sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第6节
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＇They lay by their weapons。＇
MORE。 No doubt his majesty will grant it you： But you must yield to
go to several prisons； Till that his highness' will be further known。
ALL。 Most willingly； whether you will have us。
SHREWSBURY。 Lord Mayor； let them be sent to several prisons； And
there； in any case； be well intreated。 My lord of Surrey； please you to
take horse； And ride to Cheapside； where the aldermen Are with their
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several companies in arms； Will them to go unto their several wards； Both
for the stay of furth mutiny； And for the apprehending of such persons As
shall contend。
SURREY。 I go； my noble lord。
＇Exit Surrey。＇
SHREWSBURY。 We'll straight go tell his highness these good news；
Withal； Shrieve More； I'll tell him how your breath Hath ransomed many a
subject from sad death。
＇Exit Shrewsbury and Cholmley。＇
LORD MAYOR。 Lincoln and Sherwin； you shall both to Newgate；
The rest unto the Counters。
PALMER。 Go guard them hence： a little breath well spent Cheats
expectation in his fairest event。
DOLL。 Well； Sheriff More； thou hast done more with thy good words
than all they could with their weapons： give me thy hand； keep thy
promise now for the king's pardon； or； by the Lord； I'll call thee a plain
coney…catcher。
LINCOLN。 Farewell； Shrieve More； and as we yield by thee； So make
our peace； then thou dealst honestly。
CLOWN。 Aye； and save us from the gallows； else a devil's double
honestly！
＇They are led away。＇
LORD MAYOR。 Master Shrieve More； you have preserved the city
From a most dangerous fierce commotion； For； if this limb of riot here in
St。 Martins Had joined with other branches of the city That did begin to
kindle； twould have bred Great rage； that rage much murder would have
fed。 Not steel； but eloquence hath wrought this good： You have redeemed
us from much threatened blood。
MORE。 My lord and brethren； what I here have spoke； My country's
love； and next the city's care； Enjoined me to； which since it thus prevails；
Think； God hath made weak More his instrument To thwart sedition's
violent intent。 I think twere best； my lord； some two hours hence We meet
at the Guildhall； and there determine That thorough every ward the watch
be clad In armor； but especially proud That at the city gates selected men；
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SIR THOMAS MORE
Substantial citizens； do ward tonight； For fear of further mischief。
LORD MAYOR。 It shall be so： But yond me thinks my lord of
Shrewsbury。
＇Enter Shrewsbury。＇
SHREWSBURY。 My lord； his majesty sends loving thanks To you；
your brethren； and his faithful subjects； Your careful citizens。But； Master
More； to you A rougher； yet as kind； a salutation： A knights creation is this
knightly steel。 Rise up； Sir Thomas More。
MORE。 I thank his highness for thus honoring me。
SHREWSBURY。 This is but first taste of his princely favor： For it hath
pleased his high majesty （Noting your wisdom and deserving merit） To put
this staff of honor in your hand； For he hath chose you of his Privy
Council。
MORE。 My lord； for to deny my sovereign's bounty Were to drop
precious stones into the heaps Whence they first came； To urge my
imperfections in excuse； Were all as stale as custom： no； my lord； My
service is my kings； good reason why； Since life or death hangs on our
sovereign's eye。
LORD MAYOR。 His majesty hath honored much the city In this his
princely choice。
MORE。 My lord and brethren； Though I depart for court my love shall
rest With you； as heretofore； a faithful guest。 I now must sleep in court；
sound sleeps forbear； The chamberlain to state is public care： Yet； in this
rising of my private blood； My studious thoughts shall tend the city's
good。
＇Enter Crofts。＇
SHREWSBURY。 How now； Crofts！ what news？
CROFTS。 My lord； his highness sends express command That a record
be entered of this riot； And that the chief and capital offenders Be thereon
straight arraigned； for himself intends To sit in person on the rest
tomorrow At Westminster。
SHREWSBURY。 Lord Mayor； you hear your charge。 Come； good Sir
Thomas More； to court let's hie； You are th' appeaser of this mutiny。
MORE。 My lord； farewell： new days begets new tides； Life whirls
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SIR THOMAS MORE
bout fate； then to a grave it slides。
＇Exeunt severally。＇
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SIR THOMAS MORE
ACT III。
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SIR THOMAS MORE
SCENE I。 Cheapside。
＇Enter Master Sheriff； and meet a Messenger。＇
SHERIFF。 Messenger； what news？
MESSENGER。 Is execution yet performed？
SHERIFF。 Not yet； the carts stand ready at the stairs； And they shall
presently away to Tibourne。
MESSENGER。 Stay； Master Shrieve； it is the council's pleasure； For
more example in so bad a case； A gibbet be erected in Cheapside； Hard by
the Standard； whether you must bring Lincoln and those that were the
chief with him；
＇Enter Officers。＇
To suffer death； and that immediately。
SHERIFF。 It shall be done； sir。
＇Exit Messenger。＇
Officers； be speedy； Call for a gibbet； see it be erected； Others make
haste to Newgate； bid them bring The prisoners hither； for they here must
die： Away； I say； and see no time be slacked。
OFFICERS。 We go； sir。
＇Exit some severally； others set up the gibbet。＇
SHERIFF。 That's well said； fellow； now you do your duty。 God for
his pity help these troublous times！ The streets stopped up with gazing
multitudes： Command our armed officers with halberds Make way for
entrance of the prisoners； Let proclamation once again be made。 That
every householder； on pain of death； Keep in his prentices； and every man
Stand with a weapon ready at his door； As he will answer to the contrary。
OFFICER。 I'll see it done； sir。
＇Exit。＇
＇Enter another Officer。＇
SHERIFF。 Bring them away to execution： The writ is come above two
hours since： The city will be fined for this neglect。
OFFICER。 There's such a press and multitude at Newgate； They
cannot bring the carts onto the stairs； To take the prisoners in。
SHERIFF。 Then let them come on foot； We may not dally time with
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great command。
OFFICER。 Some of the bench； sir； think it very fit That stay be made；
and give it out abroad The execution is deferred till morning； And； when
the streets shall be a little cleared； To chain them up； and suddenly
dispatch it。
SHERIFF。 Stay； in mean time me thinks they come along： See； they
are coming。 So； tis very well：
＇The prisoners are brought in； well guarded。＇
Bring Lincoln there the first unto the tree。
CLOWN。 I； for I cry lug； sir。
LINCOLN。 I knew the first； sir； did belong to me： This the old proverb
now complete doth make； That Lincoln should be hanged for London's
sake。
＇He goes up。＇
A God's name； let us to work。 Fellow； dispatch： I was the foremost
man in this rebellion； And I the foremost that must die for it。
DOLL。 Bravely； John Lincoln； let thy death express； That； as thou
liv'dst a man； thou diest no less。
LINCOLN。 Doll Williamson； thine eyes shall witness it。 Then to all
you that come to view mine end I must confess； I had no ill intent； But
against such as wronged us over much： And now I can perceive it was not
fit That private men should carve out their redress； Which way they list；
no； learn it now by me； Obedience is the best in each degree： And asking
mercy meekly of my king； I patiently submit me to the law； But God
forgive them that were caus
