life away; and, where they would be safe, they perish. Then if they die unprovided, no more is the king guilty of their damnation, than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited. Every subject's duty is the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience: and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost, wherein such preparation was gained: and in him, that escapes, it were not sin to think, that making God so free an offer, he let him outlive that day to see his greatness, and to teach others how they should prepare. Will. "Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill is upon his own head, the king is not to answer for it. Bates. I do not desire he should answer for me; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him. t K. Hen. I myself heard the king say, he would not be ransomed. Will. Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but, when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser. K. Hen. If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after. Will. 'Mass, you'll pay him then! That's a perilous shot out of an elder gun, that a poor and private displeasure can do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn the sun to ice, with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a foolish saying. K. Hen. Your reproof is something too round; I should be angry with you, if the time were convenient. Will. Let it be a quarrel between us, Will. How shall I know thee again? if you live. K. Hen. Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet: then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I will make it my quarrel. · Will. Here's my glove; give me another of thine. K. Hen. There. Will. This will I also wear in my cap: if ever thou come to me and say, after to-morrow, This is my glove, by this hand, I will take thee a box on the ear. K. Hen. If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it. Will. Thou darest as well be hanged. K. Hen. Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the king's company. Will. Keep thy word: fare thee well. Bates. Be friends, you English fools, be friends; we have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how to reckon. K. Hen. Indeed, the French may lay twenty French crowns to one, they will beat us; for they bear them on their shoulders: But it is no English treason, to cut French crowns; and, to-morrow, the king himself will be a clipper. [Exeunt Soldiers. Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, Our debts, our careful wives, our children, and· Our sius, lay on the king; -we must bear all. O hard condition! twin-born with greatness, Subjected to the breath of every fool, Whose sense no more can feel but his own wringing! What infinite heart's ease must kings neglect, That private men enjoy? And what have kings, that privates have not too, Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form, Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, Think'st thou, the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave; What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages. Enter ERPINGHAM. Erp. My lord, your nobles, jealous of your ab sence, Seek through your camp to find you. K. Hen. Good old knight, I'll be before thee. Erp. I shall do't, my lord. [Exit. K. Hen. O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts! Possess them not with fear; take from them now Glo. My liege! Enter Gloster. K. Hen. My brother Gloster's voice?-Ay; I know thy errand, I will go with thee: The day, my friends, and all things stay for me. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The French camp. Enter Dauphin, Orleans, RAMBURES, and Others. Orl. The sun doth gild our armour; up, my lords. Dau. Montez a cheval:-My horse! valet! lacquay! ha! Orl. O brave spirit! Dau. Via!-les eaux et la terre- Enter Constable. Now, my lord Constable! Con. Hark, how our steeds for present service neigh. Dau. Mount them, and make incision in their hides; That their hot blood may spin in English eyes, How shall we then behold their natural tears? Enter a Messenger. Mess. The English are embattled, you French peers. Con. To horse, you gallant princes! straight to Do but behold yon poor and starved band, That our French gallants shall to-day draw out, |