ACT V - SCENE VI. An open place in the neighbourhood of Swinstead Abbey.
Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally
HUBERT
1 Who's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.
BASTARD
2 A friend. What art thou?
HUBERT
3 Of the part of England.
BASTARD
4 Whither dost thou go?
HUBERT
5 What's that to thee? why may not I demand 6 Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?
BASTARD
7 Hubert, I think?
HUBERT
8 Thou hast a perfect thought: 9 I will upon all hazards well believe 10 Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well. 11 Who art thou?
BASTARD
12 Who thou wilt: and if thou please, 13 Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think 14 I come one way of the Plantagenets.
HUBERT
15 Unkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night 16 Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me, 17 That any accent breaking from thy tongue 18 Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
BASTARD
19 Come, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?
HUBERT
20 Why, here walk I in the black brow of night, 21 To find you out.
BASTARD
22 Brief, then; and what's the news?
HUBERT
23 O, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night, 24 Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.
BASTARD
25 Show me the very wound of this ill news: 26 I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.
HUBERT
27 The king, I fear, is poison'd by a monk: 28 I left him almost speechless; and broke out 29 To acquaint you with this evil, that you might 30 The better arm you to the sudden time, 31 Than if you had at leisure known of this.
BASTARD
32 How did he take it? who did taste to him?
HUBERT
33 A monk, I tell you; a resolved villain, 34 Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the king 35 Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.
BASTARD
36 Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
HUBERT
37 Why, know you not? the lords are all come back, 38 And brought Prince Henry in their company; 39 At whose request the king hath pardon'd them, 40 And they are all about his majesty.
BASTARD
41 Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven, 42 And tempt us not to bear above our power! 43 I'll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night, 44 Passing these flats, are taken by the tide; 45 These Lincoln Washes have devoured them; 46 Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped. 47 Away before: conduct me to the king; 48 I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.