第 15 节
作者:
希望之舟 更新:2021-02-18 23:53 字数:9322
now; then。 GEORGE。 I tell thee Jack Cade the clothier means to dress the
commonwealth; and turn it; and set a new nap upon it。 JOHN。 So he had
need; for 'tis threadbare。 Well; I say it was never merry world in England
since gentlemen came up。 GEORGE。 O miserable age! Virtue is not
regarded in handicraftsmen。 JOHN。 The nobility think scorn to go in
leather aprons。 GEORGE。 Nay; more; the King's Council are no good
workmen。 JOHN。 True; and yet it is said 'Labour in thy vocation'; which is
as much to say as 'Let the magistrates be labouring men'; and therefore
should we be magistrates。 GEORGE。 Thou hast hit it; for there's no better
sign of a brave mind than a hard hand。 JOHN。 I see them! I see them!
There's Best's son; the tanner of Wingham… GEORGE。 He shall have the
skins of our enemies to make dog's leather of。 JOHN。 And Dick the
butcher… GEORGE。 Then is sin struck down; like an ox; and iniquity's
throat cut like a calf。 JOHN。 And Smith the weaver… GEORGE。 Argo; their
thread of life is spun。 JOHN。 Come; come; let's fall in with them。
Drum。Enter CADE; DICK THE BUTCHER; SMITH THE WEAVER;
and a SAWYER; with infinite numbers
CADE。 We John Cade; so term'd of our supposed father… DICK。
'Aside' Or rather; of stealing a cade of herrings。 CADE。 For our enemies
shall fall before us; inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and
princes… command silence。 DICK。 Silence! CADE。 My father was a
Mortimer… DICK。 'Aside' He was an honest man and a good bricklayer。
CADE。 My mother a Plantagenet… DICK。 'Aside' I knew her well; she was
a midwife。 CADE。 My wife descended of the Lacies… DICK。 'Aside' She
was; indeed; a pedlar's daughter; and sold many laces。 SMITH。 'Aside'
But now of late; not able to travel with her furr'd pack; she washes bucks
here at home。 CADE。 Therefore am I of an honourable house。 DICK。
'Aside' Ay; by my faith; the field is honourable; and there was he born;
under a hedge; for his father had never a house but the cage。 CADE。
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Valiant I am。 SMITH。 'Aside' 'A must needs; for beggary is valiant。
CADE。 I am able to endure much。 DICK。 'Aside' No question of that; for
I have seen him whipt three market days together。 CADE。 I fear neither
sword nor fire。 SMITH。 'Aside' He need not fear the sword; for his coat is
of proof。 DICK。 'Aside' But methinks he should stand in fear of fire;
being burnt i' th' hand for stealing of sheep。 CADE。 Be brave; then; for
your captain is brave; and vows reformation。 There shall be in England
seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; the three…hoop'd pot shall have
ten hoops; and I will make it felony to drink small beer。 All the realm shall
be in common; and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to grass。 And when I
am king… as king I will be ALL。 God save your Majesty! CADE。 I thank
you; good people… there shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my
score; and I will apparel them all in one livery; that they may agree like
brothers and worship me their lord。 DICK。 The first thing we do; let's kill
all the lawyers。 CADE。 Nay; that I mean to do。 Is not this a lamentable
thing; that of the skin of an innocent lamb should be made parchment?
That parchment; being scribbl'd o'er; should undo a man? Some say the
bee stings; but I say 'tis the bee's wax; for I did but seal once to a thing;
and I was never mine own man since。 How now! Who's there?
Enter some; bringing in the CLERK OF CHATHAM
SMITH。 The clerk of Chatham。 He can write and read and cast
accompt。 CADE。 O monstrous! SMITH。 We took him setting of boys'
copies。 CADE。 Here's a villain! SMITH。 Has a book in his pocket with red
letters in't。 CADE。 Nay; then he is a conjurer。 DICK。 Nay; he can make
obligations and write court…hand。 CADE。 I am sorry for't; the man is a
proper man; of mine honour; unless I find him guilty; he shall not die。
Come hither; sirrah; I must examine thee。 What is thy name? CLERK。
Emmanuel。 DICK。 They use to write it on the top of letters; 'twill go hard
with you。 CADE。 Let me alone。 Dost thou use to write thy name; or hast
thou a mark to thyself; like a honest plain…dealing man? CLERK。 Sir; I
thank God; I have been so well brought up that I can write my name。 ALL。
He hath confess'd。 Away with him! He's a villain and a traitor。 CADE。
Away with him; I say! Hang him with his pen and inkhorn about his neck。
Exit one with the CLERK
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Enter MICHAEL
MICHAEL。 Where's our General? CADE。 Here I am; thou particular
fellow。 MICHAEL。 Fly; fly; fly! Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother are
hard by; with the King's forces。 CADE。 Stand; villain; stand; or I'll fell
thee down。 He shall be encount'red with a man as good as himself。 He is
but a knight; is 'a? MICHAEL。 No。 CADE。 To equal him; I will make
myself a knight presently。 'Kneels' Rise up; Sir John Mortimer。 'Rises'
Now have at him!
Enter SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD and WILLIAM his brother; with
drum and soldiers STAFFORD。 Rebellious hinds; the filth and scum of
Kent; Mark'd for the gallows; lay your weapons down; Home to your
cottages; forsake this groom; The King is merciful if you revolt。
WILLIAM STAFFORD。 But angry; wrathful; and inclin'd to blood; If you
go forward; therefore yield or die。 CADE。 As for these silken…coated
slaves; I pass not; It is to you; good people; that I speak; O'er whom; in
time to come; I hope to reign; For I am rightful heir unto the crown。
STAFFORD。 Villain; thy father was a plasterer; And thou thyself a
shearman; art thou not? CADE。 And Adam was a gardener。 WILLIAM
STAFFORD。 And what of that? CADE。 Marry; this: Edmund Mortimer;
Earl of March; Married the Duke of Clarence' daughter; did he not?
STAFFORD。 Ay; sir。 CADE。 By her he had two children at one birth。
WILLIAM STAFFORD。 That's false。 CADE。 Ay; there's the question; but
I say 'tis true。 The elder of them being put to nurse; Was by a beggar…
woman stol'n away; And; ignorant of his birth and parentage; Became a
bricklayer when he came to age。 His son am I; deny it if you can。 DICK。
Nay; 'tis too true; therefore he shall be king。 SMITH。 Sir; he made a
chimney in my father's house; and the bricks are alive at this day to testify
it; therefore deny it not。 STAFFORD。 And will you credit this base
drudge's words That speaks he knows not what? ALL。 Ay; marry; will we;
therefore get ye gone。 WILLIAM STAFFORD。 Jack Cade; the Duke of
York hath taught you this。 CADE。 'Aside' He lies; for I invented it myself…
Go to; sirrah; tell the King from me that for his father's sake; Henry the
Fifth; in whose time boys went to span…counter for French crowns; I am
content he shall reign; but I'll be Protector over him。 DICK。 And
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furthermore; we'll have the Lord Say's head for selling the dukedom of
Maine。 CADE。 And good reason; for thereby is England main'd and fain to
go with a staff; but that my puissance holds it up。 Fellow kings; I tell you
that that Lord Say hath gelded the commonwealth and made it an eunuch;
and more than that; he can speak French; and therefore he is a traitor。
STAFFORD。 O gross and miserable ignorance! CADE。 Nay; answer if you
can; the Frenchmen are our enemies。 Go to; then; I ask but this: can he that
speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counsellor; or no? ALL。 No;
no; and therefore we'll have his head。 WILLIAM STAFFORD。 Well;
seeing gentle words wi