Page 1098 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

That thou wilt needs invest thee with my honours [95]
Before thy hour be ripe? O foolish youth!
Thou seek’st the greatness that will overwhelm thee.
Stay but a little, for my cloud of dignity

Is held from falling with so weak a wind
That it will quickly drop. My day is dim. [100]
Thou hast stolen that which after some few hours
Were thine without offense, and at my death

Thou hast sealed up my expectation.
Thy life did manifest thou lovedst me not,
And thou wilt have me die assured of it. [105]
Thou hidest a thousand daggers in thy thoughts,

Whom thou hast whetted on thy stony heart,
To stab at half an hour of my life.
What! Canst thou not forbear me half an hour?
Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself, [110]

And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear
That thou art crownèd, not that I am dead.
Let all the tears that should bedew my hearse
Be drops of balm to sanctify thy head.

Only compound me with forgotten dust; [115]
Give that which gave thee life unto the worms.
Pluck down my officers, break my decrees,
For now a time is come to mock at form.

Harry the Fifth is crowned. Up, vanity!
Down, royal state! All you sage counsellors, hence! [120]
And to the English court assemble now,
From every region, apes of idleness!

Now, neighbour confines, purge you of your scum.
Have you a ruffian that will swear, drink, dance,
Revel the night, rob, murder, and commit [125]
The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?

Be happy, he will trouble you no more.
England shall double gild his treble guilt,
England shall give him office, honour, might,
For the fifth Harry from curbed license plucks [130]

The muzzle of restraint, and the wild dog
Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent.