University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

An Inn on the Road near Canterbury.
Enter a Pursuivant-at-Arms and an Ostler.
Pursuivant.

Get me another horse for the king's duty—
all bone and sinew, hark'ee! Shift the housings from my
jade, fit or no fit, and in a trice—if you wouldn't have your
hands cut off and nailed behind you, like a kite's wings on
a barn-door!

Ostler.

Yes, sir! (Aside)
I'll bespeak you a toss i' the
mire for that: the waters are out, you shall be made to
play duck-and-drake in them!

[Exit.
Pursuivant.
This crime will be consummate ere I reach them;
And church, prince, people, overwhelm'd in sorrow:
Themselves will walk the world with foreheads sear'd,
Every man's hand against them. Fie on their zeal!
Thus kings have ever-ready slaves to give
Their words the worst translation into acts,
For which the original's blamed: or vantage take
Of royal ire to sate their rascal own.
I fool the time!—My roadster, ho!—not yet?

[Exit.