University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

—One of the Streets of Edinburgh.
Enter Two Citizens.
FIRST CITIZEN.
Whither so fast, my pursy friend? What news
Makes you to gallop so asthmatically?

SECOND CITIZEN.
Heard you it not? The King—the King is off
For London.—I've just seen him out o' the Port.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Marry, 'tis quick; what brize hath stung his ear,
That he is gone in such up-huddled haste?

SECOND CITIZEN.
Men only guess—Conjecture's tongue is pert,
Whisp'ring surmises in and out o' the palace.

FIRST CITIZEN.
I fear King Longshanks, our good lord o' the manor,
Will lead our simple John into the mire.

SECOND CITIZEN.
If kingship be a mire of misery,
I fear me out o't; it is Goose 'gainst Reynard.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Belike, he's gone to make more genuflections;
His knees here stiffen with cold northern cramps.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Kings should have knees only to say their prayers,
Like honest burghers.—Any news from Fife?

FIRST CITIZEN.
Fife is a Pandemonium of misrule;
The devil Abernethy is among them.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Alas, poor murder'd Duncan! mickle dread I
His kin will suffer from that caitiff cut-throat.

FIRST CITIZEN.
His lands are taken, and his kindred all
Banish'd or slain.—God help us, times are dreadful!

SECOND CITIZEN.
Threatening aye worse—Black bodements are abroad;
Last night the sky spew'd lapping tongues of fire.

FIRST CITIZEN.
And yesterday ten thousand porpuses
Came wallowing up ev'n to the Pier of Leith.

SECOND CITIZEN.
And twenty ghosts, in winding-sheets as white
As snow, sat cocking on St Monan's steeple.

FIRST CITIZEN.
A fiery dragon, t'other night at ten,
Lash'd with his swingeing tail the frighted moon.

SECOND CITIZEN.
And Cupar Cross, carv'd with the good Thane's arms,
Ooz'd clammy blood that caked upon the stone.

FIRST CITIZEN.
And on the altar of St Andrew's great Church
A human head was found, clotter'd in gore.

SECOND CITIZEN.
Horrible signs o' the times—I'm sick to speak on't;
Pray God we be preserv'd.—Sweet friend, farewell.

FIRST CITIZEN.
Dear friend, adieu. Heaven keep us both from danger!

[Exeunt differently.