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with Edmund Ironside, and how he leads

the vantguard of the prince's army.

Now he assures me of the victory

without the loss of many soldiers,

for he will disappoint the warlike youth

and flee to us, leaving him desolate;

wherefore, brave soldiers, put forth all your might ...

to quail their stomachs at the first approach.

He that doth take the prince in fight or flight

shall have his ransom and [be] dubbed a knight.

1 SOLDIER: I'll venture hard to make Joan my wife a lady.

2 SOLDIER: The king shall 'scape my fingers narrowly.

1 SOLDIER: Mass, if I had steel sides as he hath Ironsides,

I would gore him then, that I would.

4 SOLDIER: What if miss the king, I'll have a duke,

an earl, a lord, a knight or gentleman.

SOUTHAMPTON: Or nobody, and then you'll hit it. ...

Tell not your chickens, sirs, ere they be hatched,

perchance the eggs are rotten in the nest;

then all your brooding hopes is cast away,

and you remain as rich as new-shorn sheep.

I never loved to gain by treachery,

for that again was lost by treachery.

I do remember hardy Hannibal

did use these words at won Tarentum's loss:

Eadem arte qua prius coepimus

Tarentum omisumus ...

Fraud won Tarentum, fraud Tarentum lost,

so Hannibal reaps his labor for his cost.

[The drums sound afar off.]

CANUTUS: So, Edmund, so thou comst unto thy cost.

Thy roaring drum presageth thy mishap,

ringing thy soul's knell with a hollow voice.

As thine doth mourn, so let our drum rejoice.

[The drums sound. Enter Edmund with Edricus, other

lords and soldiers. They fight, Canutus gives et exeunt.]

Scene IV.4

[Enter at one door Canutus and at th' other Edricus.]

CANUTUS: Edricus!

EDRICUS: My lord! Hie, cheer your flying troops

and bid them stay a while for victory.

Whenas you see me lead my men aloof,

then take occasion and assail the prince;

and I'll be absent when he needs me most

and present for your best avail. Make haste.

CANUTUS: How much I love thee, Edricus, heavens do know,

and I with gifts one day will manifest. [Exit Canute.]

EDRICUS: So, Edric, now thy plotform is afoot, ...

and one shall die; it skills no matter which.

If Edmund, Canute shall quickly follow him;

If Canute, then Edmund shall not stay behind.

Whilst they with eager blows assail each other,

I here remain a neuter, free from fear,

not taking part with Canute, not Ironside,

before I see who gets the victory.

Yet had I rather have Canutus conquer

and privily will aid him with supplies

rather than Edmund should escape the field. ...

[Alarm. Enter Edmund chasing off Canutus. Edricus backs Canutus.

Edmund flies. Exeunt and return, Canutus with Edricus.]

CANUTUS: Thanks, worthy Edric, for this victory.

This day had made an end of me and mine,

hadst thou not backed us with thy warlike troops.

Know ye Edmund be escaped or no?

EDRICUS: Edmund is gone, and I must after him.

To stay long here would breed suspicion.

Then mighty Canute, live long a conqueror;

and when thou hast the crown, remember me.

CANUTUS: If I forget thee, God forget my suit

when like a sinner I do humbly pray. ...

Forget thee, Edric? God above doth see

how good a heart I ever bore to thee.

EDRICUS: Then, noble Canutus, I pawn a soldier's faith.

By my best blood and by my after-hopes,

I will remain to thee and to thy heirs

as true, as false to Edmund Ironside.

Let us not linger here. Muster your men

and make them ready for a new assault.

I will to Edmund and excuse myself,

and how I served him now I'll serve him then. [Exeunt.]

ACT V

Scene V.I

[Enter Edmund Ironside, Alfric, Ulfkettle, Godwin, others.]

EDMUND: Vild Edricus, all this proceeds from him;

I saved his life, and he doth thirst for mine.

Ungrateful wretch, hellish incarnate devil!

For sure no man was ever so unkind

unto his king and loving countrymen.

Disloyal and unfaithful sycophant,

it grieves my vexed soul to think on thee.

ALFRIC: Let it not grieve you, rather joy to think

you are escaped from the hands of him

that sought like Judas to betray