No Fear Shakespeare
Henry V
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 2, Scene 2, Page 3
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CAMBRIDGE
So may Your Highness, and yet punish, too.
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CAMBRIDGE
Your Highness could be merciful but still punish.
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GREY
Sir, you show great mercy if you give him life
After the taste of much correction.
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GREY
Sir, it would be merciful to let him live after beating him severely.
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KING HENRY
Alas, your too much love and care of me
Are heavy orisons 'gainst this poor wretch.
If little faults proceeding on distemper
Shall not be winked at, how shall we stretch our eye
When capital crimes, chewed, swallowed, and digested,
Appear before us? We’ll yet enlarge that man,
Though Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey, in their dear care
And tender preservation of our person,
Would have him punished. And now to our French causes.
Who are the late commissioners?
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KING HENRY
I’m afraid your great love and concern for me lead you to deal too harshly with this poor fellow. If minor lapses caused by drunkenness are not to be tolerated, how will we punish capital crimes that result from much planning and forethought? No, I’ll have that man released, despite the fact that Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey, in their extreme concern for my safety, would prefer that he were punished. And now, let’s turn to our business with the French. Who are the new commissioners?
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CAMBRIDGE
I one, my lord.
Your Highness bade me ask for it today.
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CAMBRIDGE
I am one, my lord. Your Highness told me to ask for my commission today.
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SCROOP
So did you me, my liege.
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SCROOP
You told me to do the same, my liege.
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GREY
And I, my royal sovereign.
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GREY
And me, too, my royal sovereign.
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KING HENRY
Then, Richard, Earl of Cambridge, there is yours.
—There yours, Lord Scroop of Masham.
—And, sir knight, Grey of Northumberland, this same is yours. (gives each of them a paper)
—Read them, and know I know your worthiness.
—My Lord of Westmoreland and uncle Exeter,
We will aboard tonight.—Why, how now, gentlemen?
What see you in those papers, that you lose
So much complexion?—Look you, how they change.
Their cheeks are paper.—Why, what read you there
That have so cowarded and chased your blood
Out of appearance?
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KING HENRY
In that case, there is yours, Richard Earl of Cambridge; there yours, Lord Scroop of Masham; and, sir knight, Grey of Northumberland, this one is yours. (he gives each of them a piece of paper) Read them, and trust that I recognize your true worth. My Lord of Westmoreland, and uncle Exeter, we will set sail night.—Why, what’s this, gentlemen! What’s in those papers that makes you change color?—Look how pale they’re turning! Their cheeks are like paper.—What are you reading that makes you turn white?
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