our pay。
SURREY。 My lords； as tis the custom in this place The youngest
should speak first； so； if I chance In this case to speak youngly； pardon me。
I will agree； France now hath her full strength； As having new recovered
the pale blood Which war sluiced forth； and I consent to this； That the
conjunction of our English forces With arms of Germany may soon bring
This prize of conquest in。 But； then； my lords； As in the moral hunting
twixt the lion And other beasts； force joined with greed Frighted the
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SIR THOMAS MORE
weaker sharers from their parts； So； if the empire's sovereign chance to put
His plea of partnership into war's court； Swords should decide the
difference； and our blood In private tears lament his entertainment。
SHREWSBURY。 To doubt the worst is still the wise man's shield； That
arms him safely： but the world knows this； The emperor is a man of royal
faith； His love unto our sovereign brings him down From his imperial seat；
to march in pay Under our English flag； and wear the cross； Like some
high order； on his manly breast； Thus serving； he's not master of himself；
But； like a colonel commanding other； Is by the general over…awed
himself。
ROCHESTER。 Yet； my good lord
SHREWSBURY。 Let me conclude my speech。 As subjects share no
portion in the conquest Of their true sovereign； other than the merit That
from the sovereign guerdons the true subject； So the good emperor； in a
friendly league Of amity with England； will not soil His honor with the
theft of English spoil。
MORE。 There is no question but this entertainment Will be most
honorable； most commodious。 I have oft heard good captains wish to have
Rich soldiers to attend them； such as would fight Both for their lives and
livings； such a one Is the good emperor： I would to God； We had ten
thousand of such able men！ Hah； then there would appear no court； no city；
But； where the wars were； they would pay themselves。 Then； to prevent in
French wars England's loss； Let German flags wave with our English
cross。
＇Enter Sir Thomas Palmer。＇
PALMER。 My lords； his majesty hath sent by me These articles
enclosed； first to be viewed； And then to be subscribed to： I tender them In
that due reverence which befits this place。
＇With great reverence。＇
MORE。 Subscribe these articles！ stay； let us pause； Our conscience
first shall parley with our laws。 My Lord of Rochester； view you the
paper。
ROCHESTER。 Subscribe to these！ now； good Sir Thomas Palmer；
Beseech the king that he will pardon me： My heart will check my hand
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SIR THOMAS MORE
whilst I do write； Subscribing so； I were an hypocrite。
PALMER。 Do you refuse it； then； my lord？
ROCHESTER。 I do； Sir Thomas。
PALMER。 Then here I summon you forthwith t' appear Before his
majesty； to answer there This capital contempt。
ROCHESTER。 I rise and part； In lieu of this to tender him my heart。
＇He riseth。＇
PALMER。 Wilt please your honor to subscribe； my lord？
MORE。 Sir； tell his highness； I entreat Some time for to bethink me of
this task： In the meanwhile I do resign mine office Into my sovereign's
hands。
PALMER。 Then； my lord； Hear the prepared order from the king： On
your refusal； you shall straight depart Unto your house at Chelsea； till you
know Our sovereign's further pleasure。
MORE。 Most willingly I go。 My lords； if you will visit me at Chelsea；
We'll go a fishing； and with a cunning net； Not like weak film； we'll catch
none but the great： Farewell； my noble lords。 Why； this is right： Good
morrow to the sun； to state good night！
＇Exit More。＇
PALMER。 Will you subscribe； my lords？
SURREY。 Instantly； good Sir Thomas； We'll bring the writing unto our
sovereign。
＇They write。＇
PALMER。 My Lord of Rochester； You must with me； to answer this
contempt。
ROCHESTER。 This is the worst； Who's freed from life is from all care
exempt。
＇Exit Rochester and Palmer。＇
SURREY。 Now let us hasten to our sovereign。 Tis strange that my
Lord Chancellor should refuse The duty that the law of God bequeaths
Unto the king。
SHREWSBURY。 Come； let us in。 No doubt His mind will alter； and
the bishop's too： Error in learned heads hath much to do。
＇Exeunt。＇
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SIR THOMAS MORE
SCENE III。 Chelsea。
＇Enter the Lady More； her two Daughters； and Master Roper； as
walking。＇
ROPER。 Madame； what ails ye for to look so sad？
LADY MORE。 Troth； son； I know not what； I am not sick； And yet I
am not well。 I would be merry； But somewhat lies so heavy on heart； I
cannot choose but sigh。 You are a scholar； I pray ye； tell me； may one
credit dreams？
ROPER。 Why ask you that； dear madame？
LADY MORE。 Because tonight I had the strangest dream That ere my
sleep was troubled with。 Me thought twas night； And that the king and
queen went on the Thames In barges to hear music： my lord and I Were in
a little boat me thought；Lord； Lord； What strange things live in
slumbers！and； being near； We grappled to the barge that bare the king。
But after many pleasing voices spent In that still moving music house； me
though The violence of the stream did sever us Quite from the golden fleet；
and hurried us Unto the bridge； which with unused horror We entered at
full tide： thence some slight shoot Being carried by the waves； our boat
stood still Just opposite the Tower； and there it turned And turned about； as
when a whirl…pool sucks The circled waters： me thought that we both cried；
Till that we sunk： where arm in arm we died。
ROPER。 Give no respect； dear madame； to fond dreams： They are but
slight illusions of the blood。
LADY MORE。 Tell me not all are so； for often dreams Are true
diviners； either of good or ill： I cannot be in quiet till I hear How my lord
fares。
ROPER。 ＇aside。＇ No it。Come hither； wife： I will not fright thy mother；
to interpret The nature of a dream； but trust me； sweet； This night I have
been troubled with thy father Beyond all thought。
ROPER'S WIFE。 Truly； and so have I： Methought I saw him here in
Chelsea Church； Standing upon the roodloft； now defac'd； And whilst he
kneeled and prayed before the image； It fell with him into the upper…choir；
Where my poor father lay all stained in blood。
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SIR THOMAS MORE
ROPER。 Our dreams all meet in one conclusion； Fatal； I fear。
LADY MORE。 What's that you talk？ I pray ye； let me know it。
ROPER'S WIFE。 Nothing； good mother。
LADY MORE。 This is your fashion still； I must know nothing。 Call
Master Catesby； he shall straight to court； And see how my lord does： I
shall not rest； Until my heart leave panting on his breast。
＇Enter Sir Thomas More merrily； Servants attending。＇
DAUGHTER。 See where my father comes； joyful and merry。
MORE。 As seamen； having passed a troubled storm； Dance on the
pleasant shore； so Ioh； I could speak Now like a poet！ now； afore God； I
am passing light！ Wife； give me kind welcome： thou wast won
