Page 535 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Could have knock’d out his brains, for he had none: [115]
Yet I not doing this, the fool had borne
My head, as I do his.

BELARIUS
What hast thou done?

GUIDERIUS
I am perfect what: cut off one Cloten’s head,

Son to the queen (after his own report),
Who call’d me traitor, mountaineer, and swore, [120]
With his own single hand he’ld take us in,
Displace our heads where (thank the gods!) they grow,

And set them on Lud’s town.

BELARIUS
We are all undone.

GUIDERIUS
Why, worthy father, what have we to lose,
But that he swore to take, our lives? The law [125]
Protects not us, then why should we be tender,

To let an arrogant piece of flesh threat us,
Play judge, and executioner, all himself,
For we do fear the law? What company
Discover you abroad?

BELARIUS

No single soul [130]
Can we set eye on; but in all safe reason
He must have some attendants. Though his honour
Was nothing but mutation, ay, and that
From one bad thing to worse, not frenzy, not

Absolute madness could so far have rav’d, [135]
To bring him here alone: although perhaps
It may be heard at court that such as we

Cave here, hunt here, are outlaws, and in time