The Tragedy of Arthur_ A Novel - Arthur Phillips [143]
By th’embers16 of this factious17 mutiny
And on its remnants dance a stamp royal.18
Enter messenger
What word there, boy?
MESSENGER
God save your majesty.
ARTHUR
He seems inclined t’affect thy will a time.
MESSENGER
The foe, affrayed, unranked, beset with pox,
Goes south and drops its numbers as it flies.
Your people worry19 them, bemock their heart.
A child did toss some several stones at them,
Which quaking Picts did in agastment20 flee,
As though shot out by ranked artillery.
ARTHUR
We’ll not await Petit Bretagne’s21 force,
But haste to Lincoln, where we’ll cut this tale.
Though half and half again the Yorkish brawl
We’ll see in Lincoln’s fields, an we not speed,
E’en that we grant to boys with slings and rocks.22
My lords, two hours to bid adieu to York.
Exeunt nobility [except Gloucester]
My duke, yet stately matters here in town
Demand of me considerance a time.23
GLOUCESTER
You would delay our march, my king?
ARTHUR
Nay, nay.
Our arms must haste, though even to a pin.
GLOUCESTER
I’ll set good men to follow at your hest.24
ARTHUR
’Tis of no need, though lovingly designed.
GLOUCESTER
My lord, my wit is blunted by the day.
Your mind it is to stay in York alone?
ARTHUR
It is.
GLOUCESTER
Shall I attend?
ARTHUR
There is no call.
GLOUCESTER
If I do waver at your word, it is—
But I should say, your new-dyed25 royalty—
I would so soon expose—but, stay, my king—
I beg indulgence if my love o’erflows
The bounds of mannered courtier’s smoothing tongue,
But this can no way be—the boy thou wert
With holy unction26 is reborn a king.
ARTHUR
I thank with all my love thy wise advice.
GLOUCESTER
My joy it is my wit can serve your need.
ARTHUR
’Tis well, ’tis well. It is my need that you
Command and lead our hunt to Lincoln now.
GLOUCESTER
My words have then consumed but their own tails?
ARTHUR
Go, lead our furious arms for us. Take care
That you advance no swifter than the rear.
The hindmost rank27 is every army’s heel.28
GLOUCESTER
The body, lacking head, will range29 about
If king they saw in battle now’s dislodged.
It is too hard upon your first assay.30
Your nobles still mistrust and countermand
Each other’s words, bend not to my impose.31
Thick-sinew’d32 Cumbria and saucy33 Norfolk
Will bow to king but never seneschal.
Arthur, you are no single man, but king.
You must in every act revolve upon34
The country’s cares and gracious God’s intent
For this the flock of which you wield the crook.
ARTHUR
You show that I am truant35 in command.
Your warming sun-bright words have dried a path
Which I perceive at last through muddy cares.
GLOUCESTER
My lord, I am in all humility
Made glad and do admire this sovereign lord
Pursuing wiser course when ’tis revealed.
ARTHUR
To quell the noble plaints and cheer the men,
The colors of the king will ride on you,
My armor and close helm, my flag and shield.
You will not speak, but gesture royally,
Short-tongued36 for military stratagems
Outrav’ling37 in your bloodied silent mind.
And I will gallop up anon,38 to ride
With you afore the Humber’s far behind.
GLOUCESTER
What gear so notable39 can stay40 a king?
This pulls dishonor down on both our heads.
ARTHUR
Smooth not thy tongue, but smooth thy brow its cares.
Though kingdom’s needs concern my every thought,
A king is licensed still to be a man.
GLOUCESTER
Of this, I fear, my lord, you are mistook.
ARTHUR
’Tis of no moment, none by cock and pie.41
You’ll make a country ride on sun-gold day,
To glad these moody lords who want but some
Brief show of royal confidence, which you
From me reflect on steel and painted skin.42
And when, at Lincoln’s gate, the arrows sing,
To me they’ll sing, in my own proper coat.
GLOUCESTER
Yet list me still, my boy, my wayward boy.
ARTHUR
No longer, Duke of Gloucester, but thy king.
If chartered are thy words to gainsay kings,43
Still king it is that grants these liberties.
Or, soft, thy boy, but king as well, good Duke.
Now come and do as I command of thee.
Exeunt